So much to talk about! I walk around all day gathering up ideas for my blog. Things I want to talk about! When I finally sit to write at the end of the day, I’m overwhelmed and end up forgetting half of them…so lame, right?
Anyway, I had to wake up early because I promised my advisor I would meet with her. When I opened the door to the teacher’s lounge it was bursting with professors. There were so many and they were all super excited to meet me. Everyone introduced themselves and they all tried their very best to practice their English. It was very cute. There are some characters and I already met the clown of the bunch. He cracks the silliest jokes. He is tall and lanky, he has long salt and pepper hair, he always has a cup of coffee in hand, and he is quite good looking in a professor kind of way. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a look at an Arab looking professor, woowee he was hott! ^^
My advisor took me on a tour of the school. There are only 500 students and about 60 professors. They have an inner courtyard which is quite large. The halls are always full of students and it can be a bit cumbersome because the halls are somewhat narrow. We met the school principal. He’s a nice man, a little on the shy side, but very sweet. He was happy I spoke French. All the staff was very happy that I spoke French =) so was I!!! The connections you make with people are much better and stronger when you speak their language!
I was introduced to all 5 English teachers, they were all very nice and they were all French. Some had studied English in Canada others in the British Isles. I was invited to sit in on two classes and one mock exam. The first class was an average sized group, but the classroom was really small. I couldn’t talk and just sat in the corner observing. Students stared at me. The teacher would occasionally ask me to confirm a vocab word and the entire class would turn to look at me. The sternness of the teacher and the aloof nature of the students reminded me of the film The Class (Entre les Murs). They were so disconnected and the distance between her and her students made me sad. No one wanted to participate; it was grueling to watch, like pulling teeth. I would hate for one of my classes to go like that. The front row was riding a participation wave. They were the only ones who ever said anything. It was a group of 3 girls in the corner. They were really good! I had two boys next to me who whispered to each other during the entire class period. The teacher never acknowledged them (I guess she’s used to them by now).
A boy in the front row really striked me, he had that thinker look. You could tell the wheels in his head were turning, but he hardly said five words in class. He was a cute young man and left me curious as to what he could’ve said had he been called on. There was only one person in the back row who ever answered a question. He wasn’t always right and didn’t have the best pronunciation, but gosh darn it did he try! I like him already! This class was a little cheeky and I thought I could hear the students whispering about the teacher and the teacher always had her guard up. Even when she tried to be nice you could tell it was forced. She must be really jaded. I wonder if she even enjoys teaching anymore… I’m sure she does, but… =/
My advisor’s class was next. I was expecting the worst after the first class, but au contraire I was pleasantly surprised. It was a smaller group about half the size (10students). Two students came in and immediately spoke to me. I pretended I didn’t understand and they tried their best to speak English. It was pretty good, but we didn’t get far. Hehehe. I tried to talk to the others, but they were either too shy or had too much of a hard time looking for the right words. When my advisor came in I could immediately tell she had a much better relationship with her students. Sure, at times she seemed guarded, but you could tell she enjoyed her work and wanted her students to try. She cared about their efforts. This group seemed much more advanced and weren’t as cheeky as the last. Again I wasn’t introduced and just sat in quietly. They were all so curious about me, but they weren’t allowed to ask me any questions =/
I can’t wait to start! I’m scared and uber-excited at the same time! =D
After her class I sat in on a mock exam. The student had to role play a situation in English. I participated. It was fun until the administrator got her knickers in a knot and began to bicker with the other professors in front of the student about the test. AYE! I wanted out of there! The next student did the same thing in Spanish. I think she was Peruvian so it wasn’t much of a challenge, but she was too quiet and mumbled her words. I wasn’t impressed. She hadn’t prepared anything and kept saying, “I don’t know, I don’t know.” Lame! NEXT! Her answers were BS and it didn’t seem like she cared at all.
I was at the school from 9:30am to 1pm AYE! All of my day!
I picked up the lil ones from school and we went to the playground. Flashbacks from my last babysitting playground experience in France came rushing back. All the benches were taken by parents and nounous (babysitters). All the kids were violently thrashing themselves in the playground (or at least that’s what it looked like to me). My kids were happily playing amongst themselves. I love seeing their sister brother relationship it’s so sweet. They are always so nice to each other. They never whine (too much), they always listen to me, they always play together. Such a change from the last kids I babysat in Paris. We came home and played a color game. I would throw a ball while calling out a color in English and they would have to repeat it or choose another one. The boy who is only 3yrs old understands English but won’t speak it. He loved the game! He started repeating the colors! He even asked how to say new ones! His big sister would help him! It was so sweet! Needless to say his mom was very proud when she got home! =) success!
I guess I must be blending in more because two people asked me for “feu” (a light) today. Do I look like a smoker? Hahaha. I don’t think so…Not only that but two girls asked me if they could pass through the metro with me. I find you only get asked this question when you have a NAVIGO pass. That’s how they know you’re from around here! Success!
So tired! Aye! T_T this entry is getting too long so I’ll hold off on talking about Paris and its homeless people.
BTW if I don’t post many pics it’s because I have no camera. I know that’s lame…I know…long story… =/ in any case I can’t afford to buy one so tant pis (too bad).
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