I've decided that is is a lot of work to think up cute or catchy names for everything. Blog titles, facebook albums, everything needs to be clever. It's too much work and I'm just not that creative. Plus I want to write about several different things in this entry. So sorry, no cute creative title.
I finally got to travel this past weekend! I would have blogged about it sooner, but I actually had a busy week. Yes you heard correctly, I was busy this week. I almost forgot what it felt like. But I will talk about that later. This past weekend I went with my roommate to Lagos, Portugal. It was beautiful. There are only two buses that go, so we ended up not being able to leave until 5:30 on Friday and then had to come back at 1:45 on Sunday. We wanted to stay longer. First of all we had gorgeous weather. Warm and sunny the whole time. Definitely beach weather. The water was a bit cold, but nothing i'm not use to. I kept thinking, wow its october 16th and I'm swimming in the ocean. It is the off season so hotels there are really cheap and ours was right on the beach. It was awesome. The coast is lined with these cool bluff cave things and we went on a boat tour of them. It was sweet! The rest of the time we spent laying out, walking around the centro and eating the most amazing sea food! The first night I had a HUGE tuna steak and the next night some delicious sea food spaghetti. Sunday came much too quickly and we had to leave the beautiful sunny beach and ride home. Oh funny story. You learn to overhear English wherever you are because it's pretty rare in Huelva. So on the bus there were two older couples behind us speaking English. Turns out they were from Minnesota!! One couple from Rochester, the other from St. Paul. We spent some time discussing the twins and the vikings and how much we hate the Yankees. It felt like a little slice of home while abroad. They were just a couple of couples traveling around Europe together. Emily and Marissa, we are doing that when we are old. It's happening. But yes, that was my first travel experience thus far. It was successful.
So this week was once again crazy at school. After teaching 3 classes on my own last Thursday, I was ready to have a more relaxed week, where I'm not having to come up with all the lesson plans on my own. It seemed it would be that way until Wednesday morning. The bilingual coordinator found me and asked If I could do her a favor. One of the English teachers is very sick and will be out of school until Nov. 2nd. This puts the rest of the teachers in a bind. It's not like in the US where a system calls a sub and one is there that same day. The school has to call the government who sends someone. It usually takes a week, and smaller schools like mine just try to cover the gap. The teachers switch around their classes, and teach during their planning hour to cover the other teachers classes. Talk about rallying. Anyways, she asked me if I could teach the English classes this teacher usually teaches that day. They really don't want the kids to miss any English classes. I said of course I would help out. I usually teach Bilingual, which is mostly science classes in English, but that the children have already learned in Spanish. This is their English class. So I go into the classes with no idea as what they are covering or anything. I totally had to improv. But I think it went ok. We even played a fun memory game. At least it wasn't a total waste of an hour. My schedule will now be changed to teaching the English classes until the teacher gets back. I guess I will never know what to expect each week at school.
Its crazy though because the children here learn British English. We were learning to ask if we had different kinds of foods and the students learn "have you got?" instead of "do you have?" They also ask if they can use the toilet instead of going to the bathroom. French fries are chips and erasers are rubbers. I hope I don't confuse them too much with my American English. Oh and when they tell time it isn't 11:15 or 11:40, it's half past 11 or 20 to 12. So not what i'm use, so its a little bit more difficult to teach. But i'm still really enjoying my school and my private lessons are going well also. Next week I get to share about Halloween, so if anyone has any fun Halloween ideas for any age elementary students feel free to let me know.
No traveling this weekend, and another work week starts monday. I wonder what I will encounter this week. Still enjoying the weather here. On a funny side note, on monday it was absolutely beautiful outside and I was wearing a sleeveless dress with capri leggins. I got many many stares from people passing by in their sweaters, scarfs and boots. I just chuckle when the teachers at my school are complaining how cold it is and I'm wearing a tank top. Thanks Minnesota for preparing me for the cold. Well I will take advantage of the warm as long as I can.
Until next time
Katie
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Señorita teacher!
