BEIJING - Things are funny because they ring true. The 2003 movie "School of Rock" makes me laugh because it reminds me of teaching English in China.

In the movie, an underemployed heavy-set slacker poses as a schoolteacher at an elite prep school to make ends meet, and hilarity ensues.

Like Jack Black's character, Dewey, I stick out like a sore thumb in the halls of Chinese learning. I'm easily double the weight of my cohorts. Students call me by first name, free of any formality. This is nothing new in America, but it's unheard of here: Chinese teachers demand decorum, operating their classes with an iron fist.

Dave Poyer with students.

Conversely, I'm Mr. Fun. The mentality to be a proper authority figure is not part of me. I'm irreverent as hell.

Maybe it was being in the New Mexico Military Institute's Corps of Cadets, the Marine Corps, or owning a restaurant, but I don't get off on whip-cracking or bootlicking anymore. My life is proudly marked by the proverbial and often literal flipping of the bird to authority figures who take themselves far too seriously.

My old managers, professors, and commanding officers everywhere probably slap their foreheads at the mention of my name: "Oh, no, not that idiot."

I encourage the kids to laugh at things, I tell jokes. We'll sing songs, sometimes we'll throw a football in class. Hopefully, the kids appreciate the change in gears and style. They're shy.

Learning to speak a new language requires far more than rote memorization and grammar drills like these kids have done most of their academic careers. They need an informal environment where it's OK to make mistakes without the omnipresent Chinese fear of losing face. They need someone to listen to them, not just lecture them. I try to provide such an environment by being the first to put it on the line by singing dancing, shouting, jumping around, doing impressions and encouraging them open up.

Anything to build a connection, and keep their attention. Much to the administration's alternating joy and chagrin at the unconventional methods, they see progress in the students skills, and better yet - the kids are happy.

Once, I prepared a college lesson on criminal forensics and ballistics, then broke the students into four groups and told them to plan a bank robbery. They went crazy; they loved it. The presentations were so in-depth, some students even drafted blueprints and maps. Some used Power Point to aid reenactments.

One kid told me he added 24 new words to his vocabulary to prepare his group's heist plan to the rest of the class. The class went 15 minutes over, and no one seemed to care, they were so excited.

The teaching assistant attending class thought I'd flipped my lid. But most importantly, the job got done.

When I teach school, I half expect some authority figure to walk into class and bust me for being a fake. I have no official certification, licensure, nor formal teaching background. Apparently, it's not needed, because I give them a show. My nights of telling jokes to drunks in a smoky bar - I once was a comedian - pay off far better here.

Entertainment is a premium valued over substance here, especially in China's universities. Many students will get a college degree regardless of whether they show up to class, so long as their account's paid. However, some universities here boast perfect attendance. It's done by literally chaining the doors shut during class, so you better be good.

Talk about a captive audience. Fire drill, anyone?

Dave Poyer is an Albuquerquean now living and teaching in China. So far, he has started no fires.