Another day at work

And so I'm back at work... A new term just began and I've had 2 classes so far. I had 8 students today, out of 23 which I had the first week. I don't know why there were so many students missing today, but I guess it's due to several things - most of my students also study at the university and exams are around the corner, the Muslim new year will begin on Thursday or Friday (it depends on the moon) and the library has been closed during Christmas and people think we haven't opened yet. And people drop out. But in January we open up a second chance to get into class so I will hopefully get some new students in my groups the coming weeks. That's good because I get paid according to the number of students and a small group = not very much money.

I felt a bit awkward the first few minutes today because I hadn't had time to prepare the class. Usually I prepare the classes very well, but I didn't have the time to do so today (I'm preparing for exams too) so I kind of had to improvise. But in the end we had a lot of fun and I know my students learned new things. That's really important to me, that my students learn new things in every class and that they are allowed to speak freely in every class. I think conversation is a very important skill when it comes to learning a new language.

I MIGHT work on Thursday, it depends on the new year, if it's a holiday or not. At least I'm free from work Friday - Monday. Guess what I'll do? *lol* S-t-u-d-y ....

A training course

I have completed my first month as a payroll teacher. I feel really exhausted but also very, very happy. Finally I've found the job for me. Being a teacher is what I'm supposed to do, I'm sure of that now.

I have had several jobs before this one, I've worked as a nursery teacher (working with kids aged 1 to 6), a substitute teacher for grades 1 - 3 (kids aged 7 to 9), a waitress, an interpreter, translator and a cook, among other things. The one I liked the best was being a SAHM and in a way I miss "just being at home", but at the same time I know I need to work and have a social life. I don't really work for the money, because our center doesn't get any funds so the tuition fees goes to pay the bills in the first place and then there's a small part that goes to the teachers. I work because I was getting too isolated at home. I rarely left home, except for picking up my kids at school and I hardly ever had any adult conversations. That was getting on my nerves because I need to communicate with people, I really need to have a social life.

Next weekend I'm going to spend in class, but this time as a student. I'm going to a training course to become a better teacher. I'll have to ask my MIL if she can look after the kids because I can't bring them to class with me and I can't leave them alone. I hope she won't mind.

The teachers at the training course all work for the Instituto Cervantes, a Spanish world wide organization, with libraries and Spanish courses in several countries. In the US there are centers in Albuquerque, Chicago, Seattle and New York. This is going to be my third training course and I'm really looking forward to assisting because they are usually very good and aimed exactly at teachers like us. It's going to be so much fun!

First week of school

And I have not been able to connect to the classrooms yet. I study on line and was supposed to go on line last Monday, first day of class. But the computer system won't let me because my ID card expired and until I get a new card I won't be able to start my studies. I'm going back to Ceuta tomorrow and hopefully my papers will be ready so I can get a new card. If I do I'll be terribly busy the whole week because I have a lot to study to be up to date with my class mates.

I'm still looking for the books I need. They are way too expensive for my economy so I've been visiting a lot of libraries these past days to see which books I can read there and which books I really need to buy. Books are very, very expensive! I will have to spend a lot of time at the libraries but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

I'm doing 5 subjects this fall. Latin and Literature Theory are the hardest ones and Linguistics seems to be the easiest. I'm also doing Phonetics and Middle Age Literature. Great subjects!

The classes at work start within two weeks. I'm going to work two evenings a week, teaching Spanish. So far I have 6 students in my class but I hope I'll get at least 10. I'm really looking forward to getting back to work, because I LOVE teaching! I'll have to find time this week to prepare at least the first 2 - 3 weeks of classes. I'm going to use the same book I used during summer so at least I'm familiar with the texts and the grammar we're doing this year. That saves me a lot of work.

As you can see, next week is going to be very, very busy! But I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I'll start with Middle Age Literature and Linguistics next week and try to do at least 3 weeks each, so I can dedicate the following week to Latin.

Back to work

I went to my job today. I work at a cultural center that is also a library for the university students. It's a great place! Lots and lots of books, people studying, taking classes in the classrooms upstairs or having meetings about volunteer work. The library is a "second home" to a lot of people, both young and old. There are Moroccans, Spaniards, different African nationalities, Germans and many more.

The classes will start on Monday October 29th, so there's not much time left. I will have one group this year, twice a week. That is going to be so much fun! But I don't have much time to prepare my clases right now so I'm glad I can use the same book I used during summer. That will make it a lot easier, because I already know the book and have prepared some games and additional activities. That will save me a lot of time.

I will have to spend a few days next week planning my classes. I will also have to plan my own studies because my classes start next week. I guess I'll have to learn the fine art of PLANNING! *lol* Otherwise it will all be a mess and I'll get a nervous breakdown before Christmas.

I'm going to Ceuta tomorrow to do my registration. Wish me luck and pray for me. I can really need that. I hope to have good news when I come back home.

The first week....

