My working holiday in China [1] [2]
[3] [4] [5] [6]
Ni Hao Everybody!
I have been in China for two weeks now on a Tefl (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) working holiday in China
Well it's Sunday night with me and here is my update from the last
week.
Right here goes......... the last you heard I was getting ready for
my first lessons on the Monday! I didn't really know what to
expect and didn't know their level of English so thought I would
just have an introductions class and get to know them. That
didn't really work as their English is very text book orientated
and their conversation is very limited. So I had to dive straight
into teaching.
My
voice had come back thankfully although I was still a bit husky! There
is a lot of drilling required and repetitive work so my voice was
feeling a little fragile. The kids I have are 8, 9 and 10 year
olds and they are lovely. The're always crowding around me
when I arrive and when I leave. I'm doing about 4 or 5; 50 minute
lessons a week with a lot of preparing lessons required as I have
3 different levels. I have the younger group so my flash cards
are coming in very handy and they love them. I need to
do so many activities to keep them interest and I need to find
loads of ideas. It's very hard to communicate games with them
and I have to be very visual and dramatic with everything. I
do have a translator at the moment so that helps. ( Although I do
think sometimes if she wasn't there then they would listen to me
more as the children are relying on the translator instead)
I was confident standing up in front of 40 plus kids but I felt I
did the first lesson far too quick with far too much information
for them to take in!!! I slowed down a great deal by the end of the
week, but I'm still trying to get my head round exactly what they
actually know and what level of English they are.
The kids are great reading the text books, but their pronunciation
of things and their understanding of words is what they need us to
work on. They put an "er" after everything.
So when I say egg they say egger!
The week has been a bit of a roller coaster and at first I didn't
think I would like the area because of the curfews etc. The other
teachers I'm with still want to leave and we have all spoke
to the company to ask to be relocated, either that or the curfews
and freedom to be eased a little. After all we are here to
experience China as well as the teaching; and not just our apartments
and the school. One of my friends I met in Beijing is on her
own in a lovely area and she has requested I go and join her there. (not
sure if that will happen though).
The boss of Teach and Travel came to see us by the end of the
week; and sorted a few things out for us, so this weekend was
fun as we where able to venture out on our own. There are now
7 of us all together so that makes it better. We went to Hengshui
on Friday night and went for a meal. We split the bill which
took ages only to find out we actually only paid £3 each!!!
including a few beers.
After our meal we decided to go to the famous KTV, which is a Chinese
Karaoke bar. But it isn't a bar, we actually rent out private
booths and drink and sing in our own private booths area. Apparently
they stopped the public bars where everyone joined in together as
they always ended up in a fight!!!! We still haven't found
a bar and we are not sure there is one in Hengshui! So if anyone
wants a few drinks you either go out for a meal or go to a KTV.
We got our curfew extended to midnight so we went back in a taxi
at about 11.30pm. We have to have our destination written down
in Chinese so the taxis can understand where we are going. We
gave him the slip of paper and off we went back to the school. The
taxi stopped and we got out, but we where in the wrong school!! Thankfully
the taxi didn't leave and we had to ring someone from the school
to explain where we were meant to be!
All in all a great night and everybody felt better about getting
out for a bit of a giggle.
On Saturday we went back to the city to do some shopping and have
lunch and dinner. I eat donkey for lunch and it was really
good! It's
a really important meat in China but it is very rare. It's
a similar texture to lamb but tastes of corned beef. It was
yummy and wrapped in pancake!
We then went round the markets and shops and then for food again!
I was doing well on my diet the first week but feel like I'm eating too
well this week! After a long day we decided to go for a massage. £7
for a full body Chinese massage and it felt really good. You
have every part of your body manipulated and it hurts at times but
mostly an enjoyable experience.
Today we played basketball and stayed on campus. I'm now getting
ready for another week of teaching so working on some more lesson
plans.
More photos will be uploaded shortly. Thanks to all of you
who have sent me an email, promise I will reply to you all. And for
those who haven't ..........come on, I would love to hear what is
happening at home and in your lives!!!
Take care everybody and catch up soon
love Ceri x x x x x x x x x
Gallivanting in the Lake District >