Living in Arizona is bittersweet, at least when it comes to the weather. The majority of the year is awesome, more specifically this time of year is awesome. I love waking up to crisp autumn air for months, while not having to dread a winter storm. On the other hand, I am not too big of a fan of heat weather. I become a disgruntled resident throughout the summer. It really feels like it just keep getting hotter and hotter every year.
Side note: This is my last post! If anyone has been following my posts throughout the semester, I hope it wasn't too brutal and thank you for taking the time to read my rants.
Ian
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Student Cross Walk
A fellow teacher explained to me an interesting issue the school has been dealing with since it opened 10 years ago. The school I am interning at is positioned near a fairly large and busy intersection. Generally right around the time school starts and the time school ends is when the traffic gets busier. The other fact about the location of this school is that it is located in Gilbert, but the intersection contains the cities of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler and Maricopa County.
When the school was first build, the cities agreed to build a raised cross walk so the children could cross the street without dealing with the busy street. 10 years, later is has never been built. The cities were never able to agree upon how to split the cost of the project up. It's a shame.
When the school was first build, the cities agreed to build a raised cross walk so the children could cross the street without dealing with the busy street. 10 years, later is has never been built. The cities were never able to agree upon how to split the cost of the project up. It's a shame.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Disciplining Student
Discipling Students? I have run into this situation a few times since I started my internship. Should I discipline the students or not? The teacher is not always looking and in the more "interesting" classes the students try to push what they can get away with as often as possible.
Even though I am not a teacher, because I am an "adult" the kids treat me as one. So when the kids start acting crazy right around me I am never sure what to do.
Thankfully, I have only had to step in and tell the kids to calm down only a handful of times and it has not been a reoccurring problem.
Even though I am not a teacher, because I am an "adult" the kids treat me as one. So when the kids start acting crazy right around me I am never sure what to do.
Thankfully, I have only had to step in and tell the kids to calm down only a handful of times and it has not been a reoccurring problem.
Lunch Problem
Every day I run into the same problem, where to go to lunch? It's not that there are no restaurants around the school or that I'm a picky eater; the problem is that they are all chain fast food and restaurants.
Trying to find a coffee shop took me a good 45 mins the first day. I was finally able to find one that was 5 miles away from the school!
Thankfully I have figured out all of my coffee and food situations since the first few days of class.
Trying to find a coffee shop took me a good 45 mins the first day. I was finally able to find one that was 5 miles away from the school!
Thankfully I have figured out all of my coffee and food situations since the first few days of class.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Fire Drill
Today I survived my first fire drill. The class was spending the day in the library, so their fire drill exit route was a bit different then the usual drill. Other then that it was just an average fire drill. The kids found a dead bird and were screwing around with it until one of the teachers started yelling at the kids.
All in all it was a successful fire drill.
All in all it was a successful fire drill.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
End of Semester
The end of the semester is nearing and I couldn't be more happy. It wasn't that I didn't like my classes this semester, some of them I really enjoyed. I'm just happy to have finished what has proved to be one of my most challenging semesters yet.
I honestly can't wait for the spring semester to start up, it will mark my final semester! Throughout the last few years it has sometimes felt like this (schooling) would never end, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yippie!
I honestly can't wait for the spring semester to start up, it will mark my final semester! Throughout the last few years it has sometimes felt like this (schooling) would never end, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yippie!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The JET Program
This last week I sent in my application to the Japanese embassy in D.C. to apply for the JET Program. The JET Program is an English teaching exchange program run by the Japanese government.
Part of the reason why I choose to assist middle school English teachers throughout this semester was to gain teaching experience. The JET application process is notoriously competitive and every extra bit of experience helps.
The contract periods are one year long. If I am to be selected to participate in this program I would pretty much be spending the next year of my life in Japan. So long as you are in good standing with your school you are able to resign your contract up to four years. In general, the main goal of the JET Program is to not only teach English to Japanese student, but to share American culture with them. With that being said, they typically do not post you in highly urbanized areas, rather more suburban or more rural areas of Japan.
I am really excited; I have wanted to be a part of this program for a long time. I won't find out the results of the application and interview process until early April, otherwise I would post the results on the blog.
Part of the reason why I choose to assist middle school English teachers throughout this semester was to gain teaching experience. The JET application process is notoriously competitive and every extra bit of experience helps.
The contract periods are one year long. If I am to be selected to participate in this program I would pretty much be spending the next year of my life in Japan. So long as you are in good standing with your school you are able to resign your contract up to four years. In general, the main goal of the JET Program is to not only teach English to Japanese student, but to share American culture with them. With that being said, they typically do not post you in highly urbanized areas, rather more suburban or more rural areas of Japan.
I am really excited; I have wanted to be a part of this program for a long time. I won't find out the results of the application and interview process until early April, otherwise I would post the results on the blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)