I love teaching ESL. I don't love the hours. And I don't love the location. And I don't love the prep work. And I definitely don't love the administration and testing and stuff. But I really do love the teaching.
I have fantastic students. They bring me joy. They make me laugh. And they want to learn. And I want to teach them, so that works out well.
Sometimes I wonder if I just like it because it's a boost to my ego. Almost daily, and especially when I sub, the students tell me what a good teacher I am. Sometimes they're just being nice. And sometimes they just want to say something nice because they think I'm pretty. But sometimes I think it's true.
My students are planning a party for me next week. No real reason. Just to say thanks, I guess. Yesterday, they asked me to leave the room for a couple minutes so they could talk. They wanted the party to be a surprise. One student didn't really get that. When I came back, he asked, "Why you go? I no understand." Then he followed up with, "What food you like? We have party. What you want to eat?" (note the stellar grammar - I must be doing a good job ;) All the other students groaned and I just started laughing.
Every day I have stories. Sometimes I forget them by the time I get home, but they're embedded somewhere in my subconscious, I'm sure.
Things are good.
And this is what I'm thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
ESL Highlights #2
Highlights included:
a Spanish-speaking woman trying to convince me that in her country they set off fireworks in the house. It was a little mix up in prepositions that a little pictionary quickly cleared up, amid great laughter.
a Russian student asking for my number so he could call me from Russia when he goes home in a few weeks. He also told me that I have a good heart and that my face is sunny.
one of my evening students telling me that I look 18. Oh wait...that's an anti-highlight, or a lowlight, perhaps...
a student bringing me chocolate so he wouldn't get in so much trouble for missing the midterm. He also went into a great story in very broken English about all the women he hits on in the bar. When introducing himself, his English is very clear. Then the women start talking to him, he blanks out and lets them babble for a while, and then he tells them, "Sorry. No English" and walks away. I think he has a pregnant girlfriend and a few kids in his home country, and a girlfriend here who doesn't speak any Spanish. Quality.
There were lots of laughs this week. My students are fantastic!
a Spanish-speaking woman trying to convince me that in her country they set off fireworks in the house. It was a little mix up in prepositions that a little pictionary quickly cleared up, amid great laughter.
a Russian student asking for my number so he could call me from Russia when he goes home in a few weeks. He also told me that I have a good heart and that my face is sunny.
one of my evening students telling me that I look 18. Oh wait...that's an anti-highlight, or a lowlight, perhaps...
a student bringing me chocolate so he wouldn't get in so much trouble for missing the midterm. He also went into a great story in very broken English about all the women he hits on in the bar. When introducing himself, his English is very clear. Then the women start talking to him, he blanks out and lets them babble for a while, and then he tells them, "Sorry. No English" and walks away. I think he has a pregnant girlfriend and a few kids in his home country, and a girlfriend here who doesn't speak any Spanish. Quality.
There were lots of laughs this week. My students are fantastic!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ESL Highlights #1
I am teaching ESL. In my training and first week, there have been some fun times. I'm sure there will be more to follow!
Q: Can cooking be a leisure activity?
A: Yes, because your stomach needs leisure, too.
Talking about family words.
Q: Tell me about your family.
A: I don't have a grandmother. She... (insert dramatic death scene here).
Trying to differentiate between flowers and weeds.
Q: Does anyone know what weeds are?
A: You smoke it.
Q: Can cooking be a leisure activity?
A: Yes, because your stomach needs leisure, too.
Talking about family words.
Q: Tell me about your family.
A: I don't have a grandmother. She... (insert dramatic death scene here).
Trying to differentiate between flowers and weeds.
Q: Does anyone know what weeds are?
A: You smoke it.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Working Woman
I have a job. On one hand, my response is, "Thank you, God!" On the other hand...well...it's easy to find things to complain about. But, I'm getting good experience and I'm getting a pay cheque (counting down the weeks!), so I try to be more thankful and less cynical.
I have two classes. I teach intermediate and very beginner ESL learners, and mostly it's a lot of fun, but very challenging! In the mornings, I get to present discussion questions and teach vocabulary and grammatical structures (which I love - nerd!). In the evenings, I try to drill in basic concepts such as alphabet, colours, numbers, classroom nouns, basic verbs, days of the week, months of the year... It's not a very long list, so I need more creativity to keep things interesting. I get home at night, and I'm drained!!
Luckily, my friends love me. This weekend, it was so good to go for coffee and play football and have picnics and chat with friends. I was worried working would consume my life, but so far I was worrying in vain. Lesson planning takes me a long time. Finding resources and material and games etc is a time consuming process, but I think I'll be able to find a good balance between work life and real life. Of course, it's practically still summer and I've only been working for a week, but I hope to keep socializing. And if people keep calling me, it won't be a problem at all.
