"WHO KNOWS ?"

It was the first school I was posted to after completing my study in the teacher training college. A primary school in the northern of the nation. The class which was noisy, now turned to a total silent as I entered.

"Goooood morninnnnnnng teaaacherrrr!", yelled the class monitor with his shrieking voice that pierced into my ears. The rest followed in the same manner.

“Good morning” I replied, with no expression on my face. I guessed that created an intense fear in these little boys and girls. It was a complete silence and I felt uneasy. As a new teacher in school, I tried to assimilate myself to the situation in the school but at the same time, I knew I had to hold back a little in order to take control of these unruly students. There is a saying that if a teacher is too good or close to the students, well, there is a chance where students would step on the teacher’s head!

I started off the lesson by telling the students the topic for the day.

“Today, we are going to learn about fruits” I said sternly, trying to catch their attention eventhough they were already in the mood for learning. A sense of pride came and excitement engulfed me as I began to utter words in English so perfectly that it even amazed me. To begin the lesson with, I showed them the first flash card and asked, “What is this?” and in harmony they answered, “It is an apple”. The echo in their voices ran through me that even the child I was bearing within me then, leaped with great joy and happiness.
I then prompted another flash card and asked the same question. They replied to it in the same manner as before, “It is a pineapple”.
“Very good”, and with that appraisal, they applauded loudly. The children took pride when they could answer my questions well and with every word of praise they seemed to beam with joy. In my heart, I was indeed amazed at these kids, for English is a quite tough subject for them to understand when their surroundings do not permit.

The simple lesson for the day went on with another flash card. And with same question, I asked,

“What is this?”. Silence.

Again I asked.

“What is this?”. Silence.

They were not sure of the picture shown. Some even scratched their head which I believed were not itchy. It was just a normal reaction for students when they were uncertain of the answer to the teacher’s question.
To break the silence, I asked,

“Who knows?”

And as fast as lightning, together they answered.

“It is a who knows!!!”.

If it wasn’t because of my gigantic tummy, I would have fallen off the floor laughing. Even then, I laughed till I cried. The frown in their faces made me sympathized with the ignorance. As I laughed, I explained the meaning of the phrase “Who knows?” in the language they understood.

“Yang hangpa pi jawab It is a who knows tu, awatnya?
(Why do you answered me by saying, “It is a who knows?”)

Finally I had to enlighten them with the dialect they were familiar with, and the explanation was welcomed with a huge amusement. They found their stupidity a hilarious silly mistake to laugh at. And when the commotion turned calm, I announced the correct sentence,
“It is a mangosteen”, and together they repeated, “It is a mangosteen”.

“Stannnnd upppp. Thannnnnnnnkkkkkk youuuuuuuuu, teaaaaaaacher”.

The class monitor’s voice was heard once again at the end of the lesson.

You’re welcome.

I stepped out of the classroom, rushing for the headmaster’s office.
I must hurry to the hospital.
I felt like I was going to deliver.