Oh my! Today - i.e., the 'start of the week' has been topsy-turvy already and it's not even noon!
I got up at 5 to run, as i do every school day morning...then while enjoying the scenery mid-run started to question why it was so light out...my blackberry had said the proper time...i checked before I went to bed... So then it HIT me...that it was VERY likely that Day Light Savings Time had come early this year...and since my blackberry was still on Chicago time (because it's a 12 hour difference I just keep it on that time zone and switch the AM/PM). The blackberry is set to automatically update the time...so it had switched my time to an hour behind... I have never run home that fast. I got home at 725 and we were supposed to leave by 730...so fastest shower and clothing change EVER...
Made it to school...today of course is the holiday...so I go to my first class, there is no one there. I go back to the teacher's lounge and ask some teachers if classes are still to my schedule today. They say 'no no...no classes today...dancing!" Uhhhm...okay....
So then I run in to my host teacher...Pee Puy...and she says ' oh yes...there are classes...but we switched days...so today you follow the Tuesday schedule..." okay...nice to have known that BEFORE I went on my day (and I spoke with her first thing in the morning when I arrived...). So I go and teach half of this other class...
Then I have 2 more classes before I go to lunch... Yeah...no one is there. Neither class. NO teachers in sight ANYWHERE. I actually don't think they teach...I always just see them traveling in packs...
And they're ALL obsessed with going to Cambodia and buying Louie Vitton bags (nothing is uglier in my eyes...).
So...I have no idea what today will bring...when lunch rolls around...i'll go find some food somewhere...until then...i have a lovely book to read: Women's Guide to Triathlon Training...albeit I won't be doing one any time soon
But the classes that I have taught last week...I found the older ones to be my favorite...they don't hit one another ALL the time...and pay attention. As to their English...ATROCIOUS. My host student has had 6 years and she can BARELY understand Good Morning... Shocking...
This makes lesson planning difficult. They may be able to translate...but speaking is non-existant. So if I truly want to impart value...all lessons have to be speaking based...the problem is...they DONT WANT to speak because they feel they can't...and I can't make them because I have no Thai....so it's really a catch 22. But I'll try...
All in all...it's shaping up to be quite a lax time... maybe i'll have classes...maybe I won't...they don't seem to care either way...
Tonight we go to see a muay thai fight...i'm excited about that! I'll actually know what's going on!
All for now...
Little special note for Annie: Miss you super lots honey! Viva Moscow! Viva Traktir! Viva Pushkin Manicure!
keep your head up and your hopes high. they are learning. here are some tips I found on the web...maybe you can get some ideas...Bring real objects into your classroom. It is more interesting to talk about an authentic box of cereal than simply to look at a picture of a box of cereal.
ReplyDeleteGive your students homework to do, including those grammar worksheets. Don't waste class time doing work that students could do on their own. Their class time is better spent listening to your English and participating in real communication.
Allow for occasional translation. If all but a few students understand an abstract word or a particular phrase, allow for a quick translation. It saves time and will help to keep everyone up to speed.
Allow your students to speak freely without correcting their mistakes. Let your students know that you will be correcting their mistakes during grammar time but not outside of it.
Put your students into small groups to practice what they have learned, to carry out tasks, and to exchange information.
Accommodate a variety of learning styles in your classroom. Some people learn best by reading, others by hearing, others by doing. In addition to providing your students with plenty of comprehensible input, be sure to write new vocabulary, grammar points, and phrases on the board for those students who absorb information best by seeing it. To accommodate those in your classroom who learn best by doing, incorporate role-play, physical response activities, and get your students to talk to one another standing up. Moving around also relieves tension.