Here is some poetry that I "created" using the multiple choice answers for the quizzes I'm writing up. Enjoy! :]
I like the fall.
It's romantic.
Warm and sunny.
Yes, I would
Watch a movie.
It's chilly.
Stay inside and drink lots of water
Don't use the telephone
It's extremely windy.
In an office
She's an accountant
She's using a computer.
A chance for promotion
My ideal job
It's frustrating.
An excellent salary
Working in an office
I'd like a chance to travel.
If you can't tell, we're learning about weather and jobs!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Progress!
Today was the first day that I felt almost completely comfortable and at ease while teaching! Okay, well, it was the first day that I didn't feel sick to my stomach at the beginning of class (usually the feeling goes away after taking attendance and going over homework, but today there was no sick feeling at all!).
I'm teaching two classes, an intermediate speaking and vocab class, and an elementary listening class (both at the college level since I'm teaching at a university). I LOVE my speaking and vocab class! When I find a subject that they like, man, they neveeer stop talking! Which is great, because HEY, it's speaking class! Today we finished up weather terms and talked about extreme weather (typhoons/hurricanes, blizzards, and heat waves). It's always so interesting to hear them talk about their home countries. One of the questions was, "Which of these weather events is the most dangerous? Why?" I, as a resident of Ohio, think nothing of blizzards, but I thought a heat wave would be absolutely devastating. On the other hand, one of my students from Saudi Arabia said that he experiences "heat waves" every day, and that he's terrified of blizzards! I love learning about different cultures through my students! I have so many ideas for this class! On Friday I'm going to play a bunch of review games with them to go over the vocab from chapters 1-4, and then next Friday, after the chapter on careers/jobs, we're going to visit my friend at the radio station (she's in charge of the whole shebang and said she'd give us a tour!). I can't wait! Ooh, and we're having our first oral presentations on Friday, so I've got to write up a rubric for that!
My listening class is more difficult, because they're the lowest proficiency level that we'll take (Elementary II). I only have them for 2 hours every week, so I haven't gotten to know them as well as my speaking/vocab students. I have some students in my listening class who NEVER participate (unless I call on them...gosh I love doing that!) and just stare at me with glossy eyes. But the other half is always willing to say answers and actively participate. I even had one student who shot his hand into the air to answer EVERY question today! Of course, I only called on him a few times because I want everyone to participate!
I hope that I'm a good teacher and that my students are learning a lot. I'm not going to tell them that this is my first time teaching...at least not until the end of the semester! Also, the international students are going on an excursion on Sunday to a local outlet mall, and all the ESL faculty was invited to go along. I'm excited for this because it's a chance to talk to my students outside of class, and it's a good opportunity for them to get to know me as a person and not just their big, bad teacher (although I'm hardly big or bad!). I'm excited for this too :]
I'm teaching two classes, an intermediate speaking and vocab class, and an elementary listening class (both at the college level since I'm teaching at a university). I LOVE my speaking and vocab class! When I find a subject that they like, man, they neveeer stop talking! Which is great, because HEY, it's speaking class! Today we finished up weather terms and talked about extreme weather (typhoons/hurricanes, blizzards, and heat waves). It's always so interesting to hear them talk about their home countries. One of the questions was, "Which of these weather events is the most dangerous? Why?" I, as a resident of Ohio, think nothing of blizzards, but I thought a heat wave would be absolutely devastating. On the other hand, one of my students from Saudi Arabia said that he experiences "heat waves" every day, and that he's terrified of blizzards! I love learning about different cultures through my students! I have so many ideas for this class! On Friday I'm going to play a bunch of review games with them to go over the vocab from chapters 1-4, and then next Friday, after the chapter on careers/jobs, we're going to visit my friend at the radio station (she's in charge of the whole shebang and said she'd give us a tour!). I can't wait! Ooh, and we're having our first oral presentations on Friday, so I've got to write up a rubric for that!
My listening class is more difficult, because they're the lowest proficiency level that we'll take (Elementary II). I only have them for 2 hours every week, so I haven't gotten to know them as well as my speaking/vocab students. I have some students in my listening class who NEVER participate (unless I call on them...gosh I love doing that!) and just stare at me with glossy eyes. But the other half is always willing to say answers and actively participate. I even had one student who shot his hand into the air to answer EVERY question today! Of course, I only called on him a few times because I want everyone to participate!
I hope that I'm a good teacher and that my students are learning a lot. I'm not going to tell them that this is my first time teaching...at least not until the end of the semester! Also, the international students are going on an excursion on Sunday to a local outlet mall, and all the ESL faculty was invited to go along. I'm excited for this because it's a chance to talk to my students outside of class, and it's a good opportunity for them to get to know me as a person and not just their big, bad teacher (although I'm hardly big or bad!). I'm excited for this too :]
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Diving headfirst into teaching!
