Ok guys, I think I'm staying in Prague!

hey,

I know I probably said this in a recent post, but I've made up my mind about the job situation. I am currently in the process of getting my Czech visa/ work permit (but this isn't a quick process, so my European adventures may have to wait a week or two). Most likely, to start out, I will take a full-time job with Caledonian, and then after a month or two go to part-time (which is less hours and not as stressful) and take on a few private students (that is where the money is here).One of the girls in the TEFL program with me has mentioned getting a flat together when we start in August/September which would be great! So here's hoping!

This week went fine, i gave a listening lesson, and for the most part, it went well. We had our mid-course evaluation with our trainers and mine basically said typical things to work on but that I have "superior rapport with my students" which is a great quality to have. He said if I stay with Caledonian, he wouldn't be surprised if I was popular (for students I mean). So anyways, the gang and I went out to the Charles' Bridge area to go to a bar, hang out, talk. We found a place on the water and it was a nice night. Today, I have to go get some groceries, do some homework, and then prepare for a "private lesson" tomorrow morning with one of my students.

This lesson, basically, I have to find a Czech/foreign student who wants to meet 2 times free of charge to work on their English. We have to do this for the course, but were free to pick anyone. I asked a very nice girl in our pre-intermediate group if she wanted to meet with me (very sweet, about my age too). She is very excited about it! We basically will meet for an hour, talk, and I'll find out why she wants to know English and prepare to work on what she needs to work on the most. Then, we meet a second time and I actually give her a private lesson geared toward her needed focus (reading, listening, grammar, or speaking). I'm very excited about this, private lessons are really big here, people want to just talk with English speakers for an hour or two, and most of them pay a lot! Hopefully, by fall, I can collect a few clients and do this, this way, I can actually save some money!

Anyways, that's all for now, I hope things are going well at home. Shout out to Mcgill, Todd, and Griggs for their awesome birthdays this past week!!!

This is also on Border Disorder!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w67bKabLgw

Prague in May

Prague in May

Another video coming soon!

So, I made another video for yall this past Sunday while roaming the courtyard of Prague Castle! I had the day free to look around on my own (for the first time) and it was beautiful. I didn't see the clock on Old Town square, but I did walk across Charles Bridge and roam the Prague Castle and Church area (the Castle has a church in the center). The Bridge wasn't too bad, more tourists than anything else. As long as you have your stuff secure there is no problem. I even took pictures for a few couples who were desperately trying to find someone that wasn't a thug to snap the photo. It was a great afternoon of exploring Prague (all for free I might add). I didn't get to go into the Church though, that costs money and I will go another day for sure.

I think I mentioned this before, but I'm planning on finding work in Prague after the course is over (hopefully a month or two traveling Europe first). I hear that private teaching pays really well and the hours are good, so I may do a part-time gig at Caledonian or another school (from what I can tell my school isn't great with teachers as far as the pay, other schools are a little better about it). But anyways, more facts when they come.

I will put up pics soon of my Sunday afternoon, just not right now. I taught a grammar lesson today on the comparative and superlative forms (ugh, that was rough). Since I was never properly taught in school, my grammar lesson was not great. Personally, it was a fail in my book. But my trainer and fellow trainees disagree, they said I did better than I thought. One girl mentioned that I am one of the stronger teachers in the course (that made me feel pretty good). Anyways, Thursday I will be teaching a listening lesson, I'm not as worried about that lesson. I love you all and I will post again soon!

-rachel

Pictures on facebook instead of blog- i got confused

so, i made it through my intensive week of classes/teaching practice in Prague!!! (ugh/yay). everyone is probably wondering how my 45 min. class went, it went well for a first timer like me! i did immediately recognize what i did wrong, where i screwed up and do my best to correct it and not do it again, but for the most part i enjoyed it! i taught my class (my trainees and i have the same class and each go after the other and teach the same "formatted" lesson like reading) about an article relating to the human eye and how everyone has different eyes. they read the article, discussed together and spoke in class about the reading. i wrote words they didn't understand on the board and tried to have the students figure out what it meant, if they didn't i would tell them but MADE SURE they could define the word and explain it themselves later, that is very important when teaching.

one thing my trainer told me that i was thrilled to hear about during my critique afterwards was that, "during your lesson, you could tell you were happy to be there and that you are in the right profession, we could all see you like to teach." this is great news people! i don't hate my job! i mean, i knew that i didn't hate it, but it helps to have someone tell you that you have a great presence with you students and that they can see you genuinely like it. so good things all around.

