The first week

This is the end of the first week of teaching for me. I was a little nervous to begin with, but it wasn't anything too bad. I had many classes of introductions of myself, classes to me and class expectations. I am teaching six different classes: 1a, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and Kvinta. The way the school here works is that there are usually two classes per year of the five year program, i.e. 1a/b, 2a/b, 3a/b, 4a/b and 5a/b. In each class is normally no more than 30 students, the 2b class has 31 students though. For conversation classes the class is split into two groups so I usually work with 15 students per class hour. This year is a little different in the system set-up because there is only one first year class, there is no room for a second group of 30 students for first year so there is only a 1a.

The 1s are basically the equivalent of freshman in the US High School system. They have English conversation three times a week. The rest of the years have English conversation two times a week. The 5th years are the seniors but tend to be 18, 19, 20 and sometimes even 21 years old when they graduate. At the end of their schooling they have a test called the Materita to take, it is their graduating exam. Because of this the 5th years have special seminars to prepare them for the test.

There is also an eight year program in the school here in Mikulas. Kvinta is the fifth year of the eight year program. Their English is at a similar place of the first years in the five year program, but I do not think they are the same year. I believe a student in Kvinta is usually 12 or 13. The eight year program is made up of prima, sekunda, tercia, kvarta, kvinta, sexta, septima and octava. Students tend to be 18, 19 and maybe 20 when they graduate from this program, they also take the maturita.

Since my school is a bi-lingual school various subjects are taught in English. Occasionally a native speaker will teach a subject other than conversation, but not always. Myself and the other two teachers from the US only teach conversation though we may be asked to substitute for another subject.

This week has been interesting getting to know the students a little and see the difference in English skills and confidence between the years. I hope to be able to see and experience changes with both, skills and confidence, within the students throughout the year.

Wednesday brought the first "real" day of teaching. That is, I had classes other than introductions to teach. I was more nervous for this, but I think I did alright. I changed somethings from when I taught 2b to 2a for instance. I have even come up with an idea for my 3rd years to do for their first project. I discussed the idea with the other teacher of 3s and after some editing came up with the project. I think it should be interesting for the students and will have them practicing their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of English.

The schedule for classes is not yet finalized. For example, we were given the schedule for Wednesday Tuesday afternoon. Because of this we had classes, or didn't at times that will most likely change. On Monday I had two classes, Tuesday I had two classes, Wednesday I had four classes, Thursday I had no classes and Friday I had four of my own classes and substituted for a class. I taught for five straight periods today. It wasn't too bad, but I don't think I would want to do that every day.

This weekend is a long weekend again. Monday is the day of Mary's seven sorrows. She is the patron saint of Slovakia and it is a national/bank holiday so there is no school. Tomorrow a Slovak English teacher will be taking myself and the other two teachers to the High Tatras. We are going to walk around a lake area some and the rest of the area. It should be very nice, hopefully the weather cooperates. There were going to be some students taking us somewhere on Monday too, but the plans have not yet been made. It will be interesting to see what all ends up happening this weekend!