Well it has now been a month since my arrival to Spain, and I won't like, it's felt like a year. So much has happened, yet nothing at all, if that makes sense. What I mean is, I have had to do so much to figure out how to, well, survive here, that it makes my head spin. On the other hand when my friends and family eagerly ask me, "Hows Spain?? Tell me all about it!!!" I don't have much to tell. The process of adjusting is slow and I have yet to make friends with any Spanish people. I also have not taken the chance the travel yet, although Portugal is on the schedule for this weekend. The one thing that I do have to share is my teaching.
I just finished my second week of teaching. I was given even more responsibility this week as today (thrusday) one of the bilingual teachers had to go to the doctor and I was to teach her classes. Legally I'm not allowed to be alone in the class, so other teachers sat in, but by "sat in" I mean exactly that. They sat quietly at the back of the room doing other work while I taught. They would sometimes help quiet them down, but nothing more. My first challenge for this task was knowing what material to cover. As it was only my second week I still do not know the students level of English, speed at which they learn or how their class runs. I of course wanted to make the class fun and interesting but the school has such limited resources, writing on the black board is sometimes the only option. The older kids have a projection screen in their room so I was able to do a powerpoint for the 6th graders. We learned about the 5 sensed and their organs. I spend the better of one hour preparing a game where I put something that corresponds to a sense ( like a skunk, or flower, or radio) on the screen and they would be in teams and have to be the first to answer correctly. Of course the game only lasted about 10 minutes and was only moderately successful. But they are only 12 and I cannot ask for too much. Especially when they probably don't understand me half the time. But I was told to teach them english, so I try to only speak to them in English, even though Spanish is necessary sometimes for explaining. I also taught science to 3rd and 4th graders. The Respiratory system. Let me just say it is awesome to hear a 8 year old try to pronounce the word Larynx, or Pharynx or Windpipe.
The most challenging part of teaching here is going to be the discipline. In the school systems here when the class is being loud or not paying attention the teachers just scream at the children or pound on the desk with their hand or any object they can find. Honestly I don't know how any of them still have voices. I swear half the day is spent yelling at the kids. They also make it a habit to single kids out. They will single on child out and yell at them for not doing the assignment right, or not listening, or whatever really. Not what i'm use to at all, and not what i'm comfortable doing either. I can't yell at a class, and I won't single anyone out if I don't have to. But this is what the kids are use to, and it is what they respond to, so I guess I'm going to have to figure out another way to get them to listen to me. They also don't call their teachers by their last name here. It is Seña or profe, or their name. Since most of the kids don't know my name (some do and use it) they call me teacher or my favorite, which the 3rd graders where using today señorita teacher. As we they worked on their worksheet they would run up to show me what they had done yelling, "señorita teacher!!!" So thats it so far. I am not yet friend, or compañera but señorita teacher. I guess for now that is enough. Hopefully the others will follow. Missing you all very much.
Señorita teacher
I just finished my second week of teaching. I was given even more responsibility this week as today (thrusday) one of the bilingual teachers had to go to the doctor and I was to teach her classes. Legally I'm not allowed to be alone in the class, so other teachers sat in, but by "sat in" I mean exactly that. They sat quietly at the back of the room doing other work while I taught. They would sometimes help quiet them down, but nothing more. My first challenge for this task was knowing what material to cover. As it was only my second week I still do not know the students level of English, speed at which they learn or how their class runs. I of course wanted to make the class fun and interesting but the school has such limited resources, writing on the black board is sometimes the only option. The older kids have a projection screen in their room so I was able to do a powerpoint for the 6th graders. We learned about the 5 sensed and their organs. I spend the better of one hour preparing a game where I put something that corresponds to a sense ( like a skunk, or flower, or radio) on the screen and they would be in teams and have to be the first to answer correctly. Of course the game only lasted about 10 minutes and was only moderately successful. But they are only 12 and I cannot ask for too much. Especially when they probably don't understand me half the time. But I was told to teach them english, so I try to only speak to them in English, even though Spanish is necessary sometimes for explaining. I also taught science to 3rd and 4th graders. The Respiratory system. Let me just say it is awesome to hear a 8 year old try to pronounce the word Larynx, or Pharynx or Windpipe.
