mercredi le 3 septembre:
Decided to get up early and appear at the Lycee – dreading them giving us English teaching to do –had been a bit worried about it as they hadn’t contacted us and we weren’t sure what to do! As it turns out Genevieve wasn’t prepared and said that first week back is horrendous for teachers –just like us! –so do our own thing and we will catch up next week.
Called into the primary school to collect mail –YES there was some – Phone sent back from Margaret (previous teacher)! Met the Directrice – She was friendly but pointed – she was telling me that the girls are going to go to school there and she is looking forward to them coming. This is fantastic – apparently really hard to get into French school so we are very fortunate that they can go.
Off down the hill on the bus to class, had some time so I rang home from a call box – this has been the most successful time to ring – about 9-10 am here and 7-8 back home in the evening. Great to hear the voices but this am Seph sounded so sad, it brought a huge lump to my throat and tears to my eyes! Worst thing is thinking about home – even now writing this it is incredibly difficult!
My intensive language course – when they say intensive –that it sure is! Arrived this morning – he took in our homework –instantly – handed out piece of paper – class is silent – then they all start working – not a word of instructions or explanations! I felt very dumb – it is too hard! So they day went by sitting doing vocabulary exercises and then 1 hour in lab doing more verb work (only read it from a computer) – then back to classroom for 2 hours of conjugating verbs and doing tenses – I have never been taught the really intricate side to grammar and this is terrifying. This afternoon had a different teacher, she was much more formal and hands out work but there is no explanation really. I decided it was too hard and horrible and have asked to move down a level, which I am now doing as of tomorrow. Quite a good plan really – so didn’t do homework tonight – then maybe move down another class each few days to get out of homework!
Met Wendy in town for lunch, since we have 2 hours then after class it was torrential pouring rain and thunderstorms! Ran, well trotted to bus stop but still wet. Possibly the scrooge in me will have to buy an umbrella! Will look this weekend at the big supermarket – thought I might try and find it out in the suburbs somewhere.
The Directeur of the Lycee –Monsieur Daboval, had called in while I was at class and dropped off a TV for us – very kind, unfortunately it doesn’t work – he is on to it and will try to fix it! When he comes back we are going to have to say something about the stench in the bathroom – I nearly vomit as I walk past to my room! It wreaks the whole place out!
Well have sent a few emails tonight and spent time on this – it is now 9:00 and I might retire.
Decided to get up early and appear at the Lycee – dreading them giving us English teaching to do –had been a bit worried about it as they hadn’t contacted us and we weren’t sure what to do! As it turns out Genevieve wasn’t prepared and said that first week back is horrendous for teachers –just like us! –so do our own thing and we will catch up next week.
Called into the primary school to collect mail –YES there was some – Phone sent back from Margaret (previous teacher)! Met the Directrice – She was friendly but pointed – she was telling me that the girls are going to go to school there and she is looking forward to them coming. This is fantastic – apparently really hard to get into French school so we are very fortunate that they can go.
Off down the hill on the bus to class, had some time so I rang home from a call box – this has been the most successful time to ring – about 9-10 am here and 7-8 back home in the evening. Great to hear the voices but this am Seph sounded so sad, it brought a huge lump to my throat and tears to my eyes! Worst thing is thinking about home – even now writing this it is incredibly difficult!
My intensive language course – when they say intensive –that it sure is! Arrived this morning – he took in our homework –instantly – handed out piece of paper – class is silent – then they all start working – not a word of instructions or explanations! I felt very dumb – it is too hard! So they day went by sitting doing vocabulary exercises and then 1 hour in lab doing more verb work (only read it from a computer) – then back to classroom for 2 hours of conjugating verbs and doing tenses – I have never been taught the really intricate side to grammar and this is terrifying. This afternoon had a different teacher, she was much more formal and hands out work but there is no explanation really. I decided it was too hard and horrible and have asked to move down a level, which I am now doing as of tomorrow. Quite a good plan really – so didn’t do homework tonight – then maybe move down another class each few days to get out of homework!
Met Wendy in town for lunch, since we have 2 hours then after class it was torrential pouring rain and thunderstorms! Ran, well trotted to bus stop but still wet. Possibly the scrooge in me will have to buy an umbrella! Will look this weekend at the big supermarket – thought I might try and find it out in the suburbs somewhere.
The Directeur of the Lycee –Monsieur Daboval, had called in while I was at class and dropped off a TV for us – very kind, unfortunately it doesn’t work – he is on to it and will try to fix it! When he comes back we are going to have to say something about the stench in the bathroom – I nearly vomit as I walk past to my room! It wreaks the whole place out!
Well have sent a few emails tonight and spent time on this – it is now 9:00 and I might retire.
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