So, I got back from Germany a little over a month ago. I miss it so, sooo much and I hope to return to Dresden sometime in the future (perhaps with my boyfriend...I'd love to show him around Europe since he's never been!). I learned a lot in Germany and made awesome friends with my roommates (it's now weird to see them at school...I'm sad that we don't live together any more :( ).
I also graduated! I now have a degree in Cultural Anthropology and a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language! When I got back from Germany, I was really indecisive about what I was going to do with my life now. Should I look for a TEFL job? A desk job? Go back to school? Sit around and do nothing for awhile? That last one was rather tempting after working really hard for 4 1/2 years of school.
But then I got an awesome e-mail from my professor who taught all of my TEFL classes, asking if I was interested in teaching at our university. I answered "YES!" right away...and now I've suddenly gone from being a student to being a teacher. It's a complete 180. I get to be in charge of a classroom, which is a lot more fun and difficult than I could have imagined. I have the education of 30 students in my hands (between my two classes). I teach a listening class (extremely hard to teach, and I don't think my students are very comfortable with me...I've tried to get them talking, but they're super quiet :\) and a speaking and vocab class (LOVE this class! My students are hilarious and really chatty, which is awesome!).
I'm going into my third week of teaching, and I've already met and overcome a lot of challenges. But I had the most awesome feeling in the world when I went to the college book store a few days ago. I was picking up a book for my literature class (that I'm taking for FREE since I work at the university now!) and just for kicks I went over to the ESL section of textbooks and was poking around. I found the textbook for my listening class, and underneath there was a little placard that had all of the class information, like dates and times of the class, the call number, the required texts...and under instructor, it had my last name :] I freaked out because I was so happy and excited. I think I scared all of the other students around me. But that's okay.
It's been a difficult transition. I don't feel like an adult. I still feel like a student. And when people ask me what I'm doing now after I've graduated, I always say "I'm a part-time instructor in the ESL center at my university." I can't bring myself to say that I'm teaching...or that I'm *gulp*...a teacher. Because even though that's what I'm doing now, I still don't feel like it's my job. But maybe that'll change after I get used to teaching!
I also graduated! I now have a degree in Cultural Anthropology and a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language! When I got back from Germany, I was really indecisive about what I was going to do with my life now. Should I look for a TEFL job? A desk job? Go back to school? Sit around and do nothing for awhile? That last one was rather tempting after working really hard for 4 1/2 years of school.
But then I got an awesome e-mail from my professor who taught all of my TEFL classes, asking if I was interested in teaching at our university. I answered "YES!" right away...and now I've suddenly gone from being a student to being a teacher. It's a complete 180. I get to be in charge of a classroom, which is a lot more fun and difficult than I could have imagined. I have the education of 30 students in my hands (between my two classes). I teach a listening class (extremely hard to teach, and I don't think my students are very comfortable with me...I've tried to get them talking, but they're super quiet :\) and a speaking and vocab class (LOVE this class! My students are hilarious and really chatty, which is awesome!).
I'm going into my third week of teaching, and I've already met and overcome a lot of challenges. But I had the most awesome feeling in the world when I went to the college book store a few days ago. I was picking up a book for my literature class (that I'm taking for FREE since I work at the university now!) and just for kicks I went over to the ESL section of textbooks and was poking around. I found the textbook for my listening class, and underneath there was a little placard that had all of the class information, like dates and times of the class, the call number, the required texts...and under instructor, it had my last name :] I freaked out because I was so happy and excited. I think I scared all of the other students around me. But that's okay.
It's been a difficult transition. I don't feel like an adult. I still feel like a student. And when people ask me what I'm doing now after I've graduated, I always say "I'm a part-time instructor in the ESL center at my university." I can't bring myself to say that I'm teaching...or that I'm *gulp*...a teacher. Because even though that's what I'm doing now, I still don't feel like it's my job. But maybe that'll change after I get used to teaching!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
So long, farewell
Auf Wiedersehen, adieu...
I'm leaving Germany tomorrow morning and I'm totally heartbroken over it. Sure I'm looking forward to seeing my friends, family, and boyfriend tomorrow night, but I'm so sad about leaving Germany. I feel like I've grown so much and I've come to call Dresden home. I learned so many things and experienced so many things and it'll be a long, LONG time before I forget any of those things.
I spent all afternoon walking around the city, saying goodbye to my favorite things. Goodbye German beer, goodbye Frauenkirche, goodbye Elbe, goodbye Zwinger, goodbye tram numbers 8 and 3, goodbye Katie's Garage, goodbye Neustadt and Alstadt, goodbye Theaterplatz and Albertplatz, and goodbye International Guesthouse.
