Adding Stamps

Freshman Class #2

So let me just give the rundown. I got up early this morning because I was going to Skype home to talk to Auntie before heading to school. After I checked in I decided to get to class early, make a good impression on the students you know. I had planned to have my name on the board and greet the students at the door as they entered.

I arrived 15min early, I had checked out the classroom location last night to avoid confusion this morning. The door was opened to room 105 so I poked my head in, it was full of students. So I stood by the door to let the previous class finish. As I waited there a min I realized there wasn’t a class going on, the students were just conversing. No it was not in English but even when students are speaking a foreign language you can tell the difference between class time and play time.  I poked my head in again and realized there was not a teacher at the podium.

I stepped into the classroom this time and they all fell silent. I asked if this was the 8 o’clock Oral English Class. Suffice it to say I was floored when the response was yes. Come on a Freshman English class that started at 8am had practically a full classroom 15mins prior to the beginning of class! The first thing that ran through my head was either this class is that dedicated, probably not, or as a Foreigner I am suppose to be really good entertainment, crap I didn’t have any comic routine planned.

The first matter of business was the role sheet, yeah that will be on the list of vocabulary to teach. I decided to run up to the offices since I still had a few min. Mind you I was on the first floor and the offices are on the fourth, really people offices on the fourth floor! To make the jog even worse James wasn’t in, I did manage to find an English Teacher who was surprised I had not been given a roll sheet prior. She also cleared up the early class surprise. The students are required to be in their seats 10minutes prior to class, so they are not that dedicated nor was I expected to be that entertaining. This discovered did relieve some stress.

With out a formal roll I just sent around a paper to have them all write their name, to my relief they all had English names already. Wendy had told me if some didn’t have one just to write some names on the board and have them choose. Does that seem anti-climatic to anyone else. I don’t know I just think naming should be a little more labor intensive then picking a random name from the board. Any the names were all over the place. Surprisingly I had no repeats which I truly appreciate.

Some of the names include, Beata, CC, Onnugolla, Cherry, Reamer, and Oscar(she is a girl). After talking to Dantzelle and Adam I have a pretty tame class when it comes to names, Adam had a Metron last year, (Transformers anyone?)

After getting names I did a quick introducation of myself. Eyes difinitely widened when I said I was the 2nd oldest of 5 children. Being from California is always a hit! Thank you Mom & Dad for such a recognizable state! I can proudly say I am from the most popular State in America!! I wear that badge proudly, I never have to explain the location or what California is known for.

Then we did a milling activity, Find someone who… It took some coaxing to get the students out of their seats at first. They are most definitely use to lecture style classes. I will break them of that, our classes are about 2hours long. I teach for 45minutes then we have a 10minute break then a final 45minutes.

I split the semester up into themes covering one theme every two weeks. We went over the plan for the semester and I had all the students copy it into their Notebook. Just to note, getting students to take notes is just as hard in China as it is in the states.

Then we began brainstorming vocabulary for Introductions/Greetings. I’m hoping once we get into a routine more students will volunteer, I always feel guilty when I have to call out names because I tend to call out the students whose name I remember the best. I did get them paired and talking for a few minutes before I dismissed for the morning.

When the time was up I thanked them for a good class and dismissed them. No one moved. So I turned my back to begin erasing the board and only a few students made for the door. Okay odd, in the States there would be a mad rush for the door regardless of lesson. I asked the students what they did to signal the end of a lesson. They waved their hands and said Good-Bye. Then it finally dawned on me they stayed in the same classroom and the teachers came to them.

This morning was Freshman Class #2. I discovered all these students are in the same major, Applied English. They will be a family for the next three years. They have all the same classes together and their roommates are from this group. I am excited to teach the Freshman as they are adjusting to new surroundings and have no expectations for me.

Overall I feel the day went well. I was not nervous once I got going and the class was respectful for the most part. There will always be the boys in the back who talk excessively, and everyone says girls are the talkers. Just because they are not discussing the latest fashion trends or their latest shopping spree doesn’t mean boys can’t find something to talk about.

Thursday I have the Freshman Class #1. The great thing about this year I can prepare one lesson and teach it twice. I will make it this year and better still I am going to enjoy every min of it!