After a harrowing day yesterday of scrambling around trying to figure out what to do with dozens of Chinese college students who speak only rudimentary English and are too shy to try even that, Montana and LuRue were almost at a loss at what to do for today. When Montana asked Baoli last night at dinner for some ideas, possibly games, Baoli thought a bit, then came up with a couple of activities that had possibilities. Montana returned to the room and wrote up a lesson plan for today while LuRue went to the lobby to do the daily blog.
Things changed overnight, literally, Montana wasn't feeling well this morning, so decided she'd better not go to school. Before the rest of the team had even left the hotel lobby, Baoli and the teacher who meets us were already on their phones, having tables rearranged at the school and working with Don, the other volunteer, to bring both groups together. That was a great idea in LuRue's eyes. The activities Montana and LuRue had planned actually needed more preparation, but we had no time or materials to do it.
So Don and LuRue worked with 59 students, using Don's prepared lesson, then separating into two groups to continue what was already started. The first session went quite well, then Baoli had some suggestions during the break, so the second session with 45 students went even better. We are learning and evolving! With Baoli's encouragement, LuRue even tried the Hokey Pokey and was shocked that the students really seemed to like it! We'll definitely do it again!
Don has two classes that he will be meeting with multiple times (5 times each), but Montana and LuRue will see different students every session of every day they are in China. That leaves them the option of reusing the same materials over and over again. With a school population of 10,000 students, only a small fraction will meet with Global Volunteers, even with the large classes.
After lunch, LuRue found the nearby supermarket with the help of the hotel staff writing a note on a card and LuRue asking clerks or passersby on the street. Once there, she bought some markers, and with the butcher paper given to her by Don, wrote up a Pronunciation poster for tomorrow. Montana made up sentences on index cards to go with the words on the poster so that the students will have the "opportunity" to read them out loud (most will try to look invisible, but we know where to find them!) Now better prepared, both are beginning to feel like they know what to do...finally. At dinner, Baoli also mentioned Simon Says, which shocked both Montana and LuRue that college students would actually do it!
It's beginning to look like we may survive these three weeks, after all!
Things changed overnight, literally, Montana wasn't feeling well this morning, so decided she'd better not go to school. Before the rest of the team had even left the hotel lobby, Baoli and the teacher who meets us were already on their phones, having tables rearranged at the school and working with Don, the other volunteer, to bring both groups together. That was a great idea in LuRue's eyes. The activities Montana and LuRue had planned actually needed more preparation, but we had no time or materials to do it.
So Don and LuRue worked with 59 students, using Don's prepared lesson, then separating into two groups to continue what was already started. The first session went quite well, then Baoli had some suggestions during the break, so the second session with 45 students went even better. We are learning and evolving! With Baoli's encouragement, LuRue even tried the Hokey Pokey and was shocked that the students really seemed to like it! We'll definitely do it again!
Don has two classes that he will be meeting with multiple times (5 times each), but Montana and LuRue will see different students every session of every day they are in China. That leaves them the option of reusing the same materials over and over again. With a school population of 10,000 students, only a small fraction will meet with Global Volunteers, even with the large classes.
After lunch, LuRue found the nearby supermarket with the help of the hotel staff writing a note on a card and LuRue asking clerks or passersby on the street. Once there, she bought some markers, and with the butcher paper given to her by Don, wrote up a Pronunciation poster for tomorrow. Montana made up sentences on index cards to go with the words on the poster so that the students will have the "opportunity" to read them out loud (most will try to look invisible, but we know where to find them!) Now better prepared, both are beginning to feel like they know what to do...finally. At dinner, Baoli also mentioned Simon Says, which shocked both Montana and LuRue that college students would actually do it!
It's beginning to look like we may survive these three weeks, after all!
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ReplyDeleteMarch 17th—thought you two were in for some serious time-consuming planning—so happy to hear some of the tried and true activities are working—
now only 10,000 students
-150(+) you have already taught
= 9,850 to go!!!