Goodbye Germany. I hope I can come back some day :(
I'm leaving Germany tomorrow morning and I'm totally heartbroken over it. Sure I'm looking forward to seeing my friends, family, and boyfriend tomorrow night, but I'm so sad about leaving Germany. I feel like I've grown so much and I've come to call Dresden home. I learned so many things and experienced so many things and it'll be a long, LONG time before I forget any of those things.
I spent all afternoon walking around the city, saying goodbye to my favorite things. Goodbye German beer, goodbye Frauenkirche, goodbye Elbe, goodbye Zwinger, goodbye tram numbers 8 and 3, goodbye Katie's Garage, goodbye Neustadt and Alstadt, goodbye Theaterplatz and Albertplatz, and goodbye International Guesthouse.
Goodbye Germany. I hope I can come back some day :(
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Almost there!
So, I just took my last final of undergrad EVER, and I kicked it's butt (I think)! The only thing standing between me and my college diploma is a computer project that is taking me foreeeever to complete. Okay, it's taking me forever because I keep getting distracted! I'm just totally burnt out on school right now, so instead of doing my computer project, here's a list titled "Things On Etsy That I Really, REALLY Want Right Now!" To see what shop they come from, just click on the picture! Enjoy! Now I'm off to take a well deserved nap.
P.S. There's a theme. Bet ya can't guess what it is!
P.S. There's a theme. Bet ya can't guess what it is!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Annis Shawl is DONE!
Okay, so I haven't had that much spare time to knit while being in Germany. Well, that's actually a lie...I've had spare time, but I spend that time exploring the city instead of knitting! But, I finally finished my project that I've been working on, the Annis Shawl from the spring/summer Knitty (2010) by Susanna IC. I actually bought another one of her shawl patterns when the Ravelry was having their Haiti fundraiser, but I ended up frogging that one a bunch of times (always ended up with like 6 extra stitches at the end of the row, harumph!). Any who...I really enjoyed knitting this. The nupps were difficult at best, but I'm glad I did them to learn a new technique and to try something different. I think I might make another in purple for my step-mom for her birthday (in December) with beads instead of nupps (although I'll have to learn beading first!). I bought this lovely mohair/wool blend at this cute little yarn store here in Dresden. I LOVE the store because the owner remembers me every time I go and is nice enough to speak to me in English :]
Okay, prepare for a bunch of pictures because I'm really proud of this shawl! It's the first one I've done, and I really enjoyed Susanna's crescent-shaped construction of the shawl. The short rows made it interesting, but I could really tell how long it was until I had finished all the short rows. No, I haven't weaved the ends in yet (ugh, torture), and no it hasn't been blocked yet, but I couldn't wait to show it off! I love the blue and it'll go perfectly with my winter coat. The last picture is a diagonal scarf I'm whipping up really quickly for a friend that I'll be staying with in England for 6 days starting Saturday as a thank-you present for letting me crash her pad!
Okay, prepare for a bunch of pictures because I'm really proud of this shawl! It's the first one I've done, and I really enjoyed Susanna's crescent-shaped construction of the shawl. The short rows made it interesting, but I could really tell how long it was until I had finished all the short rows. No, I haven't weaved the ends in yet (ugh, torture), and no it hasn't been blocked yet, but I couldn't wait to show it off! I love the blue and it'll go perfectly with my winter coat. The last picture is a diagonal scarf I'm whipping up really quickly for a friend that I'll be staying with in England for 6 days starting Saturday as a thank-you present for letting me crash her pad!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Beautiful, gorgeous day in Germanland!
So, it has been hot in Germany late. Like, RIDICULOUSLY hot. One of our German friends said there has been record-breaking heat in the past couple of weeks. Wonderful :\ But today, the weather was gorgeoooous. I'm more of an overcast sky and rain type of girl, so today was perfect. There was a bit of sunshine, a lot of wind, and a lovely temperature of 68-70 degrees F! So my roommate and I decided to go to a really nice, HUGE park in Dresden called the Grosser Garten. There's a palace in the middle of the garden, surrounded by forest, gardens, and paths. There's also a little train that you can take for 2 euros that goes around the entire garden and makes stops along the way (such as the zoo, the VW factory, a small cafe, the palace, etc). We rode the train and weren't the least bit embarassed to be the only people there who were childless and under 65 :] It was so much fun. Then we walked around a lake and ate at a tiny cafe that was right on top of the water. We watched ducks and swans and people rowboating around the river. All in all, it was a super fantastically awesome day! I can't believe I only have 2 more weeks left in Germany :( Any who...pictures!
P.S. The gardens/palace are totally what I imagine Pemberley (sp?) to look like!
P.S. The gardens/palace are totally what I imagine Pemberley (sp?) to look like!
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