It´s almost Midterm in school and my third week at work.
My schedule is more or less organized and I get a routine in my everyday life.
It is a strange feeling being a teacher and I m not used to being one yet. I m still more a college student ;)
My first extra German classes have been great. The students seem enthusiastic to talk German. Let´s hope it stays this way and that I won´t kill their enthusiasm.
Next week is Midterm break, so I have plenty of time to think about what I want to do with them and get some structure into class.
Life outside of school is pretty good. I finally met some people in Kinsale and we went for a nice hike along the sea. I signed up for a Pilates class on tuesdays. My first class was last night. It was great and relaxing, but I had some sore muscles this morning.
The weather is nice, which means it hasn´t been raining that much. It´s getting cold and I am so glad I brought a wintercoat.
My plans for the weekend are partying in Cork and enjoying the Jazz festival. :)
Mittwoch, 20. Oktober 2010
Freitag, 8. Oktober 2010
Review week 1
The first week is over and so far it was quite relaxed at school. Most of the time I went with the German teacher Joanne and observed the lesson and class.
It is interessting how they teach German at this school. The whole curriculum is very exam oriented (the students have two major exams one in year 3 and one in year 6). The German students speak quite well but I have the impression that they mostly learn it by heart instead of trying to speak of the top of their head.
The language of instruction is mostly English. The target language (German) is only used for the use of pronunciation. I am curious how my first after school German class will go. It will start on Monday with the 6th years.
Besides German lessons I will also teach or supervise a two or three students in a one-on-one class. Two of them need special attention and one just gets extra German as something went wrong with her schedule.
I am also observing History lessons in first and second year. Compared to Germany they start off right away in first year, but they study the same major subjects like Ancient civilisations, Middle Age etc with a focus in Irish culture and history. It is really interessting, the first year class in particular as I learn a lot about the Celtic history.
So far I have no plans for the weekend. I will probably explore my surrounding a little more and drive up to the Old Head which was an old fort, but is a light house now.
Maybe I find someone who joins me for a pint of Guiness in a local pub :)
It is interessting how they teach German at this school. The whole curriculum is very exam oriented (the students have two major exams one in year 3 and one in year 6). The German students speak quite well but I have the impression that they mostly learn it by heart instead of trying to speak of the top of their head.
The language of instruction is mostly English. The target language (German) is only used for the use of pronunciation. I am curious how my first after school German class will go. It will start on Monday with the 6th years.
Besides German lessons I will also teach or supervise a two or three students in a one-on-one class. Two of them need special attention and one just gets extra German as something went wrong with her schedule.
I am also observing History lessons in first and second year. Compared to Germany they start off right away in first year, but they study the same major subjects like Ancient civilisations, Middle Age etc with a focus in Irish culture and history. It is really interessting, the first year class in particular as I learn a lot about the Celtic history.
So far I have no plans for the weekend. I will probably explore my surrounding a little more and drive up to the Old Head which was an old fort, but is a light house now.
Maybe I find someone who joins me for a pint of Guiness in a local pub :)
Montag, 4. Oktober 2010
My first day at school
Today, was my first day at school and it was nice.
I accompanied one of the German teachers. I will work with Joanne for the next 6 months. I´ll be teaching year 4, 5 and 6 in German pronunciation ;). At the end, the students will be speaking perfect dialect. The classes will be after school which means I have to work Mo, Tue, Thur and Fr until 5 and We until 2.
Besides Germany, I will be watching History, English and Politic classes and if I am lucky I´ll get the chance to teach one or two lessons.
The German students are really good. They pronunciate some words in a funny way, but one can still understand the meaning. At the Kinsale Community School all first year students (age 12/13) start with German and French. In year two, they can choose between the two languages.
In year 3 they have their Junior Certificate which prepares them for the leaving certificate in year 6. The Leaving Cert qualifies them to go to a university.
My schedule is not yet finished, but I hope until the end of the week I´ll know my schedule.
I´ll keep you updated!!
I accompanied one of the German teachers. I will work with Joanne for the next 6 months. I´ll be teaching year 4, 5 and 6 in German pronunciation ;). At the end, the students will be speaking perfect dialect. The classes will be after school which means I have to work Mo, Tue, Thur and Fr until 5 and We until 2.
Besides Germany, I will be watching History, English and Politic classes and if I am lucky I´ll get the chance to teach one or two lessons.
The German students are really good. They pronunciate some words in a funny way, but one can still understand the meaning. At the Kinsale Community School all first year students (age 12/13) start with German and French. In year two, they can choose between the two languages.
