first week of classes

[ablysstic]

It has been a crazy week. Classes started on Monday and so far so good. I think I am really going to like the sophomore oral class that I picked up for Margaret. They are so spunky and full of energy. My Phd. students are eager, but not quite as much as the sophomores, as most all already have jobs, spouses, and some even a child. Not to sound too

Comments

[chinkerfly]

teach me, oh great one. :) No seriously though, I'm so worried about going in to teach ESL with virtually no experience. Any pointers you could give would be wonderful. I'll pass along my e-mail if you don't feel like posting them!

[ablysstic]

I think a lot of it has to do with understanding the culture, past trial and error, and realizing that this is what you want to do. If you are unhappy doing your job, you are not going to get the most out of your placement. I think that with your PC training you will feel the same too. I hear their training is the BEST. Most Chinese college students have been studying English since primary or middle school at the latest, so they have a strong background of the grammar and written parts of the language. They have the most difficulty with their oral because they lack the confidence to express themselves and have been taught mostly by native Chinese speakers. I think it is most important, as soon as possible to begin to build your students' confidence in your classroom, but I am sure you PC training will hook you up with that. Also it is important to give them as much time to speak as possible. One they have the confidence to speak, it would suck for the teacher to lecture the whole class and not give the students time to speak or even

[tropical_hermit]

congrats on the willpower! :)

Wow, it sounds like you've really found something you like to do! How utterly awesome!!! :)

I hope you feel better, sick sucks!

snorah? you should go! or at least plan to raincheck it for a later time in life... but i think that'd be a great show! she's ravi shankar's daughter, you know??? :)

[ablysstic]

Thanks for the congrats, I still get cravings, but not as hard as before at all. I feel that I am a very determined person and have pretty good follow through, so I think I can continue as long as I want to. That is the big thing for me, that is pushing me through. I WANT THIS!

I think I am feeling better. I am thinking is was all of the cigarette crap escaping :)

I KNOW! SNORAH!!! Haha... and she's ravi shankar's daughter, you know??? :) I KNOW! I KNOW! I just can't go. I have this class on Monday night and have already planed to do initial evaluations so I can not have anyone sub the class for me. I have to be there. I really don't mind though. If you had ever been to an arena concert in China, you would understand. It is filled with folks waving neon objects in the air and lot of other random, non soothing Nora-esq activity. I think it would be utterly awesome to hear her voice of velvet in person, but that is all. I think the atmosphere would be pretty lame, especially since I would have the cheapest tickets and be up VERY

[pennycuts]

Congrats again for the smoke free thing. YAY!

Sounds like you dig the class:) yay!
Nora Johns is gonna be awesome i bet. YAY!

[ablysstic]

Triple YAY!

Yeah, I think the sophomore class is going to be my favorite.