Its been a hard couple of days. I'm now teaching on my own and I have mixed feelings about it although I'm pretty optimistic that I will warm to it fully. I've had some really fantastic classes - classes with pupils who are intelligent, passionate about the subject & eager to learn more! When I have these classes, I feel proud that these young adults are the future of this country- they really deserve to do well in their studies. Today I did American politics with one of these classes discussing various key issues from immigration to healthcare to the death penalty. The pupils had very interesting opinions and it was great to discuss it with them.
On the other hand, I've had classes which have not been so successful where the kids have shown no real desire to learn English & look bored. Some of them often talk in French to themselves and refuse to contribute to group discussions. This annoys me because they are going to benefit by having the assistant & everyone knows that English is a necessity in today's world and that without it you really can't be successful. I've had to use discipline a couple of times already - something which I don't particularly want to do. But I don't want to be seen as a push over who can't control a class!
One thing I'm finding hard is the size classes. I usually get classes of around 14 people which is too much in my opinion. I think it would be far better to have smaller groups like I was lucky to have at school with my French assistants.
Other aspects of school life are annoying me too. For the best part, the teachers are warm & welcoming. I've received dinner invitations and teachers have approached me for my advice with English, for example. This has been great and this is a big reason why I'm enjoying my stay in France. The English teachers in particular are awesome. However on the other hand, I've found some teachers to show a complete lack of interest in me, barely say bonjour and probably see me as the assistant who is only going to be here for one year. I sometimes eat in the school canteen but have become rather put off as it is always the same teachers there who always sit together, gossip but never really welcome me and ask me how I'm getting on etc. This always puts a downer on my day because I want to practice my French with them and get to know some more people. My eyes always light up when I see teachers I like in there!
I also find the canteen staff really petty too! Today a friend came to visit me at the canteen and I had the intention of paying for both of us with my id card but the card wouldn't work as I had used it once. I then asked them to take me name and they could take the money off the system but they refused and made me go all the way to the administration office to sort it out with them and get a permission slip. I feel that they treated me a bit like a naughty student & they wasted my time. As payback I took extra food!
But I'm glad I'm a teaching assistant & not working or at university and I'm glad to be in Reims at a pretty good school academically rather than in a smallish town in a difficult school perhaps! I also only have to work 12 hours a week and get a nice little salary! I'm not missing England either which is great. The year abroad so far has confirmed my desire to live abroad on a more permanent basis.
Sorry for today's rant - its been a tiring day!
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