In year 3 they have their Junior Certificate which prepares them for the leaving certificate in year 6. The Leaving Cert qualifies them to go to a university.
My schedule is not yet finished, but I hope until the end of the week I´ll know my schedule.
I´ll keep you updated!!
Samstag, 2. Oktober 2010
First time in Cork City
Today, I could hitch a ride into Cork with Shane. He is visiting the Univerity College (UCC) in Cork to make an MBA. I had to wake up really early at 7.30h as we left at 8.20am. The weather wasn´t to good, but it wasn´t raining. On the way into Cork City the sun came out a little bit.
I started my sightseeing tour at UCC. From there I walked onto Washington Street to St. Patrick´s Street. There weren´t a lot of people around. On Washington Street are a couple of shops with tiny doors like a Thai Shop or other junk food stores.
The first thing on my to do list, was to get a new sim card. Coming from Washington street I run right into an o2 store. The shop assistant was really friendly and now I am the proud owner of an Irish cell phone number. :)
Getting a new sim card was actually my only to do item, so I walk around and went a little shopping. First thing I went into a bookshop to buy a travel guide about Ireland. Looking around the store I spotted a cookbook from Jamie Oliver "Dinner in 30min". Sounds perfect for me as I am too lazy cookinf for myself. It has some delicious recipes in it and I can´t wait to start cooking. I stayed downtown until noon, walking around different shops (GAP!!! :) ), than I took a bus back to UCC were I was supposed to meet Shane at half past one.
His lecturer decided to keep the students for an hour longer, so I walked around UCC Campus. It´s a nice campus, very central. Some of the buildings remind me on barracks or a building from Eastern Germany. I don´t know how many students go to UCC but I doesn´t look like a very big university.
Shane and I came back to Kinsale around 4pm. I thought about going for a bike ride, but went upstairs to read instead.
During dinner, Casey joined me, and she drove me crazy. She jumps up in my lap claws first. I can tell you, it hurts quite a bit. She can´t sit still like other cats, she´s always biting or trying out her claws on my fingers or clothes. I got so annoyed that I put her outside. But Shane let her back in.
If the weather is nice, I will make a bike tour to the Charlesfort, one of the Kinsale tourist attractions.
take care
I started my sightseeing tour at UCC. From there I walked onto Washington Street to St. Patrick´s Street. There weren´t a lot of people around. On Washington Street are a couple of shops with tiny doors like a Thai Shop or other junk food stores.
The first thing on my to do list, was to get a new sim card. Coming from Washington street I run right into an o2 store. The shop assistant was really friendly and now I am the proud owner of an Irish cell phone number. :)
Getting a new sim card was actually my only to do item, so I walk around and went a little shopping. First thing I went into a bookshop to buy a travel guide about Ireland. Looking around the store I spotted a cookbook from Jamie Oliver "Dinner in 30min". Sounds perfect for me as I am too lazy cookinf for myself. It has some delicious recipes in it and I can´t wait to start cooking. I stayed downtown until noon, walking around different shops (GAP!!! :) ), than I took a bus back to UCC were I was supposed to meet Shane at half past one.
His lecturer decided to keep the students for an hour longer, so I walked around UCC Campus. It´s a nice campus, very central. Some of the buildings remind me on barracks or a building from Eastern Germany. I don´t know how many students go to UCC but I doesn´t look like a very big university.
Shane and I came back to Kinsale around 4pm. I thought about going for a bike ride, but went upstairs to read instead.
During dinner, Casey joined me, and she drove me crazy. She jumps up in my lap claws first. I can tell you, it hurts quite a bit. She can´t sit still like other cats, she´s always biting or trying out her claws on my fingers or clothes. I got so annoyed that I put her outside. But Shane let her back in.
If the weather is nice, I will make a bike tour to the Charlesfort, one of the Kinsale tourist attractions.
take care
Freitag, 1. Oktober 2010
Walking around Kinsale
Today, I didn´t have any special thing to do. I slept until 10am, had breakfast (Cheerios) while watching TV and took a shower at noon.
As it was a sunny day, I took the opportunity and went for a walk around Kinsale.
Have a look at the pictures and you get an impression of the town.
On my way back from Kinsale I walked a long the B... river. It was a nice walk.
Back at home, I played a little bit with Casey - the kitten- in the backyard. She is really crazy, running around and biting everything.
Tomorrow, I´ll be going to Cork to get a Sim card.
