First week done! It is a whole new experience..... but then Kuwait is a whole new experience.
There are several things I will write about this afternoon . The first is that it is a bit strange to be beginning my weekend on Thursday afternoon... ready for a Friday morning brunch at Movenpick again... Beginning work on Sunday feels as if it is not real and that we only work short weeks from Monday to Thursday. I am sure I will get the hang of it..
Every morning at 6 a.m. I am on that bus to school, along with all the other women who teach at the Girls' Campus and live at H5.. a full bus! At work by 6.15, it is good to be able to get set up and organised in yoour very own classroom that no other person uses . The girls arrive at about 7 although there are many there before... Life begins early here, before the heat removes the energy from the day and forces eye closure!
The lessons are doable- 55 minutes is the longest and that is the first lesson... they decrease until 45 minutes for the last one of the day. It is so good to teach for that time... no time wasted at all. It is full on and dedicated time for learning unlike the ridiculous 100 minutes in Tasmania. I have a suspicion that the three blocks are purely about easy timetabling which causes several comments to rise up...... about things!!!!!! We have one timetabler for 7 lessons per day.... go figure!
I like what I am teaching and this week has been great for meeting the girls... the names will become familiar and the thing that amuses me is that instead of looking around the room and seeing would be blondes, it is a crowded room of dark haired young women! The girls are all and I mean all keen to do their best... they have already completed work set.... The one question that lingers is how much independent learning is happening...... that , I consider , might be an issue as there is a level of dependance that is not familiar to me but I love the enthusiasm. It doesnt matter where you but that enthusiasm is contagious as I have always found with the students.... and it is inspirational too!
So we have maids who clean and sweep and pick up rubbish and bring our photocopying to us. I have women who do my photocopying... It is a new thing! And my teaching team is great.
It has been a good start for me and I know things settle out over the next few weeks but hopefully not too much. The girls get marks for their punctuality and respect etc - 10% of their final grade.
This weekend I think I will be trying out the Health Clubs......keen to be able to have another place to go without having to cover my shoulders.......
Photos will appear over the weekend.....
There are several things I will write about this afternoon . The first is that it is a bit strange to be beginning my weekend on Thursday afternoon... ready for a Friday morning brunch at Movenpick again... Beginning work on Sunday feels as if it is not real and that we only work short weeks from Monday to Thursday. I am sure I will get the hang of it..
Every morning at 6 a.m. I am on that bus to school, along with all the other women who teach at the Girls' Campus and live at H5.. a full bus! At work by 6.15, it is good to be able to get set up and organised in yoour very own classroom that no other person uses . The girls arrive at about 7 although there are many there before... Life begins early here, before the heat removes the energy from the day and forces eye closure!
The lessons are doable- 55 minutes is the longest and that is the first lesson... they decrease until 45 minutes for the last one of the day. It is so good to teach for that time... no time wasted at all. It is full on and dedicated time for learning unlike the ridiculous 100 minutes in Tasmania. I have a suspicion that the three blocks are purely about easy timetabling which causes several comments to rise up...... about things!!!!!! We have one timetabler for 7 lessons per day.... go figure!
I like what I am teaching and this week has been great for meeting the girls... the names will become familiar and the thing that amuses me is that instead of looking around the room and seeing would be blondes, it is a crowded room of dark haired young women! The girls are all and I mean all keen to do their best... they have already completed work set.... The one question that lingers is how much independent learning is happening...... that , I consider , might be an issue as there is a level of dependance that is not familiar to me but I love the enthusiasm. It doesnt matter where you but that enthusiasm is contagious as I have always found with the students.... and it is inspirational too!
So we have maids who clean and sweep and pick up rubbish and bring our photocopying to us. I have women who do my photocopying... It is a new thing! And my teaching team is great.
It has been a good start for me and I know things settle out over the next few weeks but hopefully not too much. The girls get marks for their punctuality and respect etc - 10% of their final grade.
This weekend I think I will be trying out the Health Clubs......keen to be able to have another place to go without having to cover my shoulders.......
Photos will appear over the weekend.....
Sounds amazing Liz. Looking forward to the photos and more news! I will have to show June how to comment on your blog :-).
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear how things are going for you Liz. Best of all is the obvious enjoyment of the challenge you are facing. A good challenge by all accounts.
ReplyDelete