that evening, i was blessed to meet up with the Smith family (steven smith, a recent PC graduate, is on a eastern european tour with lynn and mike, what fun!) they came down just to see me in prague, they rock! we went out to dinner that night, and about halfway through the conversation steven says, "oh yeah, and its my mom's birthday today." WHAT? dude, why didn't you tell me sooner? it was so great ms. lynn shared her birthday in prague with us. later on, the Smiths said goodbye and i hung out with Steven for a while. We walked by the Vltava River and then went to get dessert and coffee. this time made me realize oh crap, i'm in prague (having a friend right with you to slow down the pace makes you realized things like that). prague became very real for me because my PC bud was there, and i didn't feel homesick, just a little shocked and excited.

so-my job after the TEFL course. i can't get a job is western europe anywhere (it would be illegal to do so as an american, apparently there is a EU law for teachers- they only want UK and Australia). so, no italy or greece for a job unfortunately. so, right now, i'm still thinking hard about my decision, but i may stay for a longer term in prague, i don't think i've given it a fair chance. the transportation is great and i have more than one connection here for a job. so, i'll keep you updated, nothing is set in stone and i don't have a job yet so mom- don't get that plane ticket just yet!

anyways, i went out to celebrate one of my fellow trainee's birthday's last night at a pub, we had a great time. i slept in today and will probably be doing work the rest of the afternoon. tomorrow, i want to venture out and be a tourist for the first time since i got here, i want to go see the castle and church and the old town square! i'll take many pictures and try not to get pick-pocketed. love you all!

-rachel

Reading Lesson

My first real 45 min. teaching practice lesson for my students is tomorrow. I'm nervous but confidently prepared. Wish me luck!

-rachel

Yes, you can get vegetables with sausage!

Its Tuesday evening here in cloudy Prague. The weather is a little better but not really great (50s). We started training this week, and we met our trainers and students. There are 3 trainers we rotate with and are very helpful and informative! Its hard to be fully awake every day from 9 to 5ish though!

Umm, the training is in the morning, we learn the different methodologies for the program. In the afternoon, we are observing our trainers and each other teaching our class (we have students who are adults and the ages range from 20s to 60s, about 10 of them) who will be with us for two weeks. They are more of beginner students but I was surprised how much English they already knew; you do not need Czech to teach the students, it is actually discouraged!

Today we each taught an icebreaker to our students (about 20 minutes) and it was very hard. You must be very short with instructions (no, "would you please turn to page 75" just "page 75"). a lot of teacher instruction is very confusing since they are not fluent; having the students explain things when they understand helps. Anyways, my first full lesson (a 45 min. reading lesson) will be this thursday. my trainer (we are each assigned specific trainers that observe us) helped me out with a little today, and I am confident about what to do for the lesson.

I haven't had a chance to "tour" the city yet. School and assignments take up a lot of time, and getting to and from school is a hassle because they moved further into town (10 min bus ride, 20 min tram ride, 5 min walk). I have seen the Charles Bridge and Castle from a distance, but nothing crazy awesome yet. I will soon hopefully!

So, I may be getting a PC visitor this thursday (steven smith, the friend not the father). We haven't worked out the details, but it will be refreshing to see a friendly face from home! Shout out to Christina Thilges who is graduating this saturday and my brother and Liz who had a great engagement party last weekend!

much love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WFq-pdwWCo

Umm, I'm in Prague!

soo, I'm still really tired and its already Friday (about 10:15 here, 4:15 where you are). I got no sleep on the 9 1/2 hour plane ride over (lots of babies crying, ugh!) but I'm here and I had a good night's sleep and am ready for today's activities.

I got into Prague about 9ish and was picked up at the airport by a very nice woman who works for Caledonian (the language school I am currently attending, duh). She dropped me off at the TEFL flat (not in downtown, on the outskirts but in a nice neighborhood). So far, its cloudy and looks a lot like Seattle (its raining today). I met two of my roommates/TEFLers yesterday, one is 24 and from England, the other is in her 50s and from Raleigh, NC. As far as I can tell, there are only 5 of us in the TEFL training program this month and I think its all girls (haven't met the 5th and their name goes both ways as far as gender). Yesterday, the two who were already here showed me the school (yes, it is still next to the MASH shop and there is a confederate flag flying outside of it) and we went out for lunch at a pub across the street. The local food is pretty good, lots of meat and potatoes but they do have vegetables! Umm, after that, we pretty much hit up a grocery store for breakfast and dinner things.

Afterwards, we came back here (we travel by the local bus, we have a free pass for the duration of the course) and I went to sleep about 730, woke up for 3 hours in the middle of the night, then went back to sleep and got up about 2 hours ago. I have my own bedroom which is nice, but the bed is awful! its like a cot-bed, low to the ground and very stiff! I hope I can adjust ok since I don't have another option. Today we have orientation for the TEFL course (at 1pm) and then they show us around town. I haven't been in the main part of Prague (the pretty buildings you've probably seen) yet but will be going there today (i