As it was a sunny day, I took the opportunity and went for a walk around Kinsale.
Have a look at the pictures and you get an impression of the town.
On my way back from Kinsale I walked a long the B... river. It was a nice walk.
Back at home, I played a little bit with Casey - the kitten- in the backyard. She is really crazy, running around and biting everything.
Tomorrow, I´ll be going to Cork to get a Sim card.
Exploring Kinsale
Today, I had an appointment with the headmaster at 10.45h.
The school is just 800m away, which is great as I don´t have to wake up to early.
The Kinsale Community school is for students age 12 - 18. The students all wear school uniforms. The teachers are nice and some of them aren´t hardly older than myself. I met another student teacher who showed me around school.
I also met one of the German teachers whom I will assist. She told me that I will be teaching mostly seniors. Some of the 4 and 5 years are going to Karlsruhe in February, which is great as I have a topic to start with.
Besides German I hope I will be able to teach some History and Politics as well.
After the visit to school I went downtown to get some fruits and to walk around town.
On my way home it rained quite hard, but it stopped half way.
The rest of the day I spent inside, doing some research and watching TV.
In the evening I made some pasta, but as I forgot to buy some salt it tasted a little stale.
After dinner I played with Casey - the kitten. She is really crazy, running around and exploring everything. But she is also very trusting and everytime someone is in the kitchen she comes to the door and looks inside, begging to let her in. Casey is only allowed in the kitchen and spents most her time outstide.
The school is just 800m away, which is great as I don´t have to wake up to early.
The Kinsale Community school is for students age 12 - 18. The students all wear school uniforms. The teachers are nice and some of them aren´t hardly older than myself. I met another student teacher who showed me around school.
I also met one of the German teachers whom I will assist. She told me that I will be teaching mostly seniors. Some of the 4 and 5 years are going to Karlsruhe in February, which is great as I have a topic to start with.
Besides German I hope I will be able to teach some History and Politics as well.
After the visit to school I went downtown to get some fruits and to walk around town.
On my way home it rained quite hard, but it stopped half way.
The rest of the day I spent inside, doing some research and watching TV.
In the evening I made some pasta, but as I forgot to buy some salt it tasted a little stale.
After dinner I played with Casey - the kitten. She is really crazy, running around and exploring everything. But she is also very trusting and everytime someone is in the kitchen she comes to the door and looks inside, begging to let her in. Casey is only allowed in the kitchen and spents most her time outstide.
Mittwoch, 29. September 2010
Arrival in Kinsale
After a short night sleep I woke up very early to catch my flight at 7am. Thanks to the possibility to check in online I didn´t have to arrive hours before. When I tried to check in my luggage the lady at the desk informed me that my carry on was to bulky and I had to repack it. I was so proud that I packed all my belongings in one backpack and one carry-one, now I had to carry two bags around.
After a 3hour flight and one stop in London, Heathrow I arrived in a sunny Ireland. My excitement lasted as long as I found out that my luggage didn´t arrive with me. Somehow I never arrive at the same time as my luggage. After a quick coffee and salad at Starbucks, I took a bus from Cork to Kinsale. The busride was a little scary. The left driving thing is still a little frightning.
From Kinsale town center I took a cab to the house. It is very nice. It has a nice big kitchen and backyard. My room is on the top floor, it is really nice and from the window I can see the school.
As I´ve only slept 4hours and nothing to unpack I took a long nap. My luggage arrived in the evening and so did my flat mates. Shane and Catherine were so nice to make dinner for me. Later in the evening Catherine drove me to the grocery store to pick up some food for myself.
Back at home I unpacked and went to bed.
After a 3hour flight and one stop in London, Heathrow I arrived in a sunny Ireland. My excitement lasted as long as I found out that my luggage didn´t arrive with me. Somehow I never arrive at the same time as my luggage. After a quick coffee and salad at Starbucks, I took a bus from Cork to Kinsale. The busride was a little scary. The left driving thing is still a little frightning.
From Kinsale town center I took a cab to the house. It is very nice. It has a nice big kitchen and backyard. My room is on the top floor, it is really nice and from the window I can see the school.
As I´ve only slept 4hours and nothing to unpack I took a long nap. My luggage arrived in the evening and so did my flat mates. Shane and Catherine were so nice to make dinner for me. Later in the evening Catherine drove me to the grocery store to pick up some food for myself.
Back at home I unpacked and went to bed.
Abonnieren
Posts (Atom)