teaching

I am now into my second week of teaching. It is far different from what I expected, but I am getting used to it and starting to like it more and more. Not going to lie, the kids are a little bit crazy. Chinese schools are nothing like they are in the states...the kids yell out, they run around, they hit each other, and they frankly just don't listen. It is really hard to get them to focus on the lesson and speak english, but I think in time I will figure out how to get them to. Already I can see that I am learning the kid's personalities and tendencies and catching on to what works and what doesn't.  

I am in charge of grade two. We start each day with an "opening" where we talk about the weather, explain the rules, and sing songs. Then we split them into two different classes and I teach one of the classes for 40 minutes, then we have a break, and then I teach the other class for 40 minutes. During their break, they do "eye exercises" which is the only time each and every one of the kids is silent and in their seats. They are instructed to rub their eyes and their necks. I have never seen anything like it before, but they do it everyday! 

Two days of the week I am in charge of teaching a basic reading program which has the lesson planned out for me and I LOVE IT because I don't have to try and be creative and think of lessons by myself. I have only been teaching for two weeks and I am running out of dumb arts and crafts ideas...haha. Oh man.

After I am done teaching, I have the rest of the day to do whatever I want. Usually that consists of skyping, eating, exploring, and planning lessons for the next day. We also have ventured to downtown Zhongshan and to this place called Walking Street, which is kind of like an equivalent to the Gateway back home.

I love it here, I learn something new everyday.

-k