This evening’s classes has been great and we had some fun with the kids. They were just so attuned and focused on the lesson. They were so happy as they went home tonight. In my first class I really saw improvements with Lizzy and that she actually spoke on the second half of the lesson. Ther rest were just so receptive with all the activities most especially when we were watching the video sketch about ‘The Little Seed’. On my second class a boy cried in my class for I really showed them some discipline. I confiscated a play money for not listening after I told them that I would really get their paper money if they won’t listen to me. So as the story went, one boy didn’t listen thus I got his paper money and he cried after a few moments. He was so pitiful for he just shed tears head down the table. What a pity! On the other side of this, at least they learned something about discipline. Oh well, above all these mushy story, a funny and impressive thing happened in class for Robyn, the one who’s the spoiled brat slowly explained to Nelson what happened and why I got his paper money. Never had I seen her acted that way and that really impressed me for her great improvement. I am so happy today. Indeed, after my second class I and my class assistant talked with Nelson’s mom about what happened in class tonigt. I am so happy that we somehow met halfways and she showed her understanding and willingness to cooperate for her son’s English learning. 
Happy!
Tonight’s classes really went very well and it just occurred to me that patience is a virtue which I have been cultivating since I came here. After I reviewed with Dora who is my early learner student, her mom was talking to me in Chinese and I understood what she said but I can’t answer in Chinese so I called my class monitor to translate for me. She thanked me and said that she has never seen such a patient teacher but me. For me what I did was just be with her child and reviewed some picture cards and showed her how to do it with her daughter. I am so glad to know that she really appreciated my efforts in teaching her daughter and the rest of the class. Indeed a simple thank you brightens my day and makes it even more meaningful. It’s one of the many reasons why I am up and about until this time of day,
Funny Alice
Today’s classes has been really awesome and my kids were in the right mood to learn. Much more when I had Alice as my assistant for those two classes with early learners. I’m always glad to have her in my classes because she’s just so flexible and apt to get whatever I want for my kids to do. She is so friendly and we are close to each other at school. I believe she’s my best friend at school. More than anybody else, I love Alice.:)
This afternoon’s first class was so wacky because we had actions and one card says standing on the head. She got the turn while we were playing charades and she then didn’t know how to act it out and one smart gilr in class told her to do it and immediately raised her hand and said, ‘Alice is standing on her head’. We had so much laugh when she finally did it and the kids just bursted into laughter. Until the time we went home that kid – Venus kept on saying and giggling about funny Alice today. Though I can’t understand her in her native language but I can read in her eyes how amused she was at Alice.
Indeed a fun-filled class with them today aside from their receptiveness to our target language. As an overall, I am wholly impressed!:) Whew!
Robyn was really GREAT
Last Tuesday this girl in my class fell into temper tantrums just because she’s didn’t know how to write numbers. She cried for more than 15 minutes and disrupted our class. I hated her for that night and tonight she was just amazingly great! Whew! I said to her grandmother that she’s doing great tonight. They all went happy tonight. I am glad too for we enjoyed our class tonight.
I could remember myself when I was still a young learner that I also cried many times because of the fear of doing something or failing at something if I tend to do it. As a student, I was so idealistic and I wanted everything to be perfect. I always wanted to excel at something if not everything. As I grew up, I tried really hard at almost everything I stumble upon my way. Mainly I devote myself to studies as what my parents have told me to always do good at school for it’s the only treasure they could leave me when they’re gone. I took that seriously and had proved myself that I can make it to the top or outstanding student. Until now that I am a successful ESL teacher in a foreign land, still I strive even harder to pursue my short and long-term goals in life for me and my family.
Afternoon Delight
Today’s weather is crazy again hmmmp! Really makes me sicker each day here. Oh well, I just hope this won’t get worse because weekends are coming fast and the days are flying like eagles. I’m so happy that I controlled myself from buying added extra items today at the supermarket and guess what, I didn’t buy any junk foods! Whew what an accomplishment for me coz all these months I have been eating lots of junk foods which are to think not really that important for my body. I’m so glad looking at my receipt after shopping and I really made it to my targeted budget today. I made it!
