March 2020
This month's voice:
"Our VOCAtion, Voices in Harmony" by James G. Rush II
Introduction
By Travis Frank
Chair, KOTESOL Diversity Committee
James has got one of those smiles that will make you feel like you’ve known him for ages, even when you know full well that it happens to be your first encounter with him! I have been blessed with his joyful and amiable character for the last three years, and it is his character that adds to my zeal to attend KOTESOL meetings. We share not only the commonplaces of being Christian, being academics, and being teachers, but he has also visited Cape Town in South Africa, which is the place I call home!
This article will give you insight into his perspectives and what he stands for as a teacher, philosopher, and social critic. What is envisaged is that it can speak to those aspects of teaching that most pertinently apply to dealing with difference and otherness. Happy reading unto all! However, I implore you, don’t let the magic end there; the next time you see him at a conference, go and say hi and see how wonderful his smile will make you feel.
Our VOCAtion, Voices in Harmony
By James G. Rush II
Black and white. Or rather: gray.
Blue and red. Or rather: purple.
Why does it usually have to be one or the other? Why is it difficult to listen to the inner voice, or even that voice from afar? These competing voices direct us to elements of both sides that would be extremely helpful, supportive, and full of inspiration. The good news is that they do not have to be exclusive. With one exception: Truth. I digress.
What voices are you listening to? What voice are you offering to the world?
My voice. It is a significant part of my vocation. Rather, my vocations. How am I to use this tool as a means of sharing, coaching, instructing, soliciting, comforting, counseling, questioning, and many other “-ings”? Maybe it takes a moment to consider the various callings I have been blessed to experience, those positions I have been summoned to carry out. Let’s take a look at one example for a moment.
As a baby, I came into the world with only a few things I could control. My crying, for instance. Yet just when I started to get good at it, you wouldn’t believe what happened. Using my voice to express my hunger, my frustrations, and (ahem) manipulations was augmented by simple instructions from the formidible duo of my parents as they encouraged, “Use your words, J.R.”
Words. Connotations. Contexts. Perspectives.
Elementary, middle, and high school years allowed me to grow into my voice. I’ll save* both of us from revisiting those years in depth. (*Save it for a coffee, a beverage that’s frothy, or a comment thread full of fantastic memes.)
After journeying the last twenty years attempting to build on the theoretical foundation of an undergraduate experience, I have learned a few ways to listen better and sometimes offer a voice to a person, an event, or set of ideas. Often this came from my vocation as an educator, traditionally as a classroom teacher. I wanted to personalize the experience for the learners entrusted to my care. The answer at the time was to give more energy and attention to unique teaching-learning exchanges. (See, for example, Madeline Hunter on teachable moments.) This can be in harmony with the societal demand to have a corporate classroom and meet mandated outcomes. If I am honest with myself, and now you, I have a hard time focusing my voice in those situations where I have to stay within a structure. Harmony has sometimes been difficult to achieve. I love co-constructing. Having a “win-win” (see Stephen Covey's Habit #4 in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) is certainly a desired outcome.
Ok, try this. Commit to reaching out to me or one of the other voices here in KOTESOL, and let’s continue the conversation. Let us hear your words. As a way to carry out this challenge, let’s explore the metaphor of voices coming together. Think choir and singing in general. Let’s unpack that in 2020, shall we?
Why do I want you to reach out and do it in a creative way? Because I want to listen more than I speak. My hope is to use this space as a catalyst for further development of growth-minded individuals who are tasked with raising a generation while simultaneously accomplishing our audacious goals. Be careful. Don’t do what I have done. Don’t use your voice only for inward-focused achievements, even in pursuit of not-so-outlandish goals. Using my voice to only seek after my personal ambitions has led to failure. My failure was that I was unable to see the very essence of living in concordance with a larger community. Therefore, I seek to learn. I seek to fail as fast as possible—with others. This will add breadth to the lessons I have learned from the various vocations I have fulfilled and locations where I have served. If you want to have that conversation, please reach out.
Lots of lessons are still being reflected on from my experiences in the USA (Minnesota; Flint), Asia (Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Macau, and China: Shanghai, Shenzhen), and Africa (Liberia and South Africa) these days, and I could use your help.
Take note of your skills, abilities, and experiences because you will be surprised how much you are needed. Korea TESOL needs your voice. I’m simply here to let you know it may take some time, a lot of encouragement, some skill-building…but your voice is going to make this the most harmonious season we have experienced at KOTESOL.
Live in the grey; it matters. Be colorful purple people who enjoy both the reds and blues of life.
About the Author
James G. Rush II is in the General Education Department at Luther University in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do. As an educator, James believes in “serving to learn, learning to serve.” This has often resulted in project-based learning endeavors. Since 2005, he has mainly been in Asia with a brief stay in South Africa, all in Christian-sponsored settings. He earned his BA in secondary/business education from Concordia University in Wisconsin (USA), an EFL certification while in Vietnam, and his MA in educational technology from the University of Michigan-Flint (USA). He is currently serving as the president of the Yongin-Gyeonggi Chapter.
