Friday, November 15, 2013

Oct 23 2013: Potterisms

Katie got so lucky today- her busy day of usually 4 classes was cut in half because I needed to teach the second class with her kids and we’d switched nights for the International Class, and there we have it.
I planned a few basics to teach the kids a few words with a LOT of pictures.

So I headed down, they were still enthusiastic although more chaotic as I tried to get ready for class- I had half of them missing for most of the time, I think, and I don’t remember seeing them leave very often or having any idea where they were. But Katie had told me about it happening like so before, so I tried not to feel too bad about it.

We dug into the lesson and I had about 5 enthusiastic followers, so that was pretty good. Though I had one girl soon following me around and trying to play with the computer the whole time. Then there was a little boy in tears- most of the class huddled around, and he seems to be one of the little treasured ones and like usual, the boy who had put him in tears was crying as well, and though they explained what happened, I felt bad for them both and tried to shoo everyone back to their seats and make sure everything was okay.

I came to an end about five minutes early, but then this guy came in and was peaking around and talking to a few students, so I grabbed my things to go, figuring the time was fine [I don’t really have another class at that time so I wasn’t sure if I was late or something.]

So I headed back upstairs to talk to Katie but realized I’d left my thumb drive, so I stopped and ran back down- to see the guy had gone! Now I think of it, he was probably a father… awkward situation indeed! But I grabbed my thumb drive and talked with a few of the students as they ran in and out of the classroom. Then my time ended but I stuck around for a few minutes, seeing if a teacher I recognized would show up. I had no chance of trying to collect all the kids, however, as they raced around, so I ended up heading up to the office quite sheepish.

That was something, yes…

Off to lunch we went, which was pretty good and we were able to talk to Nicole for a moment, too. We ran out of tickets to give to the man who brings water, and we’ll need that soon! Also, sounds like we’re going to Hong Kong next weekend for our trip- we were hoping to go somewhere like Vietnam but the school really didn’t want that to happen and other choices were expensive, so it’ll just be Hong Kong for a weekend.

Anyways, we headed back and fiddled around on the computer. I found myself rewatching A Very Potter Musical which kept me laughing most of the time, as usual… And, of course, planning my final class of the day.

Eventually that time came around so I went to teach. Something about today, I swear, chaos. It was never really quiet, not the whole way through. Grade 3 Class 1 usually behaves fairly well but I don’t know, something was up. I had four kids up front up and walking around with these Pokemon-like cards, and only half were working on the book. I had tried a PowerPoint but no one was paying attention, so I shut that down. Some lessons just don’t work for some classes, and you never know until you actually try, you know?

Anyways, it was pretty crazy. I have this little boy, however, who is always pestering me but in the dearest way because he tries so, so hard. Other kids are enthusiastic, yes, but he’s a bit different. Very hard working- and as Katie was reminding me one of her kids reminds her of Bean from Ender’s Shadow- he is the Bean in my class, he really is. Just precious, if a little annoying. But he means well, and his pronunciation sucks but we’re working on it. He’s so cute!

Then I had one kid, Jake, apologize for giving me such a hard high five. He apologized! Which was nice, because that was a super hard one, but it was still pretty cute and I told him it was okay, and laughed a bit to show it’s nothing. Super cute, though.

Otherwise, the class was a good bit crazy. It was a bit of a relief to head out finally, although I was clearing up a few things with some of the kids so it’s not like I ran out the door the moment the bell rang by any means. I rounded things up a bit, and walked out as a teacher entered.

Katie headed off for her class as I entered, so I spent the rest of my time watching pieces of musicals! Very pleasurable, very fun…

Eventually we headed to dinner, which was nice and pretty tasty! They had the spicy fried rice- spicy enough that I mix it with some white rice- and popcorn chicken was tasty, too. Which I think they’re doing for our benefit. Most of the other teachers only grab a few but sometimes we fill up a good section of the tray with them. I only grabbed a few, though.

It ended up being too cold to really play with the kids. We talked with Allan, one of Greg’s students that we had met on the bus the other weekend, for a bit. He was bummed about the weather because other kids didn’t want to go out and play soccer or anything. But his English is good and it was pretty fun talking to him for a bit before he wandered off and we went back to our desks.


Katie basically ran out the door after that, wanting to get home and cozy but I stayed behind for a few minutes and finished up my things on the computer- it’s about time I actually got a chance to see a bit of the Adams Family Musical- so I remained behind for almost an hour before the internet slowed down on me [not that I really blame it by any means] and so eventually I trudged through the misty, dark street and walked home.

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