VIDBE-Q Volume 65 Issue 4
way." My student said thank you and took a few steps in the direction the lady
wanted him to go. I quickly joined my student and we discussed the interaction.
The student asked me, "What is two blocks that way? Where did she want
me to go?" After a brief consideration, I realized the lady was trying to direct my
student to the downtown Rescue Mission! My student was very surprised and
asked if he looked homeless. The true answer to that was, maybe. This particular
student liked to wear layers and jackets no matter what the weather was, the jeans
he was wearing were noticeably too short, and his hair was pretty messy. We
discussed that he was the only person in downtown on that 85 degree day wearing
layers and a zipped up fleece jacket other than homeless people who kept all their
earthly belongings with them all the time. I had previously encouraged this student
to dress more appropriately for the weather, but he had not seen a valid reason for
doing so. After this lesson, he would take off his jacket before getting out of our
van without any comment from me.
Through the interaction with the lady, we were able to talk about his
appearance and the impression he might give to others without it being a
judgement from me. In future lessons the student would sometimes bring up what
happened and laugh about it, but he was also more aware of how he might be
viewed by strangers. He would occasionally ask questions about his clothing, what
