Latest update on that writing class

This is a state-sponsored ed program in a frigging college town, and I'm somehow the only writing teacher they have. So they've decided I need to teach two two-hour classes (you recall that this is volunteer work, right?) which will begin next week.

The director reeks of bong water. She's also a moron. I had to explain to her, very patiently, why I might want information on students, like, oh, their English proficiency (TOEFL scores, anything), or why they were taking the class (going to college, naturalization, etc.) She just didn't get it.

She's the one who gets paid.

I did get the information, at least on the first of the two classes. They're all over the place. The only thing they have in common is that they're not native speakers. Some are on the naturalization track. Some are going to college. One is going to move to Australia to work as a nurse. About half of the students are Chinese, with a smattering of students from Japan, Korea, Argentina, Brazil, and Cameroon. I've ditched plans to come up with any kind of coherent curriculum, because it's a collection of disparate goals, proficiencies, and interests. I'll go in next week, get to know them, then have them write in detail about why they're there, what they hope to accomplish, and that sort of thing.

I'll take it from there.