Teaching

Teaching

Starting off...
I just started teaching this week and things are going well so far. The first class was a little uncomfortable because I'm not used to being up in front doing whatever I have planned, but the more classes I've taught, the easier it's getting. It's nice to have some new challenges, like making lesson plans that the kids will enjoy. They really like singing songs and playing games (they're 7-11 yrs old), so it's fun for me to be up in front of them singing and acting silly, trying to get them to smile and, most importantly, stay engaged in the material I'm teaching!

What we're working on...
This week, we're working on simple introductions. We're learning the song "Helloooo, how are you? (3x) How are you today?" And let me tell you, after doing it in 8 different classes, I've gotten quite good at it :) I like being up in front and trying to get them excited. I like being creative, getting them to sing it once "veeeeery quiet" then the second time "VERY LOUD!!!" They like that a lot. I try to think back on things from camp when I was a kid...acting silly, acting things out, adding hand motions, being overly expressive/dramatic...like I said, whatever I can do to get them comfortable with me and keep them engaged. The focus of the program, aka my task, is to work on oral comprehension and production. So the students need to feel like English class is a safe place to try speaking!, where it's OK to make mistakes. I'm starting to understand the sacrifice many teachers make: sacrificing being "cool" in order to act a little silly (while still maintaining that professional balance) in order to keep students engaged. Sometimes I think I'm turning into my mom more and more... :) I think I'm starting to do the types of things she would do that would always embarass me when I was a kid. :)

Meeting some students...
On my first day, I had a few minutes between the kids' lunch break and teaching my very first class, so I sat outside on the steps near where they were about to line up. A dozen students came up to me and asked me lots of questions (in French): "What's your name? Are you our English teacher? When are you coming to our class?!" It was so fun talking in French with them; they're excited to see a new face! The next day when I went through the cafeteria to get lunch, about 2 dozen kids were calling out my name and asking if I was coming in to teach them today! It's easy to understand them when they ask me questions, and I've been responding in French. In class, I've been explaining things in English and French so they can all follow, although I need to try to stick more to English in English class!

The name game...
One thing that's a little tricky is understanding when they say their names. This is a new challenge for me because I'm usually pretty good with names, so I really want to memorize my students' names so I can call on them by name! But when they say their own names, with their French accents, some of the names just don't translate to my English speaking/spelling brain. I need to see their names written, but when we made name tags it was still tricky because they ALL write in French cursive, which is hard to read! I think I might ask the teachers for class lists.

Outside of class...
I've already seen many of my students around town outside of class. It's so cute because several times I've been walking and have heard "C'est notre prof d'anglais!" Then I see them, smile and wave, and say "Hello" (or "Salut") :) They are so cute playing with friends or walking around with their parents. I was standing in my doorway last night with my roommates and 2 boys walked up the road past us and, again, noticed me and said "Hey, that's our English teacher!" So I smiled at them, said "Hello" then started singing "Hello, how are you?..." like I had taught in class. They thought it was funny, and probably also think I'm a weirdo.


Other details about my life in France:

-- Peanut butter is hard to come by, but I found it in Toulon at a larger grocery store. Neither my French or Spanish roommates had EVER tasted it (I know, such a travesty), and I've created 2 peanut butter converts! They've seen the light.

-- After a whole week without gas (i.e. cooking ONLY with our microwave) our landlord replaced our gas tank for the 2 stovetop burners. This opens back up a world of culinary opportunities!

-- I wash my laundry in my sink. I have a clothesline out my window with 7 clothespins. Just in case you happened to be wondering, I do have a way to clean my clothes.

-- Getting the internet at home is still a problem, issues with wiring and all. Apparently the people who lived here last year didn't want to pay extra for it, so it's never been set up. It's a bit unclear though, because I sort of have 2 landlords (the guy that lives downstairs in the connected house, and then also his brother, who is the actual owner, I think). There's been inconsistencies in information given to each of us though as to whether or not we'll have to pay...

-- It's been windy! I tried to go into a park the other morning, and a security guard man told me I had to leave because of the wind.

-- My English roommate Austin has been teaching my Spanish roommate Dani slang phrases in English. Some of them I don't even understand. And some I will intentionally not repeat on this blog. I'm pretty sure English-English and American-English aren't really the same language.

-- I went to a hip hop dance class last night! It was pretty fun! I was thinking it could be a good way to meet actual french people, except that really everyone there (besides the instructor) was younger than me. Apparently there aren't (m)any locals here my age...or maybe they're just all hiding. It seems to me that everyone is either a child, high schooler, parent, or retiree. Or else they're my roommate. The search continues for things to do outside of teaching...today I searched for more information on ceramics, painting, choirs, dance, and general information on what people DO here!