This week is going so well. I am very pleased with the way Monopoly is turning out. I actually jacked the idea from Brenda, but had a ball making it. You know how I love to color and create. My Monopoly version is not quite like the original. The rules are very simplified, and everything has to do with practicing English. So far it has proved to be the best tool I've used to get these kids to actually speak English. I'm so pleased and proud, I have to show you a picture. He He He.
Today is only the first day of using it, so I'm actually looking foward to the week. Usually I have to tweek a lesson, and even a game after the first day, which usually is a little shakey cuz they're my guinee pigs. But this was the best first day of a lesson plan.It was great fun. So many laughs, and so much success in their using English. PTL!!
Yesterday, Sunday, I went shopping with a couple of my students. They are adorable, but I was so tired. They got me up really early. We were walking along the "walking street" and a woman approached us. She chatted with the girls first, and this has happened so many times I was certain that she was wanting to know who I was and if I could teach English for her. And I was right. She was the nicest lady though. She is the leader of a weekend English school for young kids. The school was very close by, so she insisted we have a look. I am terrible at saying no, so agreed to have lunch with her. By then my students were gonners. Just when I think I'm growing thick skin to say NO to these people, I melt. What I think are clear signs to say go away, just don't work on these persistent people! Well, Susan (the woman) is persistent, but she was also very kind, sweet, friendly, and I liked her as tired as I was. She seems a lot less shady then others who've asked me to teach English. The students range from 7-9 years old. And I could tell by watching the class (a Chinese lady was teaching them English), and by the way Susan and her teachers treated the students, that this was a nice place. As the parents arrived to pick up their kids, they all gathered around me and asked many questions in Chinese, and talked about me in Chinese, and gave me so many compliments, and they were all so friendly and nice! I have to record this, because this is the first time in Zhanjiang that I've felt such sincere kindness and interest. Usually when people do such things I feel like I'm being manipulated or that something isn't quite right. Well, I went to lunch with Susan, her 9yr old daugher "Snow White", and three other 8 and 9yr olds ("Dan", "Snow", and "Rain"). I wish I hadn't been so tired, because they were a delightful bunch. And their English was so cute. They took me to a really nice place, and ordered me one of the most expensive veal steaks, soup, bread, fruit bowl, and ice cream. Each of the kids also had a steak. It was a lot of food for me, so I was thinking these kids aren't gonna eat this. But holy smokes those tykes can put it away!!
So I'm seriously thinking about teaching there on the weekends. This is the nicest group I've met here, the classes would be much smaller (only 20), and they'd pay me good. I think it would be fun to hang around some kids. Plus they are at that age where they think you are the coolest thing ever. Wow, a foreigner! I just hope they don't tire me out for my main teaching job here.
Any interesting, exciting, or mundane news from home is welcome.
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