Well, the course is more than half way done now. Leighton and I have been working our little booties off trying to keep up with the work load. We have "study mornings" all this week to give us extra time to plan lessons and write our assignments. We need them!
Last Thursday I taught my 4th lesson, the official mid point. I received my second "above standard," which is the highest score possible on the teaching practices. I'm pretty proud of myself on that... it was as close to a perfect lesson as I could have done except for a few little things like timing. The trainer, Percy, had so many good things to say and so few bad things that he redacted the space for bad things and wrote more good things. He told me it was the first time he's ever had to do that! Gave me a little jolt! I was also scored "above standard" for the half way review. I guess that means I'm on track to pass!
The course does have different "grades" but they don't really matter. The only thing it means is that you're more ready to teach without supervision if you get a "pass A." The one thing it means for me is that if I have a couple of bad lessons I'll get a stern talking to from the trainers!
Anyway, I've really got to get back to work. I have a lesson plan, an assignment, and heaps of materials to get done!
Good day to all!
About Me
- Mike
- Backpacking adventures of me and Leighton as we explore all that SE Asia has to offer. We love comments and feedback!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
3 Down and...
5 to go!
I've just finished my third "teaching practice" here for my CELTA course. Things have been going well... but hectically!
This course really isn't for the faint of heart. I'm really stunned at the amount of work they want us to complete in such short amounts of time. For an example, over the weekend I had a 1000 word assignment that took 1300 words to complete, so I had to edit that down pretty harshly. I had to plan a lesson (taught it tonight), and get into the city to experience a once-in-a-lifetime festival here in Chiang Mai. Busy boy!
The festival was stunning. They float lanterns into the sky and down the river to send away their bad luck. So pretty:
That's Rebecca. She's my buddy! We bought our lantern for $2 and sent it up. I didn't pray to Buddha, much to my students' dismay.
So anyway, heaps and heaps of work to do. Blog posts won't be that frequent during my course. I'll say that I did get an "above standard" on my first teaching practice, a "to standard" on my second, and I'm pretty sure it'll be a "to standard" on the third as well. Rough stuff here.
Until the next time I need a 5 minute break,
Adios!
I've just finished my third "teaching practice" here for my CELTA course. Things have been going well... but hectically!
This course really isn't for the faint of heart. I'm really stunned at the amount of work they want us to complete in such short amounts of time. For an example, over the weekend I had a 1000 word assignment that took 1300 words to complete, so I had to edit that down pretty harshly. I had to plan a lesson (taught it tonight), and get into the city to experience a once-in-a-lifetime festival here in Chiang Mai. Busy boy!
The festival was stunning. They float lanterns into the sky and down the river to send away their bad luck. So pretty:
That's Rebecca. She's my buddy! We bought our lantern for $2 and sent it up. I didn't pray to Buddha, much to my students' dismay.
So anyway, heaps and heaps of work to do. Blog posts won't be that frequent during my course. I'll say that I did get an "above standard" on my first teaching practice, a "to standard" on my second, and I'm pretty sure it'll be a "to standard" on the third as well. Rough stuff here.
Until the next time I need a 5 minute break,
Adios!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
First Teaching Practice
Last night Leighton and I both had our first Teaching Practice. That's when we get up in front of the class of Thai (adult) students and do our thing. I think mine went pretty well and Leighton thinks the same about his. We get feedback from our classmates and trainers later today. We'll be able to hear how others saw us and listen to some good advice about things we can change and things that we should retain in the next TP.
I'm feeling really comfortable here at the course and training center. Winter in Chiang Mai is very pleasant. We've been leaving the windows open all day and have our fan running when we're in the room. At night we keep the windows closed and the air on because the noises here are pretty much what you'd expect: packs of wild dogs barking and howling, peacocks cocking, roosters crowing, and bugs screeching with fear as lizards set upon them. I'm pretty sure the lizards do some of the barking too, but Leighton thinks they sound more like birds. Not really sure.
Anyway, the food has been so good that I think I've eaten double portions at almost every meal. We've had some excellent curry and incredible Thai dishes that just win on every level. We both agree that if we died and went to Thai food heaven it wouldn't be dissimilar from this place. In the mean time, the coffee is terrible. Packets of powdered shit! The other American girl, Rebecca, and I are really lamenting our lack of Dunkin Donuts right now! Oh to have some bad gas station Joe...
I'm feeling really comfortable here at the course and training center. Winter in Chiang Mai is very pleasant. We've been leaving the windows open all day and have our fan running when we're in the room. At night we keep the windows closed and the air on because the noises here are pretty much what you'd expect: packs of wild dogs barking and howling, peacocks cocking, roosters crowing, and bugs screeching with fear as lizards set upon them. I'm pretty sure the lizards do some of the barking too, but Leighton thinks they sound more like birds. Not really sure.
Anyway, the food has been so good that I think I've eaten double portions at almost every meal. We've had some excellent curry and incredible Thai dishes that just win on every level. We both agree that if we died and went to Thai food heaven it wouldn't be dissimilar from this place. In the mean time, the coffee is terrible. Packets of powdered shit! The other American girl, Rebecca, and I are really lamenting our lack of Dunkin Donuts right now! Oh to have some bad gas station Joe...
Monday, November 15, 2010
Tuesday Morning
Well. That was fun. This course is going to be very intensive and hard but a lot of fun. I'm excited to get into and make it start happening.
