L: This week was finals week...i had informed them last week and hoped that it would help them study. However, instead of the usual 20 that show up in each class...practically all 45-50 came...which means more grading for me. It really doesn't matter, since they're going to fail anyway, but still...it really bugs me that they think they can come for the final and pass. I had to run to the copy room and ask for more finals, since i'm almost out of the ones i asked for. I am not a happy camper! I really don't want to grade all these tests...poor S, he has to deal with me in this mood.
S: I went to meet "V" to practice for the performance tomorrow. After practicing, we talked about XM, music, faith, and learning Marxism. Intrigued, I asked him about his courses. "V" is an English major. His major consists of 13 courses. All but one are English-related. The only one is that is not is Marxism. Every student has to take this class. Most of what is taught is already known to some degree by the students, since it's a philosophy they grow up with. When asked about it, "V" says that theoretically, a student can refrain from all classes, homework, and mid-terms....if they do well on the end-of-year examinations, the "gao1 kao3" (from elementary on through college) --- they could technically get their degree or certificate to move on to the next level. XM is not an "open college" that's open to just everyone. You have to have a score of somewhere around 400 on the entrance exam. You just have to score higher to get into other colleges. GW is something like 600. Zhong Da is like 700. And so on.
