Cruise Control

Most things in life take a little time finding that certain rhythm, that switch from free fall to autopilot. In China, it appears that finding a rhythm and daily routine is much like finding a western speaking bank--you think just around the corner, but as meters turn into miles, you're still asking yourself this: How have I not figured this out already?

But like all endevours in this country, you ask enough people, and plod on for long enough, you'll finally end up where you wanted to be. It's been three and a half months since I've been here, and it only feels like this last week, that I've been able to relax and finally shift my life into cruise control.

While even today I was propositioned (basically told until I argued out of it) that I would shift one of my afternoon classes for the only day I have a sleep in, or that I would have to do an English Corner following already painstakingly long wednesday schedule starting today, the actual teaching part of my job has finally hit it's stride. Unlike before, my student body and location does not change every two and a half weeks. I'm here for the semester, if not the year.

The schedule makes it easier too. I have 22 classes, each of which is a different class of students. They are divided into 5 grades (preschool, 8-9, 10-11), and aside from preschool I have 5 different classes of the same grade. This means variety, most notably, change in class dynamic, change in english level, and change in blood sugar (yes my pre lunch classes are the worst).

It does however, help me evolve as a teacher. I see what works, and what doesn't pretty quickly, so by the afternoon, or by thursday or friday, I have a clear understanding of what's going to stick with my students (with some exceptions obviously). While making an invidual lesson plan for 22 classes would be ridiculous, I can start with a template (usually on a slide show) and then augment and adjust.

I only get 40 minutes per week with each class, which averages out to be about 1 minute, 20 seconds per student. I try to have everyone in the class speak, but the truth of the matter is that you have to pick you battles. Those that want to learn and speak will do so for more than 2 minutes, those that could care less--I try to get them to say about 4 sentences. It's not ideal, but it's practical. Some days, you leave feeling like teacher of the year, other times you just want the period to be over with.

In the words of his Dudliness, from the Big Lebowski, "sometimes you eat the bar and well sometimes, you know...". I try to just keep coasting along.