Returning to School
by claym on Apr.17, 2009, under Teaching English
Spring break is finally over and I just wrapped up my first week of classes. It’s interesting being there at the beginning of a new school year, as when I first arrived they were already halfway through their textbooks. It’s also interesting to be the with the new first year students as they just start embarking on their English education. Though I had some of these students in elementary school, this is their first truly structured English learning experience.
All my students seemed re-energized, like they were ready to learn again. Toward the end of last term they seemed to be losing steam and will to participate, but now they seem to be ready to go. I only had a few teachers change on me (that I know of so far), so largely my routine hasn’t been interrupted too terribly much. The only significant change is that my number of office days is going to plummet starting in May. The elementary schools have stated they don’t care which ALT visits the school, so I’m going to be visiting some of my coworker’s schools, and she some of mine. These make it so there really isn’t a day in the schedule where there isn’t a visit of some kind.
Community courses are also going to be starting at the beginning of June and run until mid July. It’ll be once a week, on Tuesdays, running from 6:30-7:30. The community courses are both enjoyable and annoying. They are fun because I have free reign on my lessons and can choose to teach them however I please. They are frustrating in that, because it’s all mine, I have to do it all, beginning to end. This time around I’m going to do an advanced beginner’s course on business English. Here’s to hoping it goes well!