I have two classes. I teach intermediate and very beginner ESL learners, and mostly it's a lot of fun, but very challenging! In the mornings, I get to present discussion questions and teach vocabulary and grammatical structures (which I love - nerd!). In the evenings, I try to drill in basic concepts such as alphabet, colours, numbers, classroom nouns, basic verbs, days of the week, months of the year... It's not a very long list, so I need more creativity to keep things interesting. I get home at night, and I'm drained!!
Luckily, my friends love me. This weekend, it was so good to go for coffee and play football and have picnics and chat with friends. I was worried working would consume my life, but so far I was worrying in vain. Lesson planning takes me a long time. Finding resources and material and games etc is a time consuming process, but I think I'll be able to find a good balance between work life and real life. Of course, it's practically still summer and I've only been working for a week, but I hope to keep socializing. And if people keep calling me, it won't be a problem at all.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
EI, here I come!
I finished the CELTA program on Friday. It's a wonderful, liberating feeling to finish school (again). Next on the to-do list - a job! At least, that's the hope.
When I started the program, the instructors were so encouraging. Of course I'd find a job, they let me know. There are lots of immigrants in Calgary, which equaled lots of ESL teaching positions! So, I dished out the cash and settled in for a month of hellish study. And then, the course ended. The general message then was, "Good luck!"
Alas, the jobs sound like they're few and far between (at least until spring or summer), and the teachers are plentiful. For an inexperienced lass like myself, this equals bad news. So, I'm applying for positions tomorrow, and I'm hoping and praying that someone (or multiple someones) will call me up for an interview (or multiple interviews), leading to a steady, stable career in ESL. Since I am my sole breadwinner, this would be wonderfully comforting to me. In addition to the necessary income, a sense of routine and stability keeps me sane.
So, if you're the praying sort, please pray for me and my (hopefully short-lived) unemployed state of being. I would love to be a working woman!
When I started the program, the instructors were so encouraging. Of course I'd find a job, they let me know. There are lots of immigrants in Calgary, which equaled lots of ESL teaching positions! So, I dished out the cash and settled in for a month of hellish study. And then, the course ended. The general message then was, "Good luck!"
Alas, the jobs sound like they're few and far between (at least until spring or summer), and the teachers are plentiful. For an inexperienced lass like myself, this equals bad news. So, I'm applying for positions tomorrow, and I'm hoping and praying that someone (or multiple someones) will call me up for an interview (or multiple interviews), leading to a steady, stable career in ESL. Since I am my sole breadwinner, this would be wonderfully comforting to me. In addition to the necessary income, a sense of routine and stability keeps me sane.
So, if you're the praying sort, please pray for me and my (hopefully short-lived) unemployed state of being. I would love to be a working woman!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
To Kill a Mockingbird...or, in my case, a Crow
I was walking to my bus stop last week, as I always do, when I noticed a crow up on the powerline. As I was passing, it hopped along after me a little ways, and then I passed. All of a sudden, the giant black ball swooped past my head, letting out a loud "CAW" next to my ear. I startled a little and thought to myself, "That was really close to my head!" The omen of evil circled overhead a few times, and then swooped in again, once again cawing in my ear. After the third time, I took my purse in hand and got ready to take careful aim. The bird circled and began its descent. I wheeled around and gave it my best glare, attempting not to look too crazy to the morning rush hour drivers passing by. The crow turned around and went back to its tree.
A couple days later, there was the crow again. This time, it hopped ahead of me and dropped a big, wet glob of shit, which I skillfully avoided.
The next day, I approached my corner and there it was - accompanied by a friend! I got a good grip on my purse, gritted my teeth, and boldly plunged forward. I was tag teamed by two evil black crows. They swooped and cawed and successfully freaked me out. I swung my purse in their general direction to no avail. Evil creatures!
I've decided they probably have a nest in the area, and the only way to avoid the attacks is to alter my route...or kill them off. Carrying a scarecrow around with me is just too much effort.
I don't have a gun, and even if I did, I think I'd get in trouble with the law for shooting them. Can you poison birds? Is anyone reading this good with a slingshot? Help? Anyone??
A couple days later, there was the crow again. This time, it hopped ahead of me and dropped a big, wet glob of shit, which I skillfully avoided.
The next day, I approached my corner and there it was - accompanied by a friend! I got a good grip on my purse, gritted my teeth, and boldly plunged forward. I was tag teamed by two evil black crows. They swooped and cawed and successfully freaked me out. I swung my purse in their general direction to no avail. Evil creatures!
I've decided they probably have a nest in the area, and the only way to avoid the attacks is to alter my route...or kill them off. Carrying a scarecrow around with me is just too much effort.
I don't have a gun, and even if I did, I think I'd get in trouble with the law for shooting them. Can you poison birds? Is anyone reading this good with a slingshot? Help? Anyone??
Saturday, June 20, 2009
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