“It can even cause death as its most fatal side effect.”
Day seven of the twenty-four work days in a row, and I am officially tired. But work's not bad, and having Bosnia waiting for me makes it all plenty worth it.
Survived the first day of class. I’ve been way too busy lately to get as nervous as I usually do about the first day with a new group but it was still enough to make me reconsider this teaching thing for the nine millionth time in the past thirteen months. And after the first day... still not sure it’s for me but I’m fairly confident I can survive the summer and we’ll take it from there.
My students seem like a select bunch. 20 of the 28 (dear god, 28?!) are guys, which is a bit of a red flag. Not to stereotype, but the statistics are fairly consistent that more girls study languages than guys, especially at the intermediate or advanced levels. You do get closer to 50/50 in the first level during the semester, because of language requirements, but 70 percent? Over half the class is also older than I am - how is it that each new class I teach a higher percentage are older than me?? I’m supposed to get older and they’re supposed to stay the same age! Well over half are seniors or superseniors, mostly trying to graduate in August or December, and if their comments today are any indication - “I thought this was a pass/fail class.” “Is it hard to pass?” “Is there any way I can get out of taking a language at all?” “Is this the last class for the language requirement?” - they’re all really excited to learn some Spanish. Ugh, why don’t I teach Slavic languages, again??? Oh, right, I don’t speak them. I should do something about that. Small classes of motivated students? It sounds mythical. If it weren’t for my amazing native-speaker colleagues like Sofía, Ro, and Judith, I probably would have burned out (more) on Spanish a long time ago. Oh, well.
Earned $296 today, which is, for example, over a third of a semester’s tuition in the University of Zagreb’s full time Croatian language program. Or, for example, a six months of unlimited capoeira classes, or about one full tank of gas. Sorry, making money is still such a new concept for me...
In other news, Amer won a tournament yesterday! Woot. Yay Bosnians/Illini! Just as long as he doesn’t go thinking he can get out of the qualifying rounds in New York... Ha, his coach says “The goal right now for Amer has to be Main Draw for the Open.” Yeah, no. Sorry. Maybe next year. ; )
Right. So. I'm gonna go to bed. Another 9.30-9 day tomorrow.
Survived the first day of class. I’ve been way too busy lately to get as nervous as I usually do about the first day with a new group but it was still enough to make me reconsider this teaching thing for the nine millionth time in the past thirteen months. And after the first day... still not sure it’s for me but I’m fairly confident I can survive the summer and we’ll take it from there.
My students seem like a select bunch. 20 of the 28 (dear god, 28?!) are guys, which is a bit of a red flag. Not to stereotype, but the statistics are fairly consistent that more girls study languages than guys, especially at the intermediate or advanced levels. You do get closer to 50/50 in the first level during the semester, because of language requirements, but 70 percent? Over half the class is also older than I am - how is it that each new class I teach a higher percentage are older than me?? I’m supposed to get older and they’re supposed to stay the same age! Well over half are seniors or superseniors, mostly trying to graduate in August or December, and if their comments today are any indication - “I thought this was a pass/fail class.” “Is it hard to pass?” “Is there any way I can get out of taking a language at all?” “Is this the last class for the language requirement?” - they’re all really excited to learn some Spanish. Ugh, why don’t I teach Slavic languages, again??? Oh, right, I don’t speak them. I should do something about that. Small classes of motivated students? It sounds mythical. If it weren’t for my amazing native-speaker colleagues like Sofía, Ro, and Judith, I probably would have burned out (more) on Spanish a long time ago. Oh, well.
Earned $296 today, which is, for example, over a third of a semester’s tuition in the University of Zagreb’s full time Croatian language program. Or, for example, a six months of unlimited capoeira classes, or about one full tank of gas. Sorry, making money is still such a new concept for me...
In other news, Amer won a tournament yesterday! Woot. Yay Bosnians/Illini! Just as long as he doesn’t go thinking he can get out of the qualifying rounds in New York... Ha, his coach says “The goal right now for Amer has to be Main Draw for the Open.” Yeah, no. Sorry. Maybe next year. ; )
Right. So. I'm gonna go to bed. Another 9.30-9 day tomorrow.