Thursday, March 6, 2008

Alison Teacher's Classes

Okay, Sam gave you the basics, so I guess I'll fill you in on what my schedule looks like.

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I teach 4 classes. That means that on those days when we get to work at 2:45 I immediately start planning. Then, I start moving at 4:10 and don't have time to stop and catch my breath until after my last class is over at 9:25. We only have about 5 minutes between classes, which means there's basically enough time to get to your next classroom, or in my case, as 3 of my 4 classes are right next door to each other, to survey the chaos that is 250 kids and teachers attempting to use one tiny spiral staircase at once. It's a kind of intense schedule, but it makes the day fly by.

I have two levels those days: RB and RI. My RIs (3rd level from the bottom) are my favorites by far. For one, they are super cute. Second, they know just enough English to think I am hilarious. Love it. My RBs (2nd level from the bottom) are a little bit rougher. For some reason we have a lot of older students (12-13 years old) in the lower levels this semester and I have to teach them stories like "A Hot Day" and "Hungry and Thirsty Mouse". They are so not into it. So, they get really bored and don't listen. At all. So, another teacher and I are working on curriculum supplements to make the lessons more interesting. Yesterday I had them get in groups and write down all of the foods and drinks they could think of and then write their five favorites on the board and if no one else had those on their list they got a point. It went over very well. There was much cheering and genral rowdiness, which I always appreciate in the classroom.

Tuesdays and Thursdays my schedule is much easier. I only have 2 classes those days: another RB class and an EB (4th level from the bottom). I have 2 breaks in the middle of the day, which kind of makes things drag on. I plan on using some of that time to explore our neighborhood a bit, grade quizzes and essays, and plan for Mon/Wed/Fri.

So far, I really like teaching. I know that at some point the "newness" will probably wear off and it will seem like more of a chore, but I'll worry about that when I get there. I love the look in a kid's eye when something clicks for them, and I love the challenge of getting to that point. The schedule isn't bad either! I don't know how we'll ever go back to 9-5 work after this. Another thing to worry about when we get there, I suppose.

I am, however, already suffering from a common ailment of lower-level English teaching though: sometimes I can't stop over-enunciating and speaking slowly with lots of expression and hand-movements, even when I'm talking to a competant English speaker, like say, Sam.

So, there you have it. It's what we do every day, but so far it doesn't feel like an actual "job" to me for some reason. Love and miss you all!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Woo! First comment! I love you most!

What an amazing experience. Today, I overslept, went to work, sat in my cubicle, and did tax returns (quite poorly) all day. Jealous?

Anonymous said...

Lauren uses a lot of hand movements as well, so don't feel too bad.

Sarah Fox said...

This is so exciting!! I'm not surprised at all that all the kiddos love you, and I really glad you like the teaching so much. :)

mom said...

Your name sounds so pretty in Korean! At least my Korean pronunciation of it does.

Love hearing about your classes, and your management skills of bored 12 - 13 year olds!

Love you guys!

Mom