finalizing Wednesday

I woke up early to work on my lesson, thought about it for a few minutes and then went back to sleep.
We had a test at school first thing. It was on grammar and it was open notes. I pounded it out in an hour and my classmates struggled to finish in an hour and a half. For break we went to Paul and I got a chocolate covered donut WITH a chocolate center. Can life be any richer?
Our lesson today was on business English. Some of it was review for me. Teaching business could be fun.
For lunch, we went to Fresc Co for a buffet. We love it there. How can you say no to unlimited sorbet?!
After lunch, I worked on my lesson, which was now on the Olympics instead of whatever the book had for me. I got an article from the internet on the lack of snow in Vancouver at the moment.
I watched Laura’s lesson in a daze and then started mine. First, we brainstormed Olympic sports. Then we wrote sentences about pictures of Olympic sports. Then I busted out the reading (and some preteach lexis). I found out quickly that my topic was WAY over some of the students’ heads and a bit over the others. Oh dear. I powered through though, doing my best to describe the hard concepts. One of the students understood and explained that the same thing happened in a championship in Granada. Erwin motion 5 minutes to me and I asked some last questions to wrap it up.
After class, some tears slipped out of my eyes. Carlos, one of the students, was the only person left in the room and gave me a tissue, saying the lesson was fine, just the reading was too hard. I told him I should have known that. I like him. Laura also comforted me, saying I was still going to get a certificate and not to worry.
In my review, I said I knew it was a disaster and that my cardinal error was my choice on the dialogue. Erwin agreed and also said that it’s better to have the students read the story to themselves instead of aloud so they can talk about it afterward instead. I can see the logic there, but see some value in reading aloud as well. He DID say that our grades are averaged and that lots of people do poorly on the last one. On my previous lesson, I got an A, apparently. An A! Also, at one point, Erwin complimented my way of explaining things and how I sat with the students, saying I was clearly a teacher. That made me feel good. Erwin showed some empathy today, which he usually doesn’t. Also, I realized I’m essentially done with my TEFL. I just have to show up for the next two days. I have no more work to turn in and no more performing to do.
On the way home, I went to the grocery store and then peeked into Vreneli, the crepe place in my square. I dropped off my bags and walked around the block. There’s a street with a palm tree in the middle that I’ve been eyeing for a photo. I found it right up close and personal. Also, I found a curved street that really showed off the buildings. I decided I’d try to get up early for photos on the way to school tomorrow. We’ll see if THAT happens. Then I went to the crepe place. Turns out, they also have MEXICAN food and SMOOTHIES. I got a quesadilla which turned out to be 2 tiny ones that were overstuffed as if they were tacos. I should have had a smoothie, but went for Coke Light. I read my guidebook while I waited for my food. The waitress spoke mostly Spanish to me, but we worked it out. Inside, the cafe is ADORABLE. It has pink walls and oversized lamps that hang at various heights with bows on the cords. The walls are brick, pink wall paper, and polka dots. The tables were painted a faux-worn mint. Overall, FANTASTICO. If only I’d gone in there sooner!
After that, I stopped in a shop to see about getting some Chapstick but it was 5 EUROS! Uhh, no. I got some candy in the local shop and the man recognized me. He told me how much in English and said thank you as I left. At home, I applied to job in Japan. I added my resume to a TEFL website and applied to a few jobs. It’s a bummer how many require EU passport holders. Also, all of the ones in Thailand have low salaries. I also found out that I already applied to the place that Jen recommended in Vietnam. I plan to apply again after I get my certificate on Friday. AH! I can’t believe I’ve practically earned my TEFL! Despite the disaster in the afternoon, I had a grand day.