A Chronicle of my Changing Times.

Success

These past few weeks I’ve begun to settle into my work life here in Haskovo.  I actually have a regular schedule – finalized just this past week.  Yes, it’s a month into the school year, but this is apparently the way it’s done here.

My first class of the week is Monday afternoon when I work with some of the eight class ‘preps’.  This basically involves me playing games with them in order to improve their speaking abilities.  In the first year of gymnasia – or High School – in language schools here in , kids get over 20 hrs per week of intensive English study.  This includes afternoon classes, of which I teach one for each of the three sections of 8^th class learning English.  I also have them each once per week in the mornings.

On top of my work with the 8^th classes – I have a British Literature class with the three sections of 11^th class English students.  On top of this, I will begin an optional Essay Writing class in the afternoons with those 10^th class English students stupid and brave enough to sign up for the extra work of a non-graded class.  I round out my schedule with some open class periods I’m supposed to be free in order to assist those in the 12^th class who wish to apply to university abroad.

Honestly, since I have Monday mornings and Friday’s off – I have one of the easiest schedules I think I’ll ever have.  Work 3.5 days and then have 3.5 days off – every week.  But once my work week begins, it really picks up and doesn’t stop until late Thursday evening.

I was really please a couple weeks ago when we received notification of a possible scholarship for students in need from an American/Bulgarian Foundation.  After contacting the organization for information in English – I organized the teachers and then students within 48 hrs.  Seven students were nominated, CV’s were compiled (many for the first time), references were written, and everything was postmarked in time.  I was contacted by the organization saying they’d received the applications and that they looked outstanding.  This would be an extra 60 leva a month per student – not really a small amount here in . It was rather rewarding to feel like I’d finally accomplished something here.

This past week I’ve taught Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to my 11^th class Brit Lit students.  I’ve stressed stepping away from what they know to try to see the larger world and perhaps even the perspective of those who wrote the story.  We discussed the concepts of Chivalry and Honour and all that comes with them.  What impressed me the most was how active the class was without being disruptive.  Those few who choose not to participate simply stay quiet whilst the majority were eager and engaged.  I even took the lesson to a personal level of asking them if they’d ever considered not where they were going drinking, who they were going out with or what job they might one day have (and the money that came with it) but rather did they consider what type of people they were.  Some had considered these things, most had not – but from the looks they gave me, they were starting to think of it.

One of my 8^th classes sang me Happy Birthday yesterday and had plastered the white board with well wishes.  Also, when I was leaving school I exited a different way than usual – a way that took me across the courtyard in full view of all my 8^th classes.  They were between classes, but most were still in their rooms.  Each class, individually of the others (since they couldn’t see each other), ran to the windows and in unison waved to me.  Seeing around 75 kids all excitedly waving goodbye to you is a wonderful feeling – you know they like you and are excited about learning.

I’ve also taken to tutoring some adults privately.  This is probably the hardest thing for me, because there is absolutely not structure for it and I’m not sure how to install any.  But I have people who want to learn, so I’ll continue trying to help them.  Most just want to improve their already decent English – so simple conversations seem to be working thus far.  I’ve discovered that success in sometimes is not necessarily knowing what you’re doing but rather simply making the effort.

Posted by: mjmarble at October 21, 2005 12:00 | link | comments

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