Hey again everyone. As this week went by, and I thought about what I wanted to write next, the one that weighed on me the most was my school. I absolutely love the school I am working at now. I've never felt more content with not only my fellow staff, but the administration as well. I'm in an environment where I am given space to teach in my style, but am also pushed to become a better teacher with each day. In just the week and a half that I have been teaching, there have been a few similarities I have noticed and, obviously, many differences I see, and that's where my mind is going tonight.
I'll start with the similarities because it is much easier to make comparisons than to find differences. This year is the first year of teaching all over. I can feel the weight of having to relearn a system all over again, I feel the pressure to have lesson plans written up because I have new curriculum I haven't worked with before, and I feel the tiredness or pushing myself each day in an environment I am not use to in the slightest. A second similarity is the desire needed each day. The days I go in with my motivation not at 100%, I feel like the kids do not get the best of me but, just like last year, when I bring all of me to the table, I feel like my students are walking away changed from what they have learned that day. Finally, the difficulty of teaching content I wasn't trained in is just as difficult here as it was in the States. Just because I have a year of teaching it, that doesn't mean I am trained well enough to know what I'm doing. I always have to be pushing myself to be better and better in those subjects I struggle in.
Now for the differences. The main one is, obviously, the language barrier. With 8 out of the 12 students in my class being Korean, it makes things tricky. I find myself constantly explaining things multiple times, often in much simpler language than it is meant to be presented in. Combine that with the fact that 8 of my 12 students are ELL (English Language Learner) students who struggle heavily in both reading and understanding English, and it makes communication difficult.
A second difference is having a TA (Teacher's Assistant). Some of you talked with me about it before and can attest to me saying how awesome it would be having someone doing my grading and paperwork while I plan lessons and teach. I am quickly finding out that this is one of the most difficult parts about my job this year. I am the type of person that likes to control what happens in my classroom. Plus, last year, I had to learn how to be self-sufficient in getting my work done and so I learned how to do everything myself. Now, I have someone, that the school is paying, doing it for me and is eager to do her best. It's been hard to give up some control to her, but she is going to be a huge blessing as time goes on.
The final big difference for me is the interaction of the staff. Last year, almost all of my staff were people that were older with kids (sometimes grandkids) and families to take care of. I didn't feel like I fit in too well and, as a result, only connected so much with them. They were great, and I learned so much from them, but only one of the teachers on staff spent considerable time with me, and I spend time with her and her husband regardless of her working with me. I have a staff that wants to do dinner together almost every night, that looks for opportunities to spend time socializing, playing games, or just chilling out. It's been a wonderful experience, and one I am looking forward to for awhile to come.
Even with many of these things seeming like they could be negative, I have never felt more sure that I am where I'm supposed to be. The Father has placed me here for a reason, and He continues to remind me of it each day. This school has been the biggest confirmation in my mind and, even if I struggle to talk to them, I am making the connections with my students, the staff, and everyone I interact with. I can't wait to see what the next two years hold...
These are my stories...
Chris
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