So, due to popular demand, I am posting a video of my very own Spanish flat. The video is a little dark, since it was taken at night and not during the splendid light of day (of which our salon gets a lot, don't worry), but you get the idea. Also, please excuse the cheesy commentary!
jueves, 18 de octubre de 2007
martes, 16 de octubre de 2007
¡Profe y alumna a la vez!
“How do you say polymer in English?”
“Polymer.”
“Oh. And roughly? Do you say this? The atmosphere is roughly 75% Nitrogen?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Ah, good to know. What about helium? How do you pronounce that?
“The same.”
“Good, good….”
And so goes my Science lessons at IES Isaac Albeníz en Leganés. The school experience has been quite interesting, as I have a wide spectrum of responsibilities, from confirming the pronunciation of Latin words in Spanish to planning entire lessons and units about the United Nations for the second and third year students. Planning for the second years is slightly easier, as they have zero experience with the Global Classrooms program we are supposed to implement as Fulbrighters (essentially the Model UN). As they have no concept of what it means, I have no trouble drumming up activities and games for them introducing the topic and teaching them words like “imports” and “exports.” With the third years, it´s a little more difficult to plan, though they have done the program beforehand. I continue to really enjoy working with my students, though this past week I feel like I have been run over a bus and nearly on the verge of tears due to some unruly, obnoxious kids who seem to think my standing in front of the class and talking is a signal for them to start wrestling in the back of the classroom. I never thought I would say this, but thank goodness for the discipline in American public schools!
Other than that, my life in Madrid has become quite busy. I am now giving clases particulares, or private tutoring lessons, to three students outside of class: Miguel, 12 years old, one hour each twice a week; Daniel, 16, once a week for an hour and a half; and Lucia, 16, once a week for an hour. I really enjoy tutoring these kids and the private attention I can give them (they actually pay attention to me)! It does make my days rather long, however—my Mondays and Tuesdays in particular stretch into 12 hour days, where I am occupied either travelling between jobs or extra-curriculars (I miss my car) or giving or taking classes.
What classes, you might ask? Well, I am now taking French classes at la Escuela Oficial de Idiomas for two hours twice a week. The class is filled with Spaniards and taught in Spanish, so it´s quite interesting. Sometimes the teacher will explain the meaning of a French word in Spanish and I will have to lean over and ask my native speaker and perfectly bilingual Fulbright compañero Andrés what it means in English. I am afraid of being monolingual by the time I get back to the States, because I am almost positive that my English is getting worse and my French is not getting better. Having only had 3 classes though, I will wait and pass judgment. In the meantime, I love being a student again and learning a new language!
The only other regular scheduled event in my schedule is a biweekly reunion with some of the Fulbright girls to watch the newest episode of America´s Next Top Model, bought on iTunes. As silly as it sounds and seems, it is refreshing (and quite relaxing) to do something so familiar and “normal” such as go to a friend´s apartment and watch a silly American TV show. All I need now is to find some relatively inexpensive dance lessons and I will be a happy camper!
This past weekend, we had a puente, which just means a four-day long weekend, for the Día de Hispanidad. I went with two other Fulbright girls, Alex and Nicole, to Galicia (in the NW of Spain). The trip was wonderful- so much so in fact, that I think it warrants its own entry, complete with new pictures. I will update again soon!
“Polymer.”
“Oh. And roughly? Do you say this? The atmosphere is roughly 75% Nitrogen?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Ah, good to know. What about helium? How do you pronounce that?
“The same.”
“Good, good….”
And so goes my Science lessons at IES Isaac Albeníz en Leganés. The school experience has been quite interesting, as I have a wide spectrum of responsibilities, from confirming the pronunciation of Latin words in Spanish to planning entire lessons and units about the United Nations for the second and third year students. Planning for the second years is slightly easier, as they have zero experience with the Global Classrooms program we are supposed to implement as Fulbrighters (essentially the Model UN). As they have no concept of what it means, I have no trouble drumming up activities and games for them introducing the topic and teaching them words like “imports” and “exports.” With the third years, it´s a little more difficult to plan, though they have done the program beforehand. I continue to really enjoy working with my students, though this past week I feel like I have been run over a bus and nearly on the verge of tears due to some unruly, obnoxious kids who seem to think my standing in front of the class and talking is a signal for them to start wrestling in the back of the classroom. I never thought I would say this, but thank goodness for the discipline in American public schools!
Other than that, my life in Madrid has become quite busy. I am now giving clases particulares, or private tutoring lessons, to three students outside of class: Miguel, 12 years old, one hour each twice a week; Daniel, 16, once a week for an hour and a half; and Lucia, 16, once a week for an hour. I really enjoy tutoring these kids and the private attention I can give them (they actually pay attention to me)! It does make my days rather long, however—my Mondays and Tuesdays in particular stretch into 12 hour days, where I am occupied either travelling between jobs or extra-curriculars (I miss my car) or giving or taking classes.
What classes, you might ask? Well, I am now taking French classes at la Escuela Oficial de Idiomas for two hours twice a week. The class is filled with Spaniards and taught in Spanish, so it´s quite interesting. Sometimes the teacher will explain the meaning of a French word in Spanish and I will have to lean over and ask my native speaker and perfectly bilingual Fulbright compañero Andrés what it means in English. I am afraid of being monolingual by the time I get back to the States, because I am almost positive that my English is getting worse and my French is not getting better. Having only had 3 classes though, I will wait and pass judgment. In the meantime, I love being a student again and learning a new language!
The only other regular scheduled event in my schedule is a biweekly reunion with some of the Fulbright girls to watch the newest episode of America´s Next Top Model, bought on iTunes. As silly as it sounds and seems, it is refreshing (and quite relaxing) to do something so familiar and “normal” such as go to a friend´s apartment and watch a silly American TV show. All I need now is to find some relatively inexpensive dance lessons and I will be a happy camper!
This past weekend, we had a puente, which just means a four-day long weekend, for the Día de Hispanidad. I went with two other Fulbright girls, Alex and Nicole, to Galicia (in the NW of Spain). The trip was wonderful- so much so in fact, that I think it warrants its own entry, complete with new pictures. I will update again soon!
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