Fuckin fuck Dave, yer a feckin genious how you write.
I just got off my week with the wee violent stabbers at my school and your blog just made me smile my arse off. I never do facebook but so glad I did today and read your thing! You and Sarah are an an amazing couple of individuals. Christ though it looks beautiful but a wee bit bleak. Still, you went, you saw and it sounds like you changed things.... A LOT!!!! Cannae wait to but you both a pint! Elaine XXXXXXXXX
Mountains Hey Dave,
Grt to read yr blog! Very professional. Whats the story with the beard?????? Does it keep u warm? Is Sarah not?
Hey those mountains could be the Remarkables in Queenstown in that pic!
Take Care,
Amanda x
Cheerystuff Dave that looks absolutely amazing, you are clearly enjoying yourself. The weather is obviously challenging, can't imagine Esther coping with that, not to mention the hung dog meat! Keep it coming, its inspirational and hilarious. all our love to the both of you.
Alright Jake, glad u bumped into my mate..! Life is strangely sharp around the edges in China but I'm loving it.
I think VSO is a good organisation and their approach is good...to empower and encourage sustainability etc. They organise good, fun training sessions and set up the placements, but what actually happens when ur on the placement is down to the system you're working within and how co-operative the partner organisation is. The people I'm working directly with are pretty good, and incredibly helpful in many respects. My partner organisation is the education bureau of the county level government, which characteristically is pretty top down and this kind of structual restriction is fairly ingrained here. Certain decisions may be made by others higher up the chain of command, and those lower down are not in a position to discuss matters with them. Thus, it's hard to influence how and when training is delivered. The effects of the work are often gradual with development work, and I think we're seeing the benefit the last teacher trainer had on some of the teachers she trained, but she won't have seen as much of it.
Our role here is teacher training and follow up teacher observations, so the only lessons we teach are demos, watched by around 30 or so teachers, with up to 60 or so students We do feedback sessions after, but folk are often a little reticent about constructive criticism. If you work in a different country you might be doing more teaching as well and classes in Africa can include up to 80 or 90 students. I've heard good reports from people who've worked in African countries and once again the students tend to be incredibly enthusiastic.
The kids are brilliant and really enthusiastic...such a contrast from English children! There are simply no real behavioural problems in school and apparently children who are a bit naughty don't make it obvious in school hours. There is no back-chat or 'attitude' whatsoever off the kids.
With teacher training, you get to see what's needed and tailor materials to suit their needs which I'm really enjoying as a fresh challenge. The last trainer made a lot of the training quite theoretical, so I've been making lots of practical activities for them to use and adapt. They want training for primary and junior high school teachers here, and as I've got a bit of primary teaching experience, we divided it up so Sarah does the latter.
And the key question....my English File Int teacher's book is sadly boxed up in my attic in Oxford. Still, the spirit of it is inspiring my training sessions here! Indeed...a wee information gap, spot the difference exercise will be unveiled in my demo class tomorrow!
Hope the magic of India is inspiring you, sire. Have you hung with any babas? Has the spirituality of the motherland permeated your Jakeness? Met any interesting weirdos?
All the best for ur continuing travels mate. Om nama shiva...may the infinite bliss of the one true formless divinity impart to you indescribable wisdoms and may the mighty torrent of mother ganga pour a flood of joy into your very soul;)
That's great blogging, Dave! Takes a special knack to report so objectively and still make it interesting, keep it up... Looks truly new-n-different there though (and those mountains look fantastic!); ever seen anything like it before?
And, sorry, couple of more worky questions.. how's VSO as an organisation so far? How come you're out in different schools - any chance of building up any consistency with any classes, or is your role more, er, kinda, representative? How much teaching do you do (is it fun?!) How come you and Sarah ended up doing different things, did you request that? And most importantly, did you take your English File Int teacher's book with you?!
Keep up the good work anyway mate. Me, I'm doing NOTHING. It really is poor.
jx
fascinating Dave, we loved your blog. Gave us more info than we have had all the time you have been there! So glad you are both enjoying it! Take care of you and her.
You dirty blogger! Great to see some piccies of where you are mate!
The one's of X'ian bring back memories! (Did you check for my Zippo in the Muslim Quarter)?
Looks quite striking where you are! Always wanted to make it that far west! Who knows though! Might get round to it whilst you're still there! T'would be grand!
Like this blog you're using! It's set out a bit better than that one I used! Like how you can drop the photos into the text!
Although speaking of those.....who were the Terracotta "Warriers"?
Were they the Fighting Farriers Emperor Qin used to mess up the enemy cavalry?!
:~)
(Tut tut!! And you an English teacher)!
;~)
You be able to get on Skype this weekend mate?
Elizabeth chweya
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Where can I get the plough from, any details