The first week was
quite difficult. Getting to grips with quite a different culture takes time,
and I was still yet to come to terms with the heinous fact that Lynx shower
gel/ deodorant only seems to be called this in Britain. What is going on there.
What are they playing at
Arranged to meet with
another English Language Assistant living in Oldenburg, Rachel. Was happily
minding my own business waiting next to the Schloss in the centre of town (I
may write a piece on it for you. But probably not. At least not for a while) when a
cold wave of fear washed over me. There, nonchalantly swaggering his way past
me with his entourage, was the local big-dog, the gangster of Oldenburg,
adorned with matching “thug life” sweater and jogging bottoms. He was ten years
old, and his entourage were his parents, but I was intimidated nonetheless. Had
a lovely time with Rachel; it was nice to hear another English voice, and a
northern one at that!
Left Rachel to meet
with my mentor Heike, and collect my bike for the year. Oldenburg really is
inundated by two-wheeled maniacs, so I was glad to have my life flash before my
eyes only once on the ride back home. To be fair, riding a bicycle in Oldenburg is very easy. The
other cyclists are friendly, the roads are safe and the motorists are diligent.
It is therefore completely my fault every time I almost die.
Oldenburg Hauptstraße, five minutes after I collected my bike
School started, and I
actually enjoy it somewhat! Throughout the past three weeks the kids have been
excited to meet a real-life Englishman, and I think I’ve only slightly
disappointed them! Result! The time in school I have free is also vital, as I
sit in the staffroom talking to other teachers. This is German central, and so
most days when I get home I’m knackered. However, the immersion does seem to
work, as my understanding has evolved already.
The second week of
lessons was where I started actually working in the classes, as the first week
I merely ‘hospitiert’ (sat in). This was immediately rewarding: not only
because I could see that the children had some incentive to learn, but because of
some of the brilliant mistakes that were made. I know full well that my German
is atrocious, and some of the things I inadvertently say are probably
incredibly insulting, so I am truly on the side of the kids when they make
these mistakes. However, one that was made on Monday stuck in my mind for the
rest of the week, because of 1) how easy it is to actually make the mistake and
2) how very different it makes the sentence. The original sentence in the
textbook was:
“I will call you very
soon”
What the boy actually
said was:
“I will kill you very
soon”
I corrected him and we
all had a nice chuckle, but I had my eye on him for the rest of the lesson.
Overall, the start of
school has been fun, lively and rewarding. One lesson, where I helped out in 6th
Grade PE, was particularly lively, bordering on violent, when a version dodgeball
was introduced to the class. It was seen as a success when I only had to fetch
one ice pack.
Tall for their age
Oh yes, and half way
through a lesson, one boy took his sandwich out, licked it, and placed it back
in his lunchbox for safe-keeping. I can only assume he was sensibly marking his
belongings.
Next stop, week
three/four (I really need to work out which week I’m in)
Bye for now!
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