I have to teach tomorrow evening and make my lesson plan and everything by then. I spend most of my day in seminar-like classes and then working on my teaching plan, then spend some time in the classroom.
I know that this kind of stuff is pretty boring to hear about, so I won't spend too much time blogging about it.
However, on Saturday there is a massive festival in Chiang Mai, Loi Krathong. So we'll go and check that out and get some pictures going as well. We'll also be meeting up with our friends Matt and Brittany: trouble with a capital T.
Until then, happy travels!
I have to teach tomorrow evening and make my lesson plan and everything by then. I spend most of my day in seminar-like classes and then working on my teaching plan, then spend some time in the classroom.
I know that this kind of stuff is pretty boring to hear about, so I won't spend too much time blogging about it.
However, on Saturday there is a massive festival in Chiang Mai, Loi Krathong. So we'll go and check that out and get some pictures going as well. We'll also be meeting up with our friends Matt and Brittany: trouble with a capital T.
Until then, happy travels!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Monday Morning
Good morning!
It's my first Monday morning in quite a long time and somehow doesn't seem that daunting. I guess the fact that I woke up at 8:30 everyday while I was home (and 7:30 the final week) so that I could talk to Leighton has somehow prepared me for the early hour. I (fell asleep) passed out around 10pm last night while Leighton stayed up working on his packet for the class. I woke up at 6:30ish and somehow he's still sleeping! It's 10:20 Seoul time! He must have been more tired than he appeared.
So yesterday, when I got to the meeting place for the taxi to take me to this resort, I met a girl from my class called Rebecca. She's really rad. She was dressed to go running and when I talked to her and we figured out we were in class together she immediately offered to take me around Chiang Mai. Later she told me how happy she was that she didn't have to go for a run! Sounds like an author of this blog...
The rest of the day we hung out and, to any outsider, must have appeared as a couple that had been together for years. We got along so well it was like having a best friend. I'm really happy that we met so early in the day because, as others started to come along, we were a dynamic duo of sorts in our introductions and whatnot. She's very confident and professional. I was impressed with her more than once and I look forward to getting to know her better as we go along.
Leighton, a girl who worked in Jeonju (South Korea) and knows our friends from there, and I are the only 3 students who have any teaching experience. I am not sure how that will factor into our ability to complete this course, but time will tell. There is also something to say about the fact that we all taught in Korea...
It's time for breakfast now, then a short break before classes begin. They start at 10:30 today, but the rest of the course they won't start until 11:30! Talk about a luxurious morning!
It's my first Monday morning in quite a long time and somehow doesn't seem that daunting. I guess the fact that I woke up at 8:30 everyday while I was home (and 7:30 the final week) so that I could talk to Leighton has somehow prepared me for the early hour. I (fell asleep) passed out around 10pm last night while Leighton stayed up working on his packet for the class. I woke up at 6:30ish and somehow he's still sleeping! It's 10:20 Seoul time! He must have been more tired than he appeared.
So yesterday, when I got to the meeting place for the taxi to take me to this resort, I met a girl from my class called Rebecca. She's really rad. She was dressed to go running and when I talked to her and we figured out we were in class together she immediately offered to take me around Chiang Mai. Later she told me how happy she was that she didn't have to go for a run! Sounds like an author of this blog...
The rest of the day we hung out and, to any outsider, must have appeared as a couple that had been together for years. We got along so well it was like having a best friend. I'm really happy that we met so early in the day because, as others started to come along, we were a dynamic duo of sorts in our introductions and whatnot. She's very confident and professional. I was impressed with her more than once and I look forward to getting to know her better as we go along.
Leighton, a girl who worked in Jeonju (South Korea) and knows our friends from there, and I are the only 3 students who have any teaching experience. I am not sure how that will factor into our ability to complete this course, but time will tell. There is also something to say about the fact that we all taught in Korea...
It's time for breakfast now, then a short break before classes begin. They start at 10:30 today, but the rest of the course they won't start until 11:30! Talk about a luxurious morning!
We Have Touchdown...
Well, I finally made it. It took me almost 40 hours to get from door to door, but I'm sitting here in my home for the next few weeks. The accommodation is really nice and the people I've met so far are great. I'm very happy that I've made this choice.
So far everything has come together nicely. My bag got checked all the way through no problem, I found 700 yen in my bag and bought some sushi and a beer in the Tokyo airport, my favorite soup was on sale at the Bangkok airport, and I even managed to sleep about 4 hours. For those of you who remember what it was like when I first got back to the US this last time you'll know that 4 hours of bad sleep is something to celebrate!
I'm getting pretty tired now though. I feel my eyelids dropping and my eyes just went completely out of focus. So I'm gonna have a lie down in that big comfy bed.
Cheers!
So far everything has come together nicely. My bag got checked all the way through no problem, I found 700 yen in my bag and bought some sushi and a beer in the Tokyo airport, my favorite soup was on sale at the Bangkok airport, and I even managed to sleep about 4 hours. For those of you who remember what it was like when I first got back to the US this last time you'll know that 4 hours of bad sleep is something to celebrate!
I'm getting pretty tired now though. I feel my eyelids dropping and my eyes just went completely out of focus. So I'm gonna have a lie down in that big comfy bed.
Cheers!
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