Yesterday and today
I am still not sure what to do with my day off every Wednesday, and yesterday I wound up doing nearly nothing.
Like I mentioned yesterday, I did go to my first Spanish lesson here, which was a lot of fun. The first hour was technically for the debutants but Meredith was going and, honestly, I was curious to see how the teacher worked with beginning students with different levels of proficiency. The second hour was the conversation class, which was a lot more interesting than basic grammar. I have to confess I am taking advantage of all the French I can learn in these lessons, as well!
After Spanish class, it was time for running practice. I arrived late and Cecile had arrived early so I did the workout myself: Three sets of 500m (1:50), 400m (1:28), 300m (1:02), and 200m (:40) with equal time jog rest after each interval and four minutes jog rest between each set. I hit every split but the first one (which I ran without a watch and without knowing the goal pace in 1:51) and got a touch faster with each set. Normally I dislike track workouts, but I felt really satisfied with this one and more confident for Sunday's race.
This morning I did my first-ever seasons and weather lesson, which went over decently. I'm planning to repeat weather at the beginning of every lesson from now on so hopefully they practice the usage of a variety of weather conditions. The best part of class was blowing over one kid's nametag while trying to demonstrate Th-th-thhhhhhursday, and then later blowing over two other nametags to illustrate "windy."
On Thursday afternoons I have three classes. Two of these classes are normally one full class with one teacher that she splits along ability levels for English (with me) and reading (with her). The smarter half of the class is a lot better behaved, but I have ben really frustrated teaching them recently because they hardly talk at all. Even though I have some discipline problems in the other half, they are much more enthusiastic participants and a couple of them have a great sense of humor. Last week I asked them to bring in a self-portrait to use in class today and one kid unfolded this huge sketch which had required extra sheets of paper to be taped to the original to illustrate his arms and legs. Last time they insisted on learning how to say "coconut."
In my last class I got the following note in English from a little boy's mother:
Other students said that they too had seen me out runnning. I have yet to go to the grocery store without seeing a student. If I haven't mentioned it before, this is definitely a small town!
Like I mentioned yesterday, I did go to my first Spanish lesson here, which was a lot of fun. The first hour was technically for the debutants but Meredith was going and, honestly, I was curious to see how the teacher worked with beginning students with different levels of proficiency. The second hour was the conversation class, which was a lot more interesting than basic grammar. I have to confess I am taking advantage of all the French I can learn in these lessons, as well!
After Spanish class, it was time for running practice. I arrived late and Cecile had arrived early so I did the workout myself: Three sets of 500m (1:50), 400m (1:28), 300m (1:02), and 200m (:40) with equal time jog rest after each interval and four minutes jog rest between each set. I hit every split but the first one (which I ran without a watch and without knowing the goal pace in 1:51) and got a touch faster with each set. Normally I dislike track workouts, but I felt really satisfied with this one and more confident for Sunday's race.
This morning I did my first-ever seasons and weather lesson, which went over decently. I'm planning to repeat weather at the beginning of every lesson from now on so hopefully they practice the usage of a variety of weather conditions. The best part of class was blowing over one kid's nametag while trying to demonstrate Th-th-thhhhhhursday, and then later blowing over two other nametags to illustrate "windy."
On Thursday afternoons I have three classes. Two of these classes are normally one full class with one teacher that she splits along ability levels for English (with me) and reading (with her). The smarter half of the class is a lot better behaved, but I have ben really frustrated teaching them recently because they hardly talk at all. Even though I have some discipline problems in the other half, they are much more enthusiastic participants and a couple of them have a great sense of humor. Last week I asked them to bring in a self-portrait to use in class today and one kid unfolded this huge sketch which had required extra sheets of paper to be taped to the original to illustrate his arms and legs. Last time they insisted on learning how to say "coconut."
In my last class I got the following note in English from a little boy's mother:
You run very well. My parents and me have seen you on "the quai de la Liberation" with your walkman Sunday.
Other students said that they too had seen me out runnning. I have yet to go to the grocery store without seeing a student. If I haven't mentioned it before, this is definitely a small town!
posted by Paige @ 8:51 PM
2 Comments:
At 12:45 PM,
Anonymous said…
There's something about this particular posting that makes it special somehow. Maybe it's because it's a lot of things I can relate to. It's fascinating to think of you doing all these things and doing them in France. Seeing students everywhere you go can be cool (but it means you need to be a bit careful, too!).
Those workout times are impressive.
And, of course once again, I'm very jealous of your ability and experiences in French and Spanish.
I've read this one over and over. I really like it!
At 2:05 AM,
Anonymous said…
I just love this blog. It is so great to hear all about what you are doing and experiencing. That is so fun to run into students. They love to see their teachers outside of school. I love you tons and tons!!!
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