This is our first full week working with the students. Two classes, 2-1/2 hours for each class, six days a week!
This takes a lot out of you. I don't know if it's the extreme heat (we're in a heat wave and breaking records) or just the energy expended from teaching, but I'm exhausted!
The students are so attentive and eager to learn. They really enjoy practicing the language. They have given themselves American nicknames to reinforce using English
(Derrick, Judy, Natalie, Dan, and Chasen, but also Lotus, Phatom, and Duo Duo). Today I taught them an Afro-American spiritual, "This Little Light of Mine." We went over the historical context, and they seemed to really enjoy the experience, AND they can carry a tune! We also went over some of the American slang in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. This is the main text we are using.
I am so glad we have been assigned a driver to pick us up from the hotel and drop us off at the university. The people really put NYC drivers to shame! There are no STOP signs. They have traffic lights, but at an intersection, it's first come, first served. The other driver expects you to stop. One driver in front of us suddenly decided to make a U-turn. Another one made a sudden left turn from the far right lane. I've only seen one driver actually use a turn signal. And people decide to cross the street on a whim. Parking is allowed in both directions, on the same side of the street. Cars sometimes drive or park on the sidewalk. It's absolutely fascinating to watch this "traffic play."
Until then...
Jonathan