...Or in other words, Happy New Year! Apologies for the lack in updates. Busy busy busy. My first few months of teaching English have been a very good, impressionable, learning experience. I work at two Gymnasien or combination middle/high schools, outside of Salzburg. Key word- OUTSIDE of- or in German, auf dem Land. One is in Seekirchen am Wallersee, the other in Straßwalchen. The prior is the oldest Austrian settlement still in existence. The one involves an hour-long walk-bus-train commute, the other one an hour and a half, door-to-door. Needless to say, on days when school starts at 7:30, I hate life. On the positive side, the commute is through rolling, story-book-green hills (white with snow in the winter), with views of cows, llamas, deer and brown-black-white peaky mountains. The combination of schools culminates in me teaching 26 different classes in grades 6-12, working with 13 different teachers directly. I've managed to juggle it so far, though it gets overwhelming at times. I do love the work.
Some topics I've done (by choice, or required):
- "Californication" by RHCP (commentary on Hollywood and its effects on the earth)
- Mass Tourism/Environmental Effects
- Party-Planning
- Consumerism
- World of Work
- Hobbies
- Holidays
- Media/Censorship/WikiLeaks
- Alcohol
- Teen Issues US
- Outerspace
- Celebrities
- Electronic Tagging
- Intro to Global Warming
The two most significant things I have learned are FLEXIBILITY and CREATIVITY. Not all kids learn the same way, so if one doesn't understand it this way, then you must try to explain it that way. And if he/she still doesn't get it, you need to use different words. Or talk slower. Or speak more clearly. Or translate. Or laugh it off. Humor is probably the third most-useful tool in the classroom after flexibility and creativity. Moreover, not all teachers teach the same way- which in my case causes more difficulty, because 13 teachers want it 13 different ways, when 1) I want to do it my way, and 2) It is hard to remember who wants what style. Keeps me on my toes. Dynamic and changing, the work itself suits me. It's exciting. I do not think I want to be a high school teacher. And I will never live so far from my workplace again. But for now I am thankful for the opportunity, learning what I can, and enjoying the ride.
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