Well, I am not sure if I should really be writing this blog at this moment. I just had a rather difficult day at school, and I am quite tired. Since it has been over a week since I updated this blog, I suppose I will write away anyways.
To begin, I will talk about this day. First you must know what happened yesterday: in the midst of a chaotic class I informed the students that tomorrow I would begin class by reminding them of the classroom rules and the consequences of ignoring those rules. So, being faithful to my word, I started both first grade classes this morning by informing the students that whoever broke a classroom rule today would be compelled to write their alphabet five times. The kids did not like this idea very much, and therefore, they actually noticed my mouth moving when I told them to sit down or stop talking...success. Second grade was equally successful. Instead of the alphabet, I told them that rule violators would write “I will respect my teachers” twenty-five times. I am still not sure what I am going to do in the event that someone refuses to write…I suppose I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I am thinking that calling their parents is really my only other option (as I already eliminated the idea of bringing a wooden spoon to class)...Discipline is rather challenging when you are very limited in your allowed methods of discipline and pretty much unable to communicate with words...
On a more positive note (though the previous discourse was actually intended to be positive), I have almost learned all of the kids' names. I had to ask one second grader to remind today if his name was Mohammed or Ahmed (two of the most common names), but other than that I have been doing pretty good at remembering their names.
Yesterday I visited an English language center to consider teaching there twice a week. I really enjoyed visiting the center; I especially enjoyed watching a couple of classes in action. The students’ mastery of the English language really surprised me. One class was discussing the problem of littering in this area and possible solutions to the problem. The students were communicating in English with relative ease. I imagine that teaching such a group of adult students will be vastly different from teaching young children who know very little English. It will be a different kind of challenge. I also found out today that I have the opportunity to tutor one of the Arabic teacher’s daughters. I have already met the girls, and I really enjoyed spending time with them. I just hope that I can juggle all of these responsibilities effectively. On the plus side, if anything happens with the school, I have jobs elsewhere.
In addition to all the work, the past two weekends were quite fun. Saturday I spent time just doing things around the house, which was much needed! I started the morning with a great breakfast: omelets (thanks to Aaron) and blueberry muffins (thanks to Nori). Nori made the best muffins I’ve ever tasted, well, at least some of the best. Last weekend I went to the Amman where we climbed atop a Roman amphitheater. After the climb, we went to eat Iraqi kebab at one of Caitlin’s favorite places. I have to say, I am not sure if I would eat it again…but it was not bad. I slept on the couch at Nadia’s mom’s house while the teachers went to buy movies at Hamouda (this place sells DVDs for 1 JD…due to the lack of copyright laws here). I also went to the market in Amman last weekend. I love that place--I bought so much for so little (of course, I am referring to clothes now not movies). Anyone who knows me would have guessed that anyways. Yes, Leah, I will share my clothes with you when I come home J
Funny story, and then I’ll close. Some of the kids here have thought all this time that my name is “mascara”…because I introduced myself as Miss Kara, lol. Now that I am aware of this, I am reminded of how some of the kids pointed to their eyelashes and smiled at me when I first met them, haha. I guess they just think that I have a funny name. Well, they’re used to it now. I think I might have used Miss Deal if I knew. Oh well. At least my name is not Aaron (we have two American teachers named Aaron here). Apparently Aaron has a negative meaning here. It refers either to a man who sleeps with many women or a man who does not care if his wife is promiscuous. I have heard both translations--either way, not the most valiant of meanings.
I meant to do this earlier. Here are links to two of the other teachers’ blogs. They both have really great blogs that are updated more often than mine. Enjoy!
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