So my students had to write a short essay for homework answering the following question…
“What kind of boyfriend or girlfriend do you want?” Provide three specific reasons and details to support your answer.”
I was going through their answers and laughing until my face ran with tears. I think you will notice remarkable differences in the typical North American student response as well as some common similarities. I have organized random responses by my students based on their gender…
The Ladies:
“I want a boyfriend who that have a lot of money. First, when my boyfriend has a lot of money I can tell him buy me some expensive things. For example, diamonds, McDonalds and bags. Second, when I have rich boyfriend another people will be think they are rick. And it makes proud to me. Third, when he is rich he can do plastic surgery when he is really ugly.” – Angela grade 6
“I want to have boyfriends. First my boyfriend is smart because many people is smart in this world, so if my boyfriend is not smart anyone would not like talk to him. Also, second reasons is I like lots of money. Because he is too poor he can’t good at me if he wanted to. He also can’t study well. Because he can’t go to English Academy without money. The third reason is I want my boyfriend work hard at anythings. Because I don’t like lazy people.” – Helen, grade 5
“I want to have a boyfriend or girlfriend and firstly, they have to be smart as me or smarter than me. I want to discuss them about famous books or joint ownerships about books we read. Lastly, my man friend should love pop songs so we can sing with them together.” Rachel, grade 6
“I want a boyfriend, first who likes me. Even if I like him, but if he doesn’t like me, we can’t be a match either. Also, I want to have a boyfriend who has many friends always. It means that he is popular, the reason for this is I don’t like that, my boyfriend doesn’t have many friends cause my friends will not like him too.” Emily, grade 6
“If I want a boyfriend, I want him to be kind, clever, rich and tall. First, the reason I want him to have a good personality because if he has good personality he can listen to me carefully and we won’t fight or break up. Finally, my boyfriend needs to be tall, because I think and I looked the girl is tall and boy is short, I feeled strange and it looked strange.” Kristy, grade 4
“I think the boyfriend is smart, king and handsome. First, I think the boyfriend have to smart because if he is smart he can get a good job, so he can make a lot of money. Second, I think the boyfriend have to kind because if he is kind, I can tell my secret to him and he heard that and when my secret is a problem, he can solve my problem. Next, I think he has to hansome because if he is handsome, every women envy me.” Lucia
“I want a boyfriend who has good manners. I don’t want any boyfriend always being rude to me and never talk to me any. That would be an unfortunate and terrible situation!” Helen, grade 6
“I want a smart boyfriend. First, when my boyfriend is smartthen we can study together, and when I don’t no something than we can talk about it. Second, when I wok with him and another people will think ‘wow that girl have a smart boyfriend’ then I will be happy. Third, we can solve problems so easily, because my boyfriend is smart.” Jude, grade 4
“I want to make boyfriends with this qualities. First, my boyfriend have ot have a lot of money, because when I go shopping I have to buy many cloth and if boyfriend have a lot of money he will buy it. Second he have to go to a good college becuase when he is on good college and is smart my friend will be jealous to me and I’ll feel very good. Third, he have to be handsome, for example, big eyes, tall nose, small mouth, no fat in face and has to be tall. Because we can be famous.” Judy, grade 4
“I want a boyfriend who is smart because, we can study together when I have a question which is difficult. Also, he and I can stimulate each other’s competitive spirit.” Jenny, grade 5
“I want a boyfriend tall and smart who comes from a noble family. The reason is because that I am small, my boyfriend has to be tall, and if we have to make money easily he have to be smart. Finally he has to come from a noble family, or else I can’t meet him.” Eunice, grade 5
“My boyfriend has to be smart. I really like studying and I like studying with my boyfriend. I think we can learn from each other and study joyful together.” Janny, grade 5
The Gentlemen:
I want a girlfriend who is kind, popular and diligent. The first reason is that I can learn the kindness when she talks and plays with her friends. The second reason is that I can make good friends through my girlfriend she is popular, she would have many friends. And I can be introduced to them and be friends. The third reason is we can do something together delightfully. For example, we can exercise or study together forever in happy.” Mike, grade 4.
“If I have a girlfriend, I want friend that is composed. First of all, composed people listen other person’s talk well. So I can debate agonies. In our class, many people like to share agonies with composed people.” Leo, grade 5
Lastly is Kai. My bright student who answered the question and had my eyebrows raised. I told him several times when he was working independently that he was expected to write about a girlfriend. He said “I don’t want a girlfriend ever.” I talked him through the assignment and realized he really wanted to date a boy. Sometimes I even shock myself…if the boy doesn’t want to date a girl, so be it! “I want a boyfriend that play sports very well. First, I play soccer well. So, if my boyfriend is don’t like to move I can’t play with him. Second, if we play soccer or baseball we can know a lot of things between me and him. Third, I don’t like fat people, so I want thin person.” Kai, Grade 5
