Teachin’ the Kids
Today I had my first class. I was fairly nervous about it beforehand because I was taking over someone else’s class for the week–the original teacher is taking this week off to move–and I was teaching the lowest level class we offer here: preschool. So, essentially, I was told to write a lesson that would amuse preschool kids for an hour and a half, and teach them some things, including reviewing a bunch of old vocab (Snake! Notebook! Pencil Case! Soup!) and learning some new stuff (Big! Small! Hot! Cold!).
Needless to say, I was pretty panicked when I actually stepped in front of the class for the first time. I think I did a decent job of hiding it, and it turned out they were more terrified of me than I of them. At the end of the first activity, which involved me chasing students and trying to tag them after they read a specific vocab word, I heard one of the girls say (in Chinese to the TA) “the teacher is frightening!”. I think she was sort of joking, though.
Anyway, the kids definitely had fun, and they seemed to learn some stuff, too. They were very solid on the review material, and picked up the new vocab I was teaching them very quickly. For 4-6 year olds, they were pretty calm. All in all, it was a good class.
The highlight, probably, was when I was doing a relay game with them where I ask one student, “How are you?” The student must respond, “I am fine,” then turn to the next student in line and ask them, “How are you?” and so on down the line. One of the girls, Coco, was pretty sharp but didn’t have the longest attention span, and during one of the relays she clearly forgot what was going on. The student next to her asked her “How are you?” and she froze for a moment. She turned to me, looked at me with extremely wide eyes, and then turned back to the student who had asked her how she was and said brightly, “Hello!”
It was way better if you were there. I promise not to turn this blog into “(Chinese) Kids Say the Darndest Things (in English Class)”, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t a downright heartwarming experience.
Also, thanks to everyone for the many kind words following my last two posts. Please don’t worry about me; I’m ok.
Rachel on 06 Aug 2008 at 9:53 am #
Hi again,
Hope things are getting better for you now. Your first lesson sounds like it was a good start - and if the kids are scared of you from the off then you’ve got the upper hand ;-P
At the moment I still need to complete my TEFL course which I’m doing with a company called ‘i-to-i’. They also help in finding school placements, accommodation etc, but I’m keeping my options open with JET.
Alex on 06 Aug 2008 at 5:20 pm #
Thanks for describing your experiences in China. I would like to do the same as you, however with Spanish in South America. Your insight is helpful and entertaining. I hope you realize the true beauty of what you’re doing. Good luck with everything. And although you’re across the Pacific ocean, your music is always timelessly flooding my ears. Peace.
Grandy on 07 Aug 2008 at 5:31 am #
Hi Charles,
I can understand fully and sympathize with your fear of the first day with preschoolers. I would face 16 to 24 bright, sometimes fearful, sometimes wretched shiny littles faces for a seven hour day. Most of mine spoke english but I had all the ESOL (mostly spanish speaking) students registered in Kindergarten. The first two weeks were a nightmare, trying to teach them the routine and then getting them to follow it. I invariably lost one going to or from a “special class”. It was too tempting for them to pass the playground and not stop for a swing or slide on the equipment. It was great fun and very rewarding but I think I got most of my gray hairs from the first days of school each year.
I am so relieved that your mood is brightening up a bit. It is a long, long way from home and I admire you for your courage to set off on your own. It is upsetting that your girlfriend chose that time to break off with you but the distance and time makes it understandable. Perhaps “absense will make the heart grow fonder”.
We enjoy reading what you are doing, seeing, eating, etc.
Love you, Grandy
Grandy on 07 Aug 2008 at 5:39 am #
Please excuse the s on little and the misspelling of absence. I proofed it after sending. I always did things backassward. G.
coonsy on 07 Aug 2008 at 7:11 pm #
diesel, i feel you on this a bit because of tennis lessons. The 1st time i had to give a tennis lesson to 20 something little kids a few years ago i was really nervous but it only takes a few times until your comfortable with them and visa versa, so don’t worry about it.