When I was walking toward the first class, the students were walking in, and I heard them all whispering: "that's the English teacher!"
The first teacher looked frightening similar to my 11th grade math teacher which, in case you didn't go to high school with me, is a bad thing. For that class I basically introduced myself and then mostly observed the class for 35 minutes. Then I had my second class with a teacher who was really nice, but he seemed really nervous about his English. I felt bad for him. That class was 35 minutes, and then there was a half hour of recess. I should have brought a book.
I went outside and a group of students swarmed me and started asking me questions, it was pretty adorable. One of the girls asked me if we really have aliens in the US, because she saw it on some show. I said no. Then she asked if we have haunted houses, to which I said yes. Her eyes got huge, "vraiment!?" I thought she meant fake haunted houses, like what we do around Halloween, but I'm pretty sure I told a little girl that ghosts are real in the U.S. Oops.
After that I had my third class, which was the first class I had with the really young kids, 25 minutes long. For the most part the kids just asked me questions about the US, for some reason they couldn't get over the fact that we do such barbaric things as eat omelettes for breakfast. And sometimes potatoes.
The class after that was 35 minutes with some of the older kids I had met during the break. They were all really curious and super excited to ask questions.
Then the famous two-hour lunch break. I ate with the other teachers which was a little awkward. Adults are intimidating, especially in French. I had so much time I was able to tram back home, put away my lunch bag, and come back. I should have brought a book.
After that 2 more 35 minute classes, another break, and a 25 minute class.
Overall I introduced myself about a thousand times, I explained the difference between the two Washingtons about five thousand times, I asked students what their names were about ten thousand times, and I explained breakfast in the U.S. about eight thousand times.
To be honest, suddenly being thrown into a full day of that was a bit of a shock, I barely even remember what happened today. After work I bought some food, trammed home and flopped on my bed, I haven't moved since. It was fun though, I'm glad I got little kids, they seem really interested in whatever knowledge I have of the outside world. They also seem a lot less judgmental than older kids, so I'm not scared to speak French in front of them (which, contrary to what I was told, is very much a necessity, their English is basically non-existent), I actually prefer speaking French with kids than with adults. It was a little awkward because the teachers don't seem to be very well-organized when it comes to English, we basically just made up the lesson plan as we went. "Hm....okay why don't we talk about weather or something?" It's also insane how much free time I have. I'm there for seven hours, but, if you do the math, I'm only actually in class for about four of them. From now on I'll make sure to bring a book with me.
Donc voila. Mon travail. It's hard to believe that when I signed up for french eight years ago I was prepping myself for this.
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