Class - Day 5 (Week I)

What an absolutely perfect day in Galway. The sun was shining from the moment I left my apartment and pretty much stayed around until late in the afternoon. It was fairly warm and simply lovely. I felt today would be a good day to give you all a visual tour of my walk to school each morning. It's such a nice neighborhood with lots of kids out and about and here they don't start school until 9:00am so they are heading out about the same time I am each morning. You'll see all the small buildings and charming homes. There is nothing like a high-rise building here and I think that's a very good thing. And just as I approached the corner where the Bridge Mills (aka, school) is I came across Owen and Darren, my fellow classmates out to get something to drink before class. They are both such sweet guys and are finishing their college education this week. Or at least I know Darren graduates next Tuesday.

Class was great today because we were all so happy that our first teacher practice was done and we all passed with flying colors. We did some prep work this morning for our next teacher practice which is Monday afternoon. I'm a little less nervous about that one but since it's on a whole new learning practice (speaking) I still have some apprehensions about doing it. I think once I'm in front of the students again my nervousness will be gone. I think I'm just so used to speaking to people after all my years working with the Manhattan Club guests that standing in front of people I don't know well doesn't throw me off much and in fact makes me feel more comfortable. The afternoon was spent on phonology. I don't ever remember learning phonics so this was all new to me and I found it interesting but at times a bit overwhelming.

I did get a great idea for a new short play though. As my fellow students and I were vocalizing, in unison, the phonetic sounds of the vowels and consonants I imagined that if someone in the room next door had no idea what we were doing but just heard the sounds they would be extremely confused and possibly might think something lewd or pornography might be going on in here. I think it would be a fun play to see that person listening to the sounds and perhaps talking to someone else about what he imagined was going on. I of course didn't have time to really think out a plot as I was suppose to be listening and vocalizing but I made a note to go back and revisit this play idea at a more opportune time. Oh and one last note on phonics, apparently Debra spelled out phonetically is daebrap. I know, strange, but kind of interesting to do. Owen loved his new spelling so much he thinks it would make a great tattoo. I’m pretty sure he’s kidding but there is a tattoo parlor just down the street from school so who knows.

We finished our afternoon working on our lesson plans for Monday's teacher practice. I've been assigned the topic of "Job Interview." I am going to do a few exercises with them including a role play where they pick a picture from a group of pictures I'll have brought with me representing different jobs like fireman, policeman, doctor, etc. To get them to practice their vocabulary they'll first have to tell me what the job title is of the person they see in their picture. Any opportunity they have to work remembering and verbalizing words is good. If we have time I'll ask them to tell me in specific terms what each person does in their profession. But the role play will simply consist of pairs of students acting out a job interview with one student being of the profession in the picture they chose and the other being the employer doing the interview. I think it will be great fun and gives the students lots of time to practice speaking and since the lesson is all about speaking skills this will be great providing my directions to them are clear and concise.

Jean Marie and I met up again at the Budding Cafe and of course Ellen had tea for us and we all got to chat a bit. I even met a Galway playwright who has one of his children's plays going up next week. It's titled "Tickety-Boo! In the Witche's Kitchen." How adorable is that. I won't be able to see it because it plays only during the hours I'm in class but my sister, being that she has a daycare wants to take some of her kids. She apparently has formed a group where she and other daycare providers get together and take their kids out to events like this. I think it will be fun for them all to have this Halloween theater experience. Personally you all know I think it is never too early to introduce children to theater and the playwright/director said as young as two years old would be appropriate to bring.

We went to the gym and swam around a bit and a visit to the steam room seemed to have helped diminish my cold symptoms a little bit. I am hoping to have a full recovery in just a day or so. I know, I'm totally being a drama queen about a few sniffles and a scratching throat but I never said I wasn't. I'm not even sure I could stop myself if I wanted to.