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Published: November 13th 2006
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Real Life English Reception Desk
This is the first thing you'd see if you were visiting the school where I teach. Although it has only been 4 days since my last post, so much has happened that I feel the need to write it down, lest I forget.
Today, Thursday, we (the new teachers) had our most intensive training/information session we've had thus far. Information about scheduling, dress codes, fraternization policies and more were flying at us from every direction. We cowered behind the tables and chairs in fear of the massive overload of advice and rules. Sadly, I am only exaggerating a little bit! However, our dismay soon turned to excitement as we contemplated the news that we will begin teaching on Monday. There are several different types of classes that are taught at World Link Education. First and foremost, there are the core classes. These are basic levels of proficiency that follow the World Link textbook and last for 12 weeks each unit. Therefore, the teacher has the opportunity to really get to know the students and vice versa. There are also electives, which are seemingly random lessons for a mixture of proficiency levels. The topics can range from Plants and the Environment to Communication Styles to Introduction techniques. These classes are the ones in which the teachers can
Real Life English Exchange Area
This is a place for students and teachers to chat informally, play games or work on homework. be really creative; we are given a topic and a guideline sheet, but beyond that, we are free to construct the lesson as we please. New this year are the corporate and VIP classes. Corporate classes are usually taught by the more seasoned teachers and usually involve travel to a company. The students can be employees of the company, executives or even the CEO. Our corporate clients include Microsoft, Google Beijing, Georgia Insitute and others. VIPs are similar; they are usually businesspeople who travel frequently, and so they call a few days in advance to schedule a lesson on their own schedule. I am fortunate enough to be teaching four (4!!) core classes, all of different levels: Beginning B, Elementary A, Intermediate A, and Advanced A. The other teachers were all nonplussed to find out that I had 4 core classes; apparently that is a first at Worldlink. I will also be teaching one elective per week. Jacqui (my boss) pulled me aside today to tell me that I had been selected to teach a corporate class as well. I am the only new teacher out of the 9 of us to have been selected; it is quite an honor.
Real Life English Exchange Area
The pool table is a new addition. Jacqui told me that she believes I am corporate material and will represent the company well. I'm excited to begin teaching next week, but also a bit uncertain as to what to expect. Of course, this is only natural.
As I've mentioned, I've been making fast friends with many of the other teachers. I was concerned that as new teachers, there would be an us vs. them mentality with the teachers who have been there longer, but that is absolutely not the case. They are so friendly, welcoming and eager to get to know us that it's impossible not to like every one of them. Jacqui (our boss) stressed during orientation that the staff is just like an extended family, and of course everyone kind of thought "yeah, right", but it really seems to be the case.
I'm also fortunate in that my best friend from the States, Wen Lei, is studying abroad in Beijing for the fall/winter semester. She is attending Bei Da, known as Peking University to Westerners. We were able to get together to have dinner a couple of nights ago, which was nice. She and I have been anxious to both be in China
at the same time since we discovered that we missed each other by just a couple of weeks the past couple of summers.
I've also been looking forward to seeing my host family again. When I was in Beijing last summer doing my internship, I lived with a Chinese family and really liked them. We've kept up with each other via letters this past year, and I was finally able to get ahold of them yesterday. I spoke with my host mom, and she kept saying how happy she was that I was back in Beijing. She told me to call them anytime to come visit, and she'll make my favorite Chinese food (jiaozi, or dumplings) and get some suan ai, which is a yogurt drink I really like. It will be so fun to see them again; I am hoping to visit in a week or so.
I have so much more to say, but it will have to wait for another day and another post. I'm a teacher now-- I have to prepare for my classes!
Thanks for reading, and keep in touch!
merritt.wilsongmail.com
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