October 19, 2009

  • I'm exhausted, and it's only Monday! I only have two classes on Monday. The first are a nice class, and only 15 of them so easy to manage. The only problem is that they do a different syllabus from every other group, which means I have to spend much longer preparing for the lesson. However, so far the lessons have gone smoothly and the teacher is also nice and helpful, so I'm happy.

    The second class, not so great. They're one of the biggest classes (29), and typically noisy and difficult to control. The added problem is that the teacher for that group does absolutely nothing to help, so it's entirely up to me to get them to listen and do what I want. They don't understand a lot of what I say which makes it quite hard. I've just been reading all the British Council advice on dealing with large, noisy classes and think I've got some new tips to try next week. It's just very hard work at the moment. I'm hoping that with more interesting topics (e.g.next week we are doing "the British pub") they will be more prepared to listen and do the tasks. Trying to get that many teenagers to talk in English to each other in groups is a nightmare though. Groups is the only set up in which they will be able to talk to each other, and yet as soon as you split them into groups they just start talking in Italian (of course) and being noisier, and I can't be with every group all at once! I know I've only been doing this 2 weeks though, and it will get easier as I get to know the classes better and learn how to handle each one. Tiring in the meantime though! Next week I'm starting the first of my private lessons too... four 9 year old boys!! Oh joy!! Now that really IS going to be exhausting!