I think I might have mentioned it before, but I'm enrolled in an intensive two month Chinese program starting next month. Unfortunately, life happens and things change. Now I must decide if I want to participate in the program, or work over the summer so I will have the resources to travel while in China. While I am not particularly upset about the prospect of not participating in the program, it leaves me with a huge problem - I still need to improve my Chinese quickly. And so I have gone through all of the options I can think of- try Rosetta Stone again, enroll in an online Chinese school, try Chinese Pod, hire a private tutor, or continue learning exchanges. However, I don't believe any of these options will get me to the level I desire before I'm in China. While I'm hardly dreaming of fluency, I'd like to at least be able to understand a little bit of what people are saying. At this point, I can barely make it past introductions, and that's with two years of study! This isn't to say I'm completely horrible at Chinese, my reading and writing skills are steadily improving, but it seems like I am forever stuck at a beginner level in listening and comprehension. I've been in this contemplative funk for a few days now trying to decide what to do when I came across the image below and I knew- this isn't an impediment but an opportunity to challenge myself.
QUESTION: Do you have any advice for my summer study?
After weeks away due to my hectic final weeks of school, I finally made it back to my Saturday Chinese classes! As always, calligraphy was a blast! Below is a computer rendering of my work-in-progress masterpiece- me on the Great Wall of China! Enjoy!
http://mybeautifulair.com
College is officially over and my teacher training has begun. Teaching English in China is obviously not the same as teaching English in the U.S. It takes a completely different skill set, and so I am taking a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course online. Of course it would be better to take a class in person, but I decided to complete an intensive Chinese program instead (more on that some other time) and take my TEFL course online. So far, the class has been great. You read lecture notes, take quizzes, make lesson plans, and write essays. However, this class doesn’t really teach how to actually be an English teacher in a foreign country- the part that I’m actually worried about. I know I’m intelligent enough to figure out lesson plans and different English skills and whatever is necessary, but I don’t know how to actually be a teacher. I'm not going to lie- I'M REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT BEING AN ENGLISH TEACHER. I have no previous experience like this. Sure, I've taught swim lessons to preschoolers and tutored college kids. I've even helped Chinese adults online and in person with their English skills. But all of that is COMPLETELY different from standing in front of a group of people and teaching them a foreign language. It’s not even that I have poor English. I always received good grades in my English classes and I have a solid background in grammatical structures from all my years learning Latin. The real problem is, I HATE PUBLIC SPEAKING! I have gotten a lot better at it over the years from all the presentations I made in college, but still, who enjoys standing up in front of a bunch of people and talking?! I’m pretty sure once I get there and get some experience under my belt, I’ll be fine and really enjoy teaching, but until then, I’m dying of nerves! And so, I have to do my absolute best during my teaching course so I can be the best English teacher I possibly can. It’s going to be a huge challenge- one that I look forward to conquering! BRING IT ON!
QUESTIONS: For those TEFL teachers out there: Do you have any advice for me?
For Chinese students learning English: What did you enjoy most about your English classes?
Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I Love You! xoxo Anna
http://www.yiyacn.com/uploads/allimg/110807/1_110807134453_1.jpg
Today we had rehearsal for graduation to make sure we don't look like total idiots at the actual event. Unfortunately, I'm probably going to be so nervous I'll forget everything anyways! Hope I don't trip on the stage in front of thousands of people also!
CNU you taught me a lot,
But now you are putting me on the spot.
What did I like best? you ask
When Daniel wore his Captain's mask!
Classes, and friends, and teachers, oh my!
You really taught me how to fly.
But now the time has come to say goodbye,
And it really makes me want to cry.
Proud to be a Captain for life!
Hope everyone enjoys their holiday!
http://pic13.nipic.com/20110420/7058539_101223402000_2.jpg
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