Categories: life-in-general
Tags: w*rk
Date: 19 September 2009 12:03:02
Aha! I've solved the problem of why I couldn't see what I was typing. And now I can see!Japes was impressed that my typing was accurate even when "blind". TBH, so was I!
Anyway, back to Miss...Miss: Yes, I took the job at the Collège teaching the 3eme - 14 and 15 year olds. I've had two lessons - both OK, but I realise how much of the Teaching Children Skills I have forgotten. With adults you don't need to bring in the "Control" aspect - I've already confiscated a Love Note and a doodled upon diary. That doesn't happen quite so much with businesspeople! I'm not leaving enough time for giving out homework, I'm not timing the lessons quite well enough, and the lessons need to go more slowly for 26 than for 3 or 4. It's easier to overlook the struggling student as well. I also need to get used to the Admin/discipline systems, so totally unlike what I was used to in the UK Primary system. Not that they're bad in any way, just unfamiliar.
On top of this collège, I've had another asking if I can teach another 3 hours there. Again, I think with the 3eme. However, it's about 30 minutes drive away, and the thought of driving for an hour for an hours teaching three times a week is not very appealing. So I've turned that one down.
But I have had the Director of a Private Collège/Lycée in Roanne also phone me up to see if I can teach there. I don't know how many hours yet - I'm seeing him on Monday afternoon to discuss it. I think it's as a result of a mailing I did about a year ago, sending my CV and letter to various private schools in the area. Although I didn't get any replies, presumably they kept my details on file.
I am a little unsure though whether I really want to end up teaching secondary children almost fulltime. I left teaching in 2000, because of the marking and paperwork which was getting me down. I don't want to find myself back in that Working Every Evening And At Weekends Too mode that I was in. And that I escaped from. Yes, I know we need the money, but it's not what I wanted to come to France for. I want to enjoy my teaching, not resent it.
Ooh, goodness me, don't I sound whiney?!
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On second thoughts, don't answer that!
Actually, it's quite exciting. Things are changing slightly, my direction might be changing, but that's OK. My friend Clare, whose children are at the collège here, is pushing the Head to employ me to take her children plus the other English children for "High Level English" lessons - they can do the "I am happy, you are happy, he is happy" lessons, and their spoken English is good. But there is the danger that they might lose their writing/reading skils unless pushed. So perhaps I could teach them, eve for one hour a week. That would be good. But, of course, it's not going to be Government funded, so the Head has to decide whether the school will fund it or not.
Let's be positive. It could be great!