“Alian District already feels like home and teaching English resembles my new occupation”
Within the past month I made new contacts, exchanged opinions and widen
my horizon by interacting with lots of Taiwanese and taking part in their daily
life. – My volunteering project is a great opportunity getting to know the
different lifestyle at the other end of the world. But as with so many things
in life: “It’s up to you”. - You
have the chance to make a change and you
have to take it.
And so it came that I reviewed the last weeks English classes (at the
different kind of schools) and went for a chat with Cathy about the students’
level of education.
Even though English is their second language and they start learning it
from second grade on (and in addition to that at Prime School in the afternoon)
there is still the alphabet written in the seventh’ graders exercise book and
they struggle with simple questions. I went through their schedule, observed a
few classes in different grades and came to the conclusion that there is
absolutely nothing wrong with their way of teaching- but that Taiwanese students
tend to try to memorize almost everything instead of making use of their
skills.
Anyway, two more weeks left
and I still try to do my best to encourage them speaking English!
This week was all about midterm examinations and I took an important
part in the oral testing: Each student got a work sheet and had to attempt to a
“small talk with teacher Lia”. It was fun but it took its time. As a reward we
will bake some German cake next week and practise soccer in conjunction with
useful phrases on the pitch, I promised.
On Wednesday I went to Alian Elementary School again, hold my
presentation and even had to sign autographs, haha. After that I was picked up
by Allen and we went to Alian Junior High for additional presentations.
On Thursday there was my weekly evening dancing class and for the
following day I was already invited to take part in a pizza making class and
presentation of the drummer class at John’s school which I really enjoyed.
A relaxing weekend continued with a churchgoing on Sunday morning and a
following lunch and tea time in the community. I expanded my Chinese vocabulary
and finished the day with a pleasurable dinner at Carols’ home.
…It has become a routine
wielding your chop sticks for every meal and exchanging experiences and
differences to the European life. I start feeling way more comfortable as I
should and can’t belief there are only two more weeks ahead…