The most challenging part of teaching here is going to be the discipline. In the school systems here when the class is being loud or not paying attention the teachers just scream at the children or pound on the desk with their hand or any object they can find. Honestly I don't know how any of them still have voices. I swear half the day is spent yelling at the kids. They also make it a habit to single kids out. They will single on child out and yell at them for not doing the assignment right, or not listening, or whatever really. Not what i'm use to at all, and not what i'm comfortable doing either. I can't yell at a class, and I won't single anyone out if I don't have to. But this is what the kids are use to, and it is what they respond to, so I guess I'm going to have to figure out another way to get them to listen to me. They also don't call their teachers by their last name here. It is Seña or profe, or their name. Since most of the kids don't know my name (some do and use it) they call me teacher or my favorite, which the 3rd graders where using today señorita teacher. As we they worked on their worksheet they would run up to show me what they had done yelling, "señorita teacher!!!" So thats it so far. I am not yet friend, or compañera but señorita teacher. I guess for now that is enough. Hopefully the others will follow. Missing you all very much.
Señorita teacher
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Finally Finally and Finally
There have been many accomplishments on my end since the last time I posted, so many times have sat down and just sighed. . . finally! The first was obviously when we moved into our piso, but you all already know about that. Next on the list was when we got our internet fixed. We bought it on a thursday and that night it stopped working. We went in everyday and everyday they told us it would be fixed in 24 hours. Well finally on tuesday morning they gave us a knew internet stick if you will (you plug it into your usb) and it worked! Finally! Also during the time of not having internet our TV decided to stop working. Now I don't even think I could fix a tv in english let alone try to figure it out in spanish. But we messed around with it and figured out the cable box and connecting cord had to be replaced. So after a call to the landlord we learned where we could buy one. After reading the manual and figuring out how to auto program the channels we now have a working tv, finally! During this time of no tv and no internet, we also could not figure out how to turn the hot water on. We knew you had to turn the gas on and we thought we were lighting it correctly but alas, no hot water would come out. So of course we called the land lord, and let me tell you, trying to understand someone explain how to turn on a gas water heater on the phone is no easy task. We couldn't understand her, and she couldn't hear us, she ended up just telling us to go knock on one of our neighbors door and ask for help. So that is exactly what we did. A girl around our age, maybe a little younger and her mother live right across the hall and came over to inspect our situation. After some poking around they reported that our gas was empty, thats why it wouldn't light. So the next day the land lord had to drive an hour from where they live to help us get the water working. But after half an hour, one new gas tank, 6 people in the kitchen and lots of new spanish words we got our water to turn hot, finally! And finally the last finally is that I have started working at my school, finally! I've been there 2 days so far and everyone has been so nice. On monday I worked with 4 and 5 year olds, I forgot how cute they can be. I already got a hug from one of the little girls. I also already have a lesson to plan. The youngsters are working on numbers and colors, so next monday I am to prepare a 30 minute activity. Another part of my job is for one hour on mondays I will spend with each of the bilingual teachers I am working on. Sort of like a private english lesson for them. I had my first one monday. So tough! Here is where I wish I had taken an english grammar class. It took me ten minutes to describe to it means "to become." And why it has nothing to do with "to come" or "to go" It is going to be harder than I thought, but that seems to be the theme of my time here so far. I'm sure I will get better as time goes on.
