My days have started to run together while I am here. I can't believe it's practically Thursday already! This week as flown by as well. By tomorrow night (Thursday night) I will have to be packed and ready to leave for Rome after school on Friday. The time is flying! I am missing my family at home, but enjoying the moments I am having here.
Most of my classes are boys and only one class is girls, which I haven't got to see much. Boys are crazy, and are completely different from girls, but they're also different within themselves. I have 2 4th grade boy classes and one 5th grade boys class. The two 4th grade boys classes are almost like night and day. One is a very talkative class, although they are fun and like to ask me questions (which I enjoy because it helps me to get familiar with their accents), and the other is very quiet. They like to do their work in silence. I find something very funny during the classes... When a teacher is in the front or preparing something before presenting it to the class, the students surround the teacher. And it's such a normal thing. The students crowd around and ask many questions and are extremely nosey, but it's the culture of how they runs things around here. I have enjoyed getting to be a part of this experience. Although, I have really come to find that teaching English is not my best subject. There are so many particular vocabulary and usages of words that I can't even remember. I am good at trying to get them to understand words (because some of their classes, apart from the English class, is only in English... including the workbook and exams). They learn new English vocabulary outside of their English classes.
The boys at my house have been warming up to me, and I have really enjoyed it. I have been very tired lately, which I can't figure out why because I have been sleeping very well, but playing and talking with the boys is something extremely important in order for me to help them with their English and allow them to hear how English sounds where I am from. I have been very interested in their math homework as well, considering I am a math major and I don't get to help teach in a math class here. The way they do division is so different! The way they use decimals (periods) and commas are opposite. I can only imagine what it would be like for a child who moves from one country to another (like to the U.S.) who has learned one thing, but then is taught something completely different. On top of a possible language barrier, they could be confused on just the placement of the division sign. This is something I can really take back to my future classroom, and I am excited that I am still able to see how things in other subjects even though I am unable to help teach in that subject during the day. (This is a huge positive of staying with host families, as well as the other many advantages it has.)
I am enjoying my stay here, but missing my family and friends very much! This week (and almost a half) has gone by so quickly, but it still feels like a long time before I get to see familiar faces again! I have been praying for those at home, and appreciate the prayers for me and my safety while I am over here! I thank God for blessing me with such caring family and friends!
Most of my classes are boys and only one class is girls, which I haven't got to see much. Boys are crazy, and are completely different from girls, but they're also different within themselves. I have 2 4th grade boy classes and one 5th grade boys class. The two 4th grade boys classes are almost like night and day. One is a very talkative class, although they are fun and like to ask me questions (which I enjoy because it helps me to get familiar with their accents), and the other is very quiet. They like to do their work in silence. I find something very funny during the classes... When a teacher is in the front or preparing something before presenting it to the class, the students surround the teacher. And it's such a normal thing. The students crowd around and ask many questions and are extremely nosey, but it's the culture of how they runs things around here. I have enjoyed getting to be a part of this experience. Although, I have really come to find that teaching English is not my best subject. There are so many particular vocabulary and usages of words that I can't even remember. I am good at trying to get them to understand words (because some of their classes, apart from the English class, is only in English... including the workbook and exams). They learn new English vocabulary outside of their English classes.
The boys at my house have been warming up to me, and I have really enjoyed it. I have been very tired lately, which I can't figure out why because I have been sleeping very well, but playing and talking with the boys is something extremely important in order for me to help them with their English and allow them to hear how English sounds where I am from. I have been very interested in their math homework as well, considering I am a math major and I don't get to help teach in a math class here. The way they do division is so different! The way they use decimals (periods) and commas are opposite. I can only imagine what it would be like for a child who moves from one country to another (like to the U.S.) who has learned one thing, but then is taught something completely different. On top of a possible language barrier, they could be confused on just the placement of the division sign. This is something I can really take back to my future classroom, and I am excited that I am still able to see how things in other subjects even though I am unable to help teach in that subject during the day. (This is a huge positive of staying with host families, as well as the other many advantages it has.)
I am enjoying my stay here, but missing my family and friends very much! This week (and almost a half) has gone by so quickly, but it still feels like a long time before I get to see familiar faces again! I have been praying for those at home, and appreciate the prayers for me and my safety while I am over here! I thank God for blessing me with such caring family and friends!