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September 14, 2005
One week down, only about 150 to go.
I guess this school stuff might be getting easier. I got through this extremely long day with almost no crying (although it was close a couple of times, for no particular reason, and yesterday was a whole different story), despite the fact that I ended up being at UMass either teaching, in class, or in meetings from 8:00 AM until 7:30 PM. Never in my life have I had a job that is so demanding, so intense, so consuming, and with such little guidance or instruction about what I am supposed to do. I have spent the past week, since classes began, discovering that (of course) I don't know how to teach Spanish.
Maybe my impression is wrong, but I seem to be surrounded by people who feel quite confident about teaching beginning Spanish to people. Maybe it's because they've taught before, or because they have recent experience learning a language. I don't know. All I know is I took beginning Spanish fourteen years ago and it was taught in a completely different way from what is being done now. It's hard to visualize classroom activities if I don't even know where to begin.
I know that, for one thing, I need to look back at the materials I still have from my intro Portuguese class I took my senior year at Smith. This was five years ago, so I don't remember specifics about what we did. But I still have the book and workbook, so at least I might be able to adapt some lessons.
It has been a while since I was in an academic environment. I didn't realize just how long five years was until I started last week. I feel like I will never read another novel for fun again. Is this true?
Posted by kelseyfrost at September 14, 2005 08:38 PM
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Comments
I feel for you, I can only imagine what you must feel like. But if there's anything I can do (remember, I work for a company that publishes books for teachers), please let me know. I'll take a look at the shelves at work and see if there's any books on teaching Spanish for you. I've been told by teachers I know that many of our Heinemann authors are "gods" so yeah... :) I'm sure you'll figure everything out, it's still the first week! :)
Posted by: Marissa at September 14, 2005 09:49 PM
hey!!!! my name is kelsey frost too!!!!! that is sooooooooooo cooooooool! hope you have a great day...kelsey. haha. high five.
Posted by: kelsey frost at September 15, 2005 12:52 PM
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