Hang on what? Another update within a month?!
Argh I really hate getting ill. It makes me feel like I'm a burden and weak and stuff. Meh. Stupid German flu. Its worse because I feel like for the past month I've just been getting one illness after another and I dont want it to cause problems at school because I'm so lucky in the Gymnasium I am in I don't want them to regret having me as an assistant.
Anywayz apart from that things are going pretty well right now. I've been being a lot more active in most lessons, with the main exception being bilingual geography. In a way its silly putting me there because I gave up geography before GCSE because silly England exam systems and silly school timetables meant you couldn't do everything you thought looked interesting. Anywayz yeah I can only help with the English language side of things but when they are talking about the intricacies of typhoons and tidal waves there is little I can suggest when they need a specific term to be translated. Plus for a bilingual lesson its usually taught in German so ... >_<
But yeah. I've been teaching about Wales, public holidays in England, Othello, Possessive Pronouns and politics, education and religion in England amongst other things. I do find it intriguing working with different teachers because it completely alters the style of teaching I do. Some lessons I teach completely by myself usually with the teacher there having to come up with a subject and content by myself, other times the teacher will give me a subject and a starting point and then tell me to teach it. Other times I'm far more "an assistant" wondering around the class giving help and being asked about vocab points and culture, sometimes talking a little in front of the class or setting an exercise. Then there's also the "tag teaching" when I teach half the lesson and always in conjunction with the teacher. And sometimes (CoughGeographyCough) I'm a lump, when I just sit there and do nothing except for the occasional vocab word.
I was in Berlin with Ellechan last weekend and that was wonderful and as usual didn't last long enough. Of course getting there with the strikes on was hellish but we both managed it in the end. The hostel we stayed at was good too. Loved the decor and the ensuiteness was funky. Plus the owners were friendly and spoke to us in German. I really would like to go there again, and if anyone is traveling to Berlin then the Sleep-Inn is a good place to stay. :)
We were going to go and see the Blue Men Group but we didn't get to in the end. So that gives us another reason to go back (as if Berlin didn't have enough reasons to make you want to go!). I do love Berlin. The christmas market there was nice with a Milka stand and a snow slope and ski rink and stuff. And a stall with funky hats and scarves.
I keep meaning to go into Jena to see about attending some lectures but this week is obviously out due to flu and I'm feeling increasingly nervous about going. Should I just walk into a lecture room or should I find a timetable or ask lecturers? Argh. Also I was thinking about the Volkshochschule for evening classes, but they are all in the middle of courses, so I don't know if its worth asking about joining now. Obviously evenings would be more congenial than daytimes due to having to teach. Oh and I still don't know if I will be teaching in the Kindergarten or not. Would be cool if I could though and an experience too.
I had to go to a kind of recap thing for all of the Assistants in Thuringia on Tuesday which was nice if a little dull. It was good to see people again though. One of the assistants in Folda is having a terrible time which reminded me why I am so lucky with the Stadtroda Gymnasium. Anywayz while I was there I had to talk to the guys in charge about signing some forms. Argh I need them for Uni and my school were just saying oh we cant sign it. Which was kind of irritating. This is for the Erasmus grant thing. So I tried talking to the coordinators, who said they'd get back to me. Argh.
Right well I'm going to go and rest again as my head's aching again. I hope everyone is well and all is going well for you. ^_^
Juice!
Anywayz apart from that things are going pretty well right now. I've been being a lot more active in most lessons, with the main exception being bilingual geography. In a way its silly putting me there because I gave up geography before GCSE because silly England exam systems and silly school timetables meant you couldn't do everything you thought looked interesting. Anywayz yeah I can only help with the English language side of things but when they are talking about the intricacies of typhoons and tidal waves there is little I can suggest when they need a specific term to be translated. Plus for a bilingual lesson its usually taught in German so ... >_<
But yeah. I've been teaching about Wales, public holidays in England, Othello, Possessive Pronouns and politics, education and religion in England amongst other things. I do find it intriguing working with different teachers because it completely alters the style of teaching I do. Some lessons I teach completely by myself usually with the teacher there having to come up with a subject and content by myself, other times the teacher will give me a subject and a starting point and then tell me to teach it. Other times I'm far more "an assistant" wondering around the class giving help and being asked about vocab points and culture, sometimes talking a little in front of the class or setting an exercise. Then there's also the "tag teaching" when I teach half the lesson and always in conjunction with the teacher. And sometimes (CoughGeographyCough) I'm a lump, when I just sit there and do nothing except for the occasional vocab word.
I was in Berlin with Ellechan last weekend and that was wonderful and as usual didn't last long enough. Of course getting there with the strikes on was hellish but we both managed it in the end. The hostel we stayed at was good too. Loved the decor and the ensuiteness was funky. Plus the owners were friendly and spoke to us in German. I really would like to go there again, and if anyone is traveling to Berlin then the Sleep-Inn is a good place to stay. :)
We were going to go and see the Blue Men Group but we didn't get to in the end. So that gives us another reason to go back (as if Berlin didn't have enough reasons to make you want to go!). I do love Berlin. The christmas market there was nice with a Milka stand and a snow slope and ski rink and stuff. And a stall with funky hats and scarves.
I keep meaning to go into Jena to see about attending some lectures but this week is obviously out due to flu and I'm feeling increasingly nervous about going. Should I just walk into a lecture room or should I find a timetable or ask lecturers? Argh. Also I was thinking about the Volkshochschule for evening classes, but they are all in the middle of courses, so I don't know if its worth asking about joining now. Obviously evenings would be more congenial than daytimes due to having to teach. Oh and I still don't know if I will be teaching in the Kindergarten or not. Would be cool if I could though and an experience too.
I had to go to a kind of recap thing for all of the Assistants in Thuringia on Tuesday which was nice if a little dull. It was good to see people again though. One of the assistants in Folda is having a terrible time which reminded me why I am so lucky with the Stadtroda Gymnasium. Anywayz while I was there I had to talk to the guys in charge about signing some forms. Argh I need them for Uni and my school were just saying oh we cant sign it. Which was kind of irritating. This is for the Erasmus grant thing. So I tried talking to the coordinators, who said they'd get back to me. Argh.
Right well I'm going to go and rest again as my head's aching again. I hope everyone is well and all is going well for you. ^_^
Juice!