I am seated on my veranda, enjoying the remaining rays of sunshine from the day. It has been gorgeous, not really warm, but gorgeous none the less. I've got my afternoon cup of coffee, sunglasses on, and life seems good.
Yesterday (Monday) marked the official start of my ESL career. I've been involved in ESL for a few years now, but this is the *OFFICIAL* beginning! Monday was my first staff meeting before the start of classes. I went to the main offices, trying to hide the fact that I was feeling woefully unprepared for my first class. The other teachers all seem very nice. Four of us are new this term. It was at this meeting that I finally found out the essentials, such as how many students I have (and their names!) and the location I was to teach at Tuesday morning! I think I'm starting to realize that not everyone in this field feels the need to be hyper-prepared.
After the meeting, I drove back across the Susquehanna to meet with my advisor. I am blessed with the most incredible advisor I could ask for. She exceeds advisor and becomes mentor in so many ways. Dr. E offered to help me by looking over my lesson plans the weekend prior. Since said lesson plans felt so slapdash to me, I asked if I could come by her office to talk it over in person.
We didn't get right to lesson plans but had some time to chat first. I think we connect well because we are both TCKs (Third Culture Kids) and additionally, she has raised children overseas and says that I remind her of her daughter. Given the stories she has told me, we do sound quite similar and I think Dr. E and my mother could start a support group for mothers of Type A TCKs!
Dr. E answered my many questions about my lesson plan and how I should spend the first day of class. It certainly helped me to feel a little more at ease, but I had some residual butterflies. It helped to know that I have the support of my family and numerous friends!
I got to my teaching location about 45 minutes early! I teach a site in H-burg, and I wasn't entirely certain of the location. One of the other teachers, the one with the key!, had said she would arrive at 8:15 or so if those of us who are new wanted to look at our classrooms and have extra time to set up. I found the building easily and she showed me to my fairly bare classroom. Picture chairs, a table, and a whiteboard! Thankfully, I had my own dry erase markers in my teacher kit!
Classes were to start at 9. By 8:55, I had two students in my classroom. I was expecting ten. I went ahead and started my personal introduction and by 9:10, a third student had arrived. We had changed the start date of class, and I think more students will show up tomorrow after receiving a reminder call today!
Our unit this term is "Friends and Family." It is the perfect unit to start off with a new Beginner class, because it is all about relationships! I took pictures of my family and used those as my introduction of myself but also to introduce the vocabulary. If you aren't familiar with ESL, it may surprise you to hear what "Beginner" truly means! My vocabulary list included "mother, father, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, brother in law..." You get the picture! This is a very "beginner" class.
Goodness, I already love the three students though! We took some time to talk about their families and their backgrounds. I can't wait to get to know them more through the course. Two of the ladies are quite good at conversational English and not very confident in their reading ability. The other lady is a wonderful reader but is very hesitant to speak.
After class, I had to go over to our offices to get some more textbooks for my students. Then, a good friend took me out for lunch to celebrate a wonderful first day of teaching! After that, my teaching continued with a few hours of homeschooling a friend's children so she could take a break. I don't mind a few hours here and there but it solidifies for me that I love teaching adults. I'm not meant to be an elementary teacher!
It's time for homework and tomorrow's lesson plan! Thanks to all of you who were praying for me today!
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