This photo shows students during a games afternoonMy different roles at the college are very much a challenge this year, particularly as Head of English. The situation with English is complicated and involves unhappy students, staff shortages and over-demanding teachers. I’m not enjoying the responsibility at all. I'd appreciate your prayers for the wisdom to know what to do, the courage to do it and the grace to do it with love.
I am enjoying teaching the level 1 students from the first year of the diploma course. They are a lovely group of girls and we have a lot of fun together. It’s the first time I’ve taught the same thing 3 years running and I like the fact that I’ve been able to improve the way I teach each year. (My poor class the first year I was here; they were definitely the guinea pigs!)
My students in the degree-level class have been a huge challenge because of the wide range of abilities they have. I have been teaching them the English they would need to be able to teach it to 3-6 year olds. It’s been fun, since I’ve been using activities suitable for pre-school age children. Those who have a high level of English have opted out of this first semester since they felt their time could be used more effectively in other ways. One of my other students told me she's been using some of the songs I've taught them with her nursery class, which is just wonderful to hear. Next semester the focus is on strategies and planning, so they all have to come to that.
I went on my fist visit of the year to the state adoption centre's orphanage for abandoned babies last week. Each week from now until the end of the year, our first year students will go in groups to do activities with the children. This is a great help to the staff, who are overworked and have so much to do in order to keep the babies clean, fed and clothed that they don't have much time at all to focus on their individual developmental needs. There were five of us (four students and me) and ten babies, between the ages of about 9 and 18 months. Some of the children were very active; at one point one of them started to climb up the shelves! Others needed a lot of attention and interaction to keep them from crying. One baby was content just to sit in my lap the whole time, watching what was going on in the rest of the room. It can be quite hard to leave them at the end of the session! The state does its best to find members of the child's extended family to take care of him/her and if they can't, the baby is put up for adoption.
The first teaching practice of the year is due to begin shortly so I will be going to visit some of the second year students on placement. I look forward to seeing how much the students have learnt and to being able to give each of them encouragement and constructive advice.
