Well, I do believe that I've done as much learning in the last week as all my students combined. Which there are 8 different groups, ranging from 7yr olds to adults! It's a really bizarre feeling, especially on Tuesdays, when I teach 1st grade, then 5th, then 8th. It feels as if you're walking through your house and when you leave the room and come back your children are all of a sudden 4 years older and you have to instantly switch how you talk to them.
The first week I had a discipline problem. The Spanish are a warm and party-loving people because they grow up as loud misbehaving children. On Friday we went out for drinks with all my coworkers, and one of them was asking why some parents were yelling at one of my bosses earlier that day. He said, oh no, that's just how they talk. These were parents of two of my quite lovable but loudest kids.
Today was better. I am now writing Rules on the board and explaining them in as much Spanish as I can manage. The whole immersion thing can wait! But the adults are lovely and I really enjoy teaching them. They all want to be there and are trying hard, and it's a nice break from the discipline game. I'm also loving my bosses and coworkers - awesome group of peeps. Overall though - teaching is hard!!! Kudos to all the teachers out there!
I'm also getting to know my neighborhood. Today I decided that I'd like to lesson plan over some wine, so straight from the metro on my way home from work I looked into a few bars and picked this one that struck my fancy - turned out to be a good choice! The bartender Mario was very friendly with everyone, was running around like a chicken with its head cut off getting orders to everyone in the place, and kept feeding me cheese on bread. I finally told him I can't have any more cheese, but then somehow ended up having more tapas with him and another person that works there and a customer after the place was closed. Of course I wasn't charged for the extra food. I think I will be coming back to this place!
The first week I had a discipline problem. The Spanish are a warm and party-loving people because they grow up as loud misbehaving children. On Friday we went out for drinks with all my coworkers, and one of them was asking why some parents were yelling at one of my bosses earlier that day. He said, oh no, that's just how they talk. These were parents of two of my quite lovable but loudest kids.
Today was better. I am now writing Rules on the board and explaining them in as much Spanish as I can manage. The whole immersion thing can wait! But the adults are lovely and I really enjoy teaching them. They all want to be there and are trying hard, and it's a nice break from the discipline game. I'm also loving my bosses and coworkers - awesome group of peeps. Overall though - teaching is hard!!! Kudos to all the teachers out there!
I'm also getting to know my neighborhood. Today I decided that I'd like to lesson plan over some wine, so straight from the metro on my way home from work I looked into a few bars and picked this one that struck my fancy - turned out to be a good choice! The bartender Mario was very friendly with everyone, was running around like a chicken with its head cut off getting orders to everyone in the place, and kept feeding me cheese on bread. I finally told him I can't have any more cheese, but then somehow ended up having more tapas with him and another person that works there and a customer after the place was closed. Of course I wasn't charged for the extra food. I think I will be coming back to this place!
Oh, you know, lunch of Spanish broken eggs, black pudding, wild boar, and a blue cheese and apricot tapa (which was way too heavy on the blue cheese, but hey, these are our problems) (this is Jo by the way)
Happy people (Erica and I) waiting to get amazing food
Did I mention the awesome teacher friends? :)
Hey Natasha!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about having to change the way you talk!
So funny! Glad you are having a good time.
Oh of course you'd know! Props to you for teaching kids, it's not easy!
ReplyDelete