March 20, 2010

  • No pressure

    Yesterday we had a nice light day at CELTA. During the morning we had our tutorials, and then a nice fun vocabulary practice session, then in the afternoon we were observing experienced teachers take the classes we are switching to next week. That meant we finished an hour and half early so we were all able to go to the pub at 4.45pm! Nice for the people who usually have to rush off to catch trains back to places like Florence. Starting drinking early is badddd though... it didn't take long until mi girava la testa... (was a bit tipsy).

    Anyway, was all good fun, and I feel it was a valid celebration after a good tutorial. This was the half way stage and we had to do a self-assessment and then the tutor went through and put his own thoughts. We had to mark ourselves "Not to standard, To standard or Above standard" for this stage of the course against all the criteria and then overall. I had put to standard for everything. My tutor had put 18 above standards and marked me above standard over all. He said "I've never done this before, I'm taking a gamble, don't have a crisis now!!". He then gave me lots of useful tips and stuff for the rest of the course - he said that it's not about whether I pass but how well I pass. No pressure then!!!
    So I'm pretty pleased with that! Make that over the moon with that!! I was worried that it was a flukey one off with that tutor observing last time (the week he made everyone photocopy my lesson plan to model theirs on!!!), but he said it was from what the other tutor had said as well. Anyway, as I said, no pressure..... ! Hahaha.

    Next week we switch levels and our group are now teaching the Elementary class. I've never taught at this level before so I'm pretty apprehensive about it... you have to be that much clearer with your instructions and demonstrations, and it can all fall to pieces if you just miss a beat. But, fingers crossed!

    Bit worried about next year because I don't know how likely it is that another secondary school will have a need for me (they've all got madrelingue already). I would prefer to work for a language school anyway, but there isn't really a great selection in Brescia. I'm torn between the original plan of applying for language school jobs anywhere in Italy, and the fact that I have decided I definitely want to stay in Brescia because I am settled here and have made lots of friends and contacts. I am quite fed up of moving around and starting over...it takes time to make friends in a foreign country, and it's a shame to leave just when things are getting really good. So, I want to stay, but I suppose if jobs are a problem then I'll have to see about moving anyway...

    4 more days at school before Easter holidays. Woohoo! That means 11 days until Taize trip time :)