Learning to be a clown

Well, I did it. I survived my first week at the kindergarten. And it was a short week because Monday was a holiday... next week will be the real thing! Eeek! I have to say, I am immensely relieved that it's Friday. It's been a pretty intense few days. I've been trying so hard to make my classes work, to entertain the kids, to discipline them, to get to know all of their names, of course to teach them something, and to basically figure out how teaching English to Chinese kids under five is done. I may have been teaching English to kids for 3+ years, but teaching kindergarten kids is a whole new ball game. They're still learning their own language, for gods sake. Most of the tricks and tools I've been using up until now are not applicable to kids under five. Hence the learning curve. There are many variables with 'kindy' kids that can really effect the way a class goes. They may be tired, hungry, grumpy, sad... they are very emotional little beings, and it's a teachers job to tune in and manipulate the group in a positive way, to keep the kids happy, engaged, and motivated to learn. Sometimes it is just impossible. That's when you say, "Screw it! Let's just have some fun!" And you have to be ready to pull some fun games out of your back pocket. Come to think of it, it's what I imagine being a clown or a magician is like. Maybe I should've gone to clown school after all.

Not only is it hard to get used to teaching this age group, it's hard being in a workplace that is entirely Chinese. Granted, there are three Chinese teachers who teach English, but they don't seem at all interested in practicing their English, (although they sure should be). The rest of the staff don't speak English at all. The other places I've worked have been after school learning centres, and usually everyone who works at learning centres speaks English. Plus, there's a group of foreign teachers, so you have a team to work with. Schools on the other hand, not so much, and at this job I'm the only foreign teacher, which is a drag. It would be so nice to have someone to talk to and confide in and share ideas with. The Chinese teacher who is in charge of me is good at giving suggestions and recommendations, but in a way that makes me feel incompetent and like I'm doing a terrible job. It's very stressful. Anyways, the moral of the story here is that I really, really, really need to work on my Chinese. I am dying to know what the heck they're all talking about! And it's only fair that I learn. It will make life so much easier for everyone.

On a fun note, one morning this week we went for a picnic in the park. It's something they do once a month - a fun outdoor activity for the kids. The school doesn't have an outdoors area, so I think it's a way of compensating for that. We went to a park that had a big green space where the kids could run around and play games. The teachers had a bunch of activities planned... they flew kites and had the kids chase them, blew bubbles and had the kids chase the bubbles, sat in a circle and played 'duck, duck, goose,' drew pictures, made a spinning wheel craft, and of course, had a picnic before piling back onto the bus and going back to school. It was a grand day out, and the kids seemed to have a great time. It was adorable watching them walking through the park to and from the bus, paired up and holding hands to keep safe. I wish I took more pictures of the kite-flying and bubbles and stuff. Oh well, maybe next time.

Story time in the park.

Playing "Big bubble, little bubble."

Lunch time!

Walking back to the bus.

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All aboard the big blue bus.