Hey everyone!! A couple of readers have asked me where Jelinese came from, so I thought I would share a quick response.
I have been teaching science to high school kids for 15 years. I teach year long classes so the students are stuck with me….. Teaching this age group makes you a combination of teacher, comedian, cheerleader, motivational speaker, parent, friend, and authoritarian all rolled into one. Ask any high school teacher or really any teacher. So much of who I am involves my students. They continually teach me lessons on patience, kindness, discipline, and countless other ideals you do not learn in college. I ask them to put forth effort everyday. To step out of their comfort zone and try things they may not yet fully understand. So in some ways this blog is a tribute to my students. I am not totally in my comfort zone yet and I certainly don’t understand all of this internet computer business, but I am learning. Just like they do. Your feedback and positive encouragement makes it easier each day.
I have been known to explain science topics in a unique way, let’s say. I try to make a lot of real world connections and give many metaphors for how things work. Several students have said my class is easy to understand because I don’t always use the academic language first. Might be a good thing, might be a bad thing; but it’s how I do it. So while talking to a student several years ago before class, he coined the term Jelinese. He told me science was his favorite subject of the year because I speak my own language. “It’s like Jelinese or something.” It has stuck ever since then! I loved the term so much, I tell all of my students they will be fluent in Jelinese by the end of the school year. We have even joked in class about having t-shirts made. So when I was thinking about this blog, it seemed natural to title it Speaking Jelinese. It’s the only way I know how to explain what I am thinking!!
Now you know the back story!! Have a great day!!!
Speaking Jelinese 