TGIF
Yesterday's classes were varied...had five of them. First two classes were nondescript. Third one was just way too rowdy, had started playing a game and they were cheating and not using English, so I was like, "We can do something not fun, we can read an article if you can't handle this..." And they were like, "We'll speak English..." So one more round, everybody yelling French clues, and there you have it, whopped em with an article about internet crime.
My math/physics kids are amazing. The ones that want to participate are really good, thinking critically about issues and trying to learn better ways to express these thoughts in English. The kids that don't really care so much, they at least sit quietly. We talked about Native Americans and I had them discuss an article about the Eastern Shawnee attempt to put a casino in Canal Fulton. Led to heated HEATED discussion about whether countries should encourage multiculturalism or one national identity. Just wonderful!
Last class was a bit uneasy. Older kids, 18-21ish, but their level of English matches my 15-year olds. Something about many of my male students here, there's very little respect for a young woman teacher. I asked them:
"Tell me your name, age, and--"
"--phone number??" they interject.
Ugh.
One of the girls gave me trouble too. I'd said my name and where I was from in the beginning of the class, written it on the board, and then gave them collages to work on. Everyone's working more or less on the activity, when this girl goes "I'd like you to please introduce yourself." Don't forget the snotty tone of voice. I said, "I already have, it's on the board...are you finished?" Silence, looks back at paper. Couple minutes later, "How old are you?" Thank you Elizabeth Bennett, I thought of you: "Old enough to have graduated from university. OK let's start this activity since we seem to be done." Haha heard her say, "Je ne peux pas faire concurrence avec cette madame." I can't compete with this lady.
After classes, went to meet my tutoree, Alexia, at a local café. Seems bright but hesitant to talk. Had her do a little bit of grammar--comparative adjectives--and then worked on a text her professor had given me. Read through it, went over words she didn't know. Used some of the unit questions as jumping off points to try to get her to talk in English. I think we're gonna focus on grammar from now on out, as well as go over her writing assignments when she has them.
Went out to the Latino Café with the assistants last night, funded by tutoring, yay!
Today has so far been absorbed by catching up on sleep, going to the educator's library to get an English grammar book, sorting out administrivia at school, and cleaning this dang house. I dunno it's me or what, but it just seems that things smell more in France. The garbage, the streets, the food, everything. Doesn't help that we accidentally bought a laundry bin instead of a garbage bin. Cleaned out the fridge, took out the trash, opened the windows, and hopefully things will be a bit fresher.
If the weather holds out, Rose and I will be biking to Chambord and back tomorrow. Yay for an adventure!
My math/physics kids are amazing. The ones that want to participate are really good, thinking critically about issues and trying to learn better ways to express these thoughts in English. The kids that don't really care so much, they at least sit quietly. We talked about Native Americans and I had them discuss an article about the Eastern Shawnee attempt to put a casino in Canal Fulton. Led to heated HEATED discussion about whether countries should encourage multiculturalism or one national identity. Just wonderful!
Last class was a bit uneasy. Older kids, 18-21ish, but their level of English matches my 15-year olds. Something about many of my male students here, there's very little respect for a young woman teacher. I asked them:
"Tell me your name, age, and--"
"--phone number??" they interject.
Ugh.
One of the girls gave me trouble too. I'd said my name and where I was from in the beginning of the class, written it on the board, and then gave them collages to work on. Everyone's working more or less on the activity, when this girl goes "I'd like you to please introduce yourself." Don't forget the snotty tone of voice. I said, "I already have, it's on the board...are you finished?" Silence, looks back at paper. Couple minutes later, "How old are you?" Thank you Elizabeth Bennett, I thought of you: "Old enough to have graduated from university. OK let's start this activity since we seem to be done." Haha heard her say, "Je ne peux pas faire concurrence avec cette madame." I can't compete with this lady.
After classes, went to meet my tutoree, Alexia, at a local café. Seems bright but hesitant to talk. Had her do a little bit of grammar--comparative adjectives--and then worked on a text her professor had given me. Read through it, went over words she didn't know. Used some of the unit questions as jumping off points to try to get her to talk in English. I think we're gonna focus on grammar from now on out, as well as go over her writing assignments when she has them.
Went out to the Latino Café with the assistants last night, funded by tutoring, yay!
Today has so far been absorbed by catching up on sleep, going to the educator's library to get an English grammar book, sorting out administrivia at school, and cleaning this dang house. I dunno it's me or what, but it just seems that things smell more in France. The garbage, the streets, the food, everything. Doesn't help that we accidentally bought a laundry bin instead of a garbage bin. Cleaned out the fridge, took out the trash, opened the windows, and hopefully things will be a bit fresher.
If the weather holds out, Rose and I will be biking to Chambord and back tomorrow. Yay for an adventure!
posted by madameb1789 | 8:14 PM
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