Yea! I finally get to go to work today! No vegetable prep and market shopping for me. Traveling to school and students are my order of business today. I’m loaded like a mule. I’ve got my clarinet, and a big backpack with computer, cords, etc. I don’t want to take a chance on not having something I need, on the first day.
My first class is scheduled for 2:20, but I leave early enough to arrive around 10:15. I want to make sure I can hook into the projector, and also have some way to play the musical segments on something stronger than my computer. I may need time to go buy some adapter cords. I knew last week I wouldn’t have my own room this week. Renovations and improvements are still finishing, so sharing of rooms is required this week, and maybe next.
BHSFIC front entry
I check in with the principal, Serene, when I arrive. She happens to be speaking with Edward (facilities manager) about where my classes are going to be and what I need. Great timing! We schedule to meet at 1:30. I kill time before lunch in the library, cleaning up my powerpoint. I head down to lunch around 11:45. It’s nice to see some of the faculty again. They’ve been working all week, and have a few stories to tell.
Lunch choices at BHSFIC. (Right to left) Pork, chicken, and a duck/chicken dish.
More choices: vegetables with egg, some kind of a tofu dish, and noodles
- Noodles, Rice, and “chinese tortillas”
3 soups, and sweet potatoes. I haven’t tried the white stuff yet?
After lunch I find my room and start fiddlin’ around with the sound system. It’s way more than I need, and a little complicated, since all the notations are in Chinese. I make a few educated guesses, flip a few switches, and I have sound. Edward arrives and gets my computer hooked up to the projector, and I’m in business. Now all I need are students.
Since my room number is changed for this week, the students are slow to arrive. I’ve got Maynard Ferguson’s “Birdland” playing to help them find the room. I even played along on my clarinet (as best I could). They filter in, very friendly, and chatting with each other. When the bell rings, I turn on Copland’s “Fanfare For The Common Man”. I needed something short that would get their attention. As it finishes, I check roll. Each student has an “English” first name they’ve chosen. I don’t attempt their last names today. Even checking roll in our first class, I can see where the “problem” children are. They’re not really problems, but they’re a little too talkative. Some creative seating adjustments should solve the problem.
The rest of class is spent working through the powerpoint about my education and teaching experiences. Since these students will be attending universities in the US, and part of my job is to help “socialize” them, knowledge about the US high schools should be relevant. I get in a few musical excerpts from the Martin Band, and some short video clips of a marching band. One of the students, tells me he plays trumpet, and was the drum major of his marching band. I’m anxious to find out what his experiences have been. He seems very proud of the group.
I also have a flutist, several pianists, and a few students play violin. Six tell me they play “Chinese Flute”. One of the students tells me he plays Chinese fiddle? I ask what the difference is between a Chinese fiddle and a regular violin? “Nothing”, was the answer! I’m going to give him a chance to play, so we’ll find out what makes it “Chinese”.
Overall, the students are quiet and attentive. They are slow to respond to my questions. Some of the reluctance may be “language” related, and some may be “peer” related. I’ve been told they are unaccustomed to answering for fear of “losing face”.
The classes are 45 minutes each, with 10 minutes in between. Both are about the same. One has 33 students, and the other has 30. When I get my own room, I’ll need to work on a seating arrangement that gets them closer to me (or me to them). The 5th row is too far back, and it’s too easy for the students to “drift”.
When class ends at 4:00, I begin gathering my stuff, and realize how “out of shape” I am. It’s been a while since I stood for that long (except on the subway), and used that much energy.
Several of the faculty members are “unwinding” together after school, so I join them. We end up eating at a restaurant with a rooftop patio. It’s a gorgeous evening (I began wishing I had a jacket as it got dark). There are some really dedicated teachers in the group. This is going to be an interesting year in so many ways. I commute home on the subway, with all my junk, arriving about 8:30. I was in bed, and asleep by 9:15. I need my rest! I have class tomorrow! I’m teaching two whole days in a row!