So this week and last I had the opportunity to attend some Classes at the University and complete my second week of teaching and visit another school. I am having such a good time. I wake up everyday and don't dread going to school for a change. The classes I attended at the university were the history of the region class and the technology class. They were very interesting. The classes at this university are very different from those at NC State. I noticed they focus much more on the “human aspect” of learning, whereas the classes at state focus much more on the technology aspect of the teaching profession.
I think both of these components are critical to teaching but I feel that the collaboration and more interpersonal aspects are much more helpful to up-and-coming teachers. I asked some of the people at the university and they say that classroom tech is very limited so, there is little point in focusing to much on it. During one of my classes in the Lyceum I was asking about school computers and technology available to them. They told me they do have a computer class but that is it. I mentioned that the school I taught at in North Carolina has “only” one classroom set of 30 iPads and they were very impressed and surprised that the school had THIRTY iPads. I forget how even working class seems wealthy to many people in Russia. It took me off guard because I felt like I was the ungrateful rich snob. It really can be a completely different world over here in some respects.
Teaching is still going great! I am so grateful to have know these students. They truly have changed my way of looking at students. They are so eager to learn, they are very excited about me being in class, all but my seventh graders. Galina, the the woman who is working with me, she told them the other day that they would be taking a test, and they all broke into a cheer. She stopped and looked at me and said, “That is a unusual reaction to a test.” I just had to laugh, because I know that it was because speaking with me is difficult for them. I have one 7th grade student, who doesn't SPEAK much English but he understand a lot of what I say and he often will translate instructions for me. Again, this is where knowing Russian would be really helpful!
While I am teaching I find myself leaning on my stronger speakers to help me through class. I get nervous some times and my self-consciousness slips into my mind. I don't want to look like an idiot and they could talk about me all they want and I wouldn't even know! I think I am a good teacher but I feel so out of my element here and the teaching style is so different. Whenever I try to do an activity closer to what I would do at home the idea is lost in translation and often I don't want to waste what precious little class time I have trying to explain a new concept. This is way I would like to comeback and teach for a year or so. I feel like if I were able to have a classroom that is only mine I would be a lot more effective. Right now I am but a scent on a breeze as I pass in and out of their class this month. However long am here for, I can tell that I am truly appreciated. That is just such a radically different feeling from the states. Sometimes I feel that the students would prefer that I just kick them out of the classroom because then they wouldn't even have to pretend to listen. I love feeling wanted in my profession, I do realize that this will be a constant struggle through out my teaching career! I feel so fortunate to know what true appreciation feels like. Now, I know what it looks like I actually think I will be able to find it more in my students at home
Teaching is still going great! I am so grateful to have know these students. They truly have changed my way of looking at students. They are so eager to learn, they are very excited about me being in class, all but my seventh graders. Galina, the the woman who is working with me, she told them the other day that they would be taking a test, and they all broke into a cheer. She stopped and looked at me and said, “That is a unusual reaction to a test.” I just had to laugh, because I know that it was because speaking with me is difficult for them. I have one 7th grade student, who doesn't SPEAK much English but he understand a lot of what I say and he often will translate instructions for me. Again, this is where knowing Russian would be really helpful!
While I am teaching I find myself leaning on my stronger speakers to help me through class. I get nervous some times and my self-consciousness slips into my mind. I don't want to look like an idiot and they could talk about me all they want and I wouldn't even know! I think I am a good teacher but I feel so out of my element here and the teaching style is so different. Whenever I try to do an activity closer to what I would do at home the idea is lost in translation and often I don't want to waste what precious little class time I have trying to explain a new concept. This is way I would like to comeback and teach for a year or so. I feel like if I were able to have a classroom that is only mine I would be a lot more effective. Right now I am but a scent on a breeze as I pass in and out of their class this month. However long am here for, I can tell that I am truly appreciated. That is just such a radically different feeling from the states. Sometimes I feel that the students would prefer that I just kick them out of the classroom because then they wouldn't even have to pretend to listen. I love feeling wanted in my profession, I do realize that this will be a constant struggle through out my teaching career! I feel so fortunate to know what true appreciation feels like. Now, I know what it looks like I actually think I will be able to find it more in my students at home