It's Friday today and I've survived my first week as a payroll teacher. I've worked 13 hours this week, without counting all the hours I've spent preparing the classes, reading books and looking for material... In all I'd say I've spent nearly 50 hours doing things related to my work as a teacher or volunteer worker. *phew* I just hope next week will be a bit less stressful!

I have 3 students in my Spanish class and so far only 3 or 4 students in my computer class. But we're having such a great time! I really, really do enjoy teaching! I think I've found my call in life. *lol* A bit late maybe, but late is always better than never, right?

Now I have another 2½ weeks left of work and then I'm free for about a month. After that my boys will be back in school and I'll start private tutoring again.

BTW, are there anyone out there interested in learning Spanish? If you are, maybe I could start an on line class, like the Spanish word of the week or something like that. I think that would be fun!

My first day at work

I survived my first day at work! It was hard and I was sooooo nervous, but it all went rather well. No, actually it didn't. I think it was a complete desaster because we were two teachers and we had only 6 students and ther'y are at completely different levels. Two of them don't understand a single word of Spanish, one of them has studied for several years and only need to practise a little and the other 3 are somewhere in between. How do you do anything useful in such a situation? Well, we didn´t. Or at least I don´t think we did, but the students seemed to be ok with the rather strange situation.

Tomorrow I will have a group of 3 (or more students) with at least a little knowledge of Spanish. It´s going to be an interesting day. *lol*

My kids are taking French so I can work. I can´t afford a baby sitter for 2 hours a day so they have to come with me. Luckily enough there is a French class for kids more or less at the same time and the teacher is a friend of mine so he´ll come to my class to pick my kids up, because my class starts at 9 o´clock this week and his at 10.

Well, I'm really really tired now and I should try to get some sleep. I just have to finish preparing my class for tomorrow and then I'm off to bed. Tomorrow will be another day and probably full of new experiences. *lol*

It's over 30 degrees C and its almost midnight. There are lots of kids out in the street playing football. This is really the best time of day, because during the day it's hot and the humidity is over 50 or 60 % so you sweat a lot, no matter what you do. But since I start work at 9 I have to get up before 7 AM and therefore I need to get my beauty sleep. *lol*

Update on the Summer Challenge

Mama Bright started a Summer Challenge one month ago and since I need to get back on track I didn't have to think twice about it. *lol*

My goal is to do some sort of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. That means walking or doing yoga, since I don't have the time to go to a gym during summer and even if I had, what would I do with my boys while I was working out.

So far I'm doing okey - 750 minutes. My goal is 2000 minutes before September 3, which is less than 2 months away. To tell you the truth I think/I hope I will achieve my goal before that, so I might change my goal to 2500 minutes. What would that make? Some 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Right? I could do that.... At least I hope I can.

The strangest thing is that since I begun this challenge I've gained a lot of weight. I think it's because I haven't done any yoga for a LOOOONG time, I've been way too busy at work, I haven't slept more than 4 - 5 hours a night for ages and I definitely don't eat right. July is going to be a LONG month.... I'll teach 2 hours of Spanish 5 mornings a week and then 2 hours of Computer Science a week in the evenings. And when the temperatures rise over 30 degrees C my brain just isn't working as well as it should. Like right now... It's 10 PM and I haven't had any dinner yet, my sink is definitely not shining and I have to prepare 2 classes for next week, read a lot of notes and prepare the guidelines for an exam.... I think I NEED a coffee and a doughnut!!!! Or chocolate... Or whatever, as long as it's stuffed with calories. *lol* I'm definitely NOT losing weight this summer....

Preparing for class

Yesterday I went to work to talk to my boss. Finally I got the books we'll use in my next class. Oh boy, am I nervous or what? This will be the first time I teach Spanish to a whole class. So far I've only done private classes or small groups and without following a special book or predetermined plan. This time everything will be different.

My boss thinks I will have about 8 or 9 students in my class and they will probably know a little Spanish, enough to make simple phrases but that's it. So I just can't base my classes on conversation, I need to work on all the language skills. Besides, each lesson will be 2 hours long and 5 days a week, so it's going to be HARD work to plan my classes! But such a great experience for me. If I do good at this one, I know I'm a great teacher and then going back to school will be worthwhile. But if I fail - is there any use going back to university for 5 years, spending thousands of euros and not having any free time for myself? Well, I guess there is, because I really do want to become a teacher and every step on the way will be a useful experience, one way or another.

I will read through the books tonight, to get an idea of what I'm supposed to teach my students. And then I'll have to begin to plan the classes for the first week and look for more exercises and stuff.

I'm so terribly nervous and at the same time I'm thrilled! It feels like a new beginning.

BTW, I might not update my blog as much as I usually do next week, I guess I'll be pretty busy with my classes and going to the beach with my boys. I just hope I can throw in some yoga time for myself because I really, really do need my yoga now. I'm so glad I found yoga and made it part of my life.