Just a few minutes ago, I installed vista codecs in my housemate’s laptop so she could watch all the movies and documentations I gave her last year. Last year! Yes and she been keeping it because she doesn’t know how to and what file should she get to watch all the videos I gave her. Now, I can hear her laughing her stomach out watching that funny movie I guess or that BBC documentation about the clever monkeys.
I just hope everything this week would be fine.
Chilly Weather, Again!
I really thought today won’t be this cold here but then again, the sun didn’t show up since I woke up this morning. Expectedly, the rain came two hours ago while I was glued to playing Warcraft on my laptop. I really hate this unpredictable weather here coz I got colds since last week. I feel a lot better now though but still I don’t like this kind of weather. I just want something cool not this cold. Brrrr! 
Oh well, there are good things of having this kind of weather coz I get to be more eager to clean and do some other things like planning my lessons for the weekends as well as update my online accounts. I just hope tomorrow would be sunny so we could get to the supermarket without our umbrellas. 
I hate rain, you know. We really have to visit the supermarket and buy some food and personal stuffs for this week and the next. I am crossing my fingers now hoping for Mr. Sunshine to show up early tomorrow morning. Alright, time for me to doze off now, Till then,
Oh My Colds, Bad Weather!
I got this malady for few days now just because I turned on the heater in my room and when I wanted hot water, I went out and got some in the living room where the temperature is colder than in my room. So there goes the story of my colds. I hope this will be gone in few days. I am drinking medication both tablets and syrup for my cough as well. Sighs!
Happy International Women’s Day!
Sunday, 08th March 2009. Today is another usual day of my life here but we had a great surprise when one of our colleauges just brought a bouquet of flowers and greeted us all women a Happy International Women’s Day. Each of us got one rose so fresh and white. We were so happy while putting it on our tables. Indeed all of us got a sweet surprise from our Italian teacher. Thanks so much D! Bon voyage and take care tomorrow morning as you begin traveling to my home sweet home country – the Philippines! Whew! How I wish I could go back home now. Oh well, there is always something to look forward to.
A Sweet Present from Henry
Today is another chilly day here and so we went home early and after I did some chores at home, my phone rang and I was so surprised and happy for our Chinese staff told me that I have a bouquet of flowers delivered at home. What? Whew! I told her, ‘Are you really sure it’s for me?’ and then she boldly confirmed it to me that it came from one of my early learners, Henry. Whew I was so glad that I immediately told my housemate about it and said that I just let our Chinese Staff put it on my table and I will just bring it home tomorrow. However, my housemate told me to call her back and said that she’s gonna go with me downstairs to pick up my bouquet of flowers for she really wanted to see it tonight. So, I called our Chinese staff again a and said that I really wanted to see and smell my flowers tonight and told her to drop by our flat before she goes home.
We really waited and as expected, we picked up my flowers with our funny sleeping clothes downstairs.:)) Good thing we didn’t see any of our colleagues or friends on the street or else, ) Oh well, then we went home hurriedly coz it’s so chilly and windy outside. As we were walking upstairs, I was really sniffing the flowers for it smells like more than a perfume – so sweet and fresh.
As soon as we arrived, we really took few pictures of us with my bouquet of flowers from my dear student, Henry. What he did was so thoughtful and I was indeed so touched for tomorrow’s International Woman’s Day. Another question is who would be the next teacher to receive a bouquet of flowers tomorrow?
Would it still be,,,me?
Today is Our Last Day of EL3A Class
Since I’ve been handling all of the early learner classes at school I really get attached with the kids and it seems more like I am their second mom or elder sister at school. Way back on our first encounters and weeks, they were a bit aloof and hesitant. They were very timid and most of the times they would just give me a stare whenever I call their names. Now that we are going to end the course, they are so chatty, lovely, and they love to hug me every time they see me before the class. They would just say hi and a sweet smile with a hug which makes my day very wonderful and bright. Surely, after this class they would continue but I won’t be with them for more than a month for I am going home in a few weeks from now so I’d be missing them, huh! They have become so brilliant, friendly, and bright kids over the course. Truly, they are a part of my accomplishments here in China. Whew!