Ye gads, I'm tired
Oct. 17th, 2006 10:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eveglassDue to the tutoring session I had after class today, I only got home around 7:30 pm. From 8:00-8:30, I did some lesson planning. From 8:30-9:00, I hunted in vain for some clipart to use for a (completely superfluous) handout I wanted to make, getting more frustrated all the time. From 9:00-9:45, I tried in vain to get Open Office to run on my computer, getting more frustrated all the time (it says I need to install Apple X11 on my computer, which I've already done. Argh). From 9:45-10:15, I typed up the notes for the course for the last two days.
All told, I've done about a half-hour of necessary work for the celta, and almost two more of unncessary work. I suppose I'm a masochist.
It occured to me today that learning a new language seems to revert nominally mature adults into children. Yes, teaching ESL to adults is not quite the same as teaching to children (as one schoolteacher in our group can attest). But at the same time, it's not the same as teaching to adults in their native language. If I were to enter a university, or even a high school, with the stuff I'm doing for the celta, I'd be laughed out of the building... if I were lucky. When teaching ESL, people tend to adopt a more sing-song tone of voice, a more animated manner, and various other things you don't generally find in conventional classrooms. You have a group of adult students, who I'm sure have a sophisticated command of their own language and thoughts, trying to express their family relationships or favourite food. I have no idea why they don't get frustrated with this teaching method. I know I would.
In any event, it's my first graded teaching tomorrow. I'm not nervous, truly. I've never worried about standing in front of a class, and having someone write comments about it doesn't really phase me either. This is especially true given that, unless I screw up a lot, I probably won't fail. Yes, it might be a lot of work, but I'm not really worried about flunking.
In completely different news, I have a newfound respect for people who 9-to-5. My hat's off to you guys. I don't know how you do it.
And now, I'm very tired. I'm going to be carrying a heavy bag tomorrow (in addition to the regular stuff, I'm carrying my computer and the Game of Thrones roleplaying book) and will have less than two hours to plan and write up my lesson plan for Thursday. But no pressure or anything.
Sooooo tired. I'm going to shower and then sleep. G'night all.
All told, I've done about a half-hour of necessary work for the celta, and almost two more of unncessary work. I suppose I'm a masochist.
It occured to me today that learning a new language seems to revert nominally mature adults into children. Yes, teaching ESL to adults is not quite the same as teaching to children (as one schoolteacher in our group can attest). But at the same time, it's not the same as teaching to adults in their native language. If I were to enter a university, or even a high school, with the stuff I'm doing for the celta, I'd be laughed out of the building... if I were lucky. When teaching ESL, people tend to adopt a more sing-song tone of voice, a more animated manner, and various other things you don't generally find in conventional classrooms. You have a group of adult students, who I'm sure have a sophisticated command of their own language and thoughts, trying to express their family relationships or favourite food. I have no idea why they don't get frustrated with this teaching method. I know I would.
In any event, it's my first graded teaching tomorrow. I'm not nervous, truly. I've never worried about standing in front of a class, and having someone write comments about it doesn't really phase me either. This is especially true given that, unless I screw up a lot, I probably won't fail. Yes, it might be a lot of work, but I'm not really worried about flunking.
In completely different news, I have a newfound respect for people who 9-to-5. My hat's off to you guys. I don't know how you do it.
And now, I'm very tired. I'm going to be carrying a heavy bag tomorrow (in addition to the regular stuff, I'm carrying my computer and the Game of Thrones roleplaying book) and will have less than two hours to plan and write up my lesson plan for Thursday. But no pressure or anything.
Sooooo tired. I'm going to shower and then sleep. G'night all.