I have not written until now because in all honesty until this week I have not done a whole lot. No trips so far, nothing too exciting, just hanging around Huelva. I have walked around to explore quite a bit, although a lot of the time I have to watch my step because I don't want to step in dog poop. Yes thats right, everyone here has a dog! Which I just feel like should be illegal because there is absolutely no where for a dog to be in this city. The apartments are tiny and no has any sort of yard. The parks are not nearly big enough for them run around in and if you aren't constantly looking down you probably will step in poop. It's just gross. Get a cat people! I have also taken advantage of going to the beach. It cost 4 euro round trip and 15 minute bus ride to get there, but it is beautiful. I also joined a gym and have been working out there this week. It is close to my house and so nice. Tomorrow my roommate and I are going to try one of the classes they offer. Way less scary to do it with someone else. Other than that I have no fun, exciting Europe trips to tell. A trip to Portugal is the process of being planned as well as other European hot spots. I can't wait to start traveling to some of them.
Oh and just so no one worries, I have been eating very well here. My roommate (Rebekah, I will just start using her name) have been having lots of fun cooking. Last week we made spaghetti, it was no prego but still delicious (I took a picture for you mom), I made pebre, and after school today I walked home with my bilingual coordinator and she took me to the fish market and got me half a kilo of these little sardine like fish. I told her I had no idea what to do with them ( they just give you the entire fish) so the lady working there de-headed, and de-gutted them for me. I was told to put salt on them, cover them in flower than fry them in oil. So I did that for dinner and they turned out quite good if I do say so myself. We also had tons of veggies so Rebekah made Ratatoullie! I helped of course. Let me tell you, it is just as delicious as they make it seem in the movie. I also went to this big market this morning and bought lots of fresh fruit, reminded me of Chile. So anyways, I'm not going hungry.
Well thats all thats going on right now. Nikki's birthday was on Friday and it makes me miss this time of year in Minnesota. Leaves changing, apple orchard, sweatshirt weather (in a place where people wear sweat shirts), mom's apple crisp, ah the wonderful foods and colors of fall. I seem to be always be missing fall in Minnesota. Oh well I guess I can't complain about going to the beach. Love and miss you all!
Besitos
Katie
I have not written until now because in all honesty until this week I have not done a whole lot. No trips so far, nothing too exciting, just hanging around Huelva. I have walked around to explore quite a bit, although a lot of the time I have to watch my step because I don't want to step in dog poop. Yes thats right, everyone here has a dog! Which I just feel like should be illegal because there is absolutely no where for a dog to be in this city. The apartments are tiny and no has any sort of yard. The parks are not nearly big enough for them run around in and if you aren't constantly looking down you probably will step in poop. It's just gross. Get a cat people! I have also taken advantage of going to the beach. It cost 4 euro round trip and 15 minute bus ride to get there, but it is beautiful. I also joined a gym and have been working out there this week. It is close to my house and so nice. Tomorrow my roommate and I are going to try one of the classes they offer. Way less scary to do it with someone else. Other than that I have no fun, exciting Europe trips to tell. A trip to Portugal is the process of being planned as well as other European hot spots. I can't wait to start traveling to some of them.
Oh and just so no one worries, I have been eating very well here. My roommate (Rebekah, I will just start using her name) have been having lots of fun cooking. Last week we made spaghetti, it was no prego but still delicious (I took a picture for you mom), I made pebre, and after school today I walked home with my bilingual coordinator and she took me to the fish market and got me half a kilo of these little sardine like fish. I told her I had no idea what to do with them ( they just give you the entire fish) so the lady working there de-headed, and de-gutted them for me. I was told to put salt on them, cover them in flower than fry them in oil. So I did that for dinner and they turned out quite good if I do say so myself. We also had tons of veggies so Rebekah made Ratatoullie! I helped of course. Let me tell you, it is just as delicious as they make it seem in the movie. I also went to this big market this morning and bought lots of fresh fruit, reminded me of Chile. So anyways, I'm not going hungry.
Well thats all thats going on right now. Nikki's birthday was on Friday and it makes me miss this time of year in Minnesota. Leaves changing, apple orchard, sweatshirt weather (in a place where people wear sweat shirts), mom's apple crisp, ah the wonderful foods and colors of fall. I seem to be always be missing fall in Minnesota. Oh well I guess I can't complain about going to the beach. Love and miss you all!
Besitos
Katie
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