Last weekend and early last week we were asked to teach some demo lessons at another, sister school to our Bond Kindy. It is a school that they wanted to open up this semester, but then ended up not having any students enrolled in. The higher ups hope that by our demos and the open house to raise enrollment for next semester in the spring.
The experience was good, and it reminded me of other schools I've visited as they try to grow. But let me tell you, being part of the crew instead of an audience member is a lot harder. They changed the schedule on us hourly, so we the teachers never knew what to expect, and because it wasn't actually school and they wanted the kids to have a positive experience we weren't allowed to take toys away from them or really discipline them much at all. And even with everything going to the kids' advantage, there were still a fair amount of crying children. Every. Day. Some of the kids were too young to have much experience being away from their parents, and a lot of kids were scared of the white girls speaking a foreign language to them. Plus with no routine in place and little disciple the children were literally running wild in the room. I don't know how much of an impression I made with the kids, whether they will actually remember anything I said. Even if I fell in love with a few of them in our brief, 3 day adventure. But there was one really cool moment on the last day:
I was sitting there playing with the kids when we were done with classes and their parents hadn't arrived yet and I'd made a few friends who were willing to repeat English back to me when a mother of one of the boys walked up to talk to me. She wanted to know how her son had done in class, whether he had picked up any English and whether he had remained well behaved. Luckily she brought a coordinator along to translate between us (although with the amount of time the coordinator talked I know she added her own opinion a lot too). Then she asked me a question I didn't expect at all: why should her son start English school now? What is the benefit? I've never questioned why the students are here, they just are--just like I am. I tried to tell her that starting this young made it easier in the long run, but I also should have said that as log as they are having fun they won't have any negative feelings toward English as they study it in the future. Starting at 3-4 ensures not only that a few words [hopefully] will stick, but they won't have to worry about grammar an pronunciation and the like. I could have handled the question better, but I was flattered that she would try to ask me at all.
Flash to today: the first day of school! I volunteered to teach the preK kids, knowing that they are 2 and barely know Chinese, and most likely no English. It was a tough start. This week will be rough as they get used to white girls talking to them in a foreign language, but they are so cute I know I'll survive. Even today I was already living for their laugh, which luckily, I got a lot of. Who knew putting things on your head and then making them fall off would be such a hit... But with the really little kids they don't want to talk at all, so squeezing language out of them might be hard for a month or so. I also teach some of the junior kids, including Ethan! Except with the familiarity he is a pain in class. Already calling me "teacher Regan" because he knows I hate it. There is one girl though. She isn't in my classes, but she is Japanese so not only does she not know English, she doesn't even know Chinese! She was completely freaking out today, until Allie asked her what her name is in Japanese. She doesn't trust the rest of us, but I have a feeling Allie will be her new best friend. And hopefully she'll learn some English in the process... ;)
The experience was good, and it reminded me of other schools I've visited as they try to grow. But let me tell you, being part of the crew instead of an audience member is a lot harder. They changed the schedule on us hourly, so we the teachers never knew what to expect, and because it wasn't actually school and they wanted the kids to have a positive experience we weren't allowed to take toys away from them or really discipline them much at all. And even with everything going to the kids' advantage, there were still a fair amount of crying children. Every. Day. Some of the kids were too young to have much experience being away from their parents, and a lot of kids were scared of the white girls speaking a foreign language to them. Plus with no routine in place and little disciple the children were literally running wild in the room. I don't know how much of an impression I made with the kids, whether they will actually remember anything I said. Even if I fell in love with a few of them in our brief, 3 day adventure. But there was one really cool moment on the last day:
I was sitting there playing with the kids when we were done with classes and their parents hadn't arrived yet and I'd made a few friends who were willing to repeat English back to me when a mother of one of the boys walked up to talk to me. She wanted to know how her son had done in class, whether he had picked up any English and whether he had remained well behaved. Luckily she brought a coordinator along to translate between us (although with the amount of time the coordinator talked I know she added her own opinion a lot too). Then she asked me a question I didn't expect at all: why should her son start English school now? What is the benefit? I've never questioned why the students are here, they just are--just like I am. I tried to tell her that starting this young made it easier in the long run, but I also should have said that as log as they are having fun they won't have any negative feelings toward English as they study it in the future. Starting at 3-4 ensures not only that a few words [hopefully] will stick, but they won't have to worry about grammar an pronunciation and the like. I could have handled the question better, but I was flattered that she would try to ask me at all.
Flash to today: the first day of school! I volunteered to teach the preK kids, knowing that they are 2 and barely know Chinese, and most likely no English. It was a tough start. This week will be rough as they get used to white girls talking to them in a foreign language, but they are so cute I know I'll survive. Even today I was already living for their laugh, which luckily, I got a lot of. Who knew putting things on your head and then making them fall off would be such a hit... But with the really little kids they don't want to talk at all, so squeezing language out of them might be hard for a month or so. I also teach some of the junior kids, including Ethan! Except with the familiarity he is a pain in class. Already calling me "teacher Regan" because he knows I hate it. There is one girl though. She isn't in my classes, but she is Japanese so not only does she not know English, she doesn't even know Chinese! She was completely freaking out today, until Allie asked her what her name is in Japanese. She doesn't trust the rest of us, but I have a feeling Allie will be her new best friend. And hopefully she'll learn some English in the process... ;)
So basically, I've found that it sucks when I don't know Chinese (and shouldn't try with them anyways) and they know no English. Classes are chaotic and there are a lot of blank stares on both sides. But I hope that by the time I leave in December I will see even a iota of improvement in the kids I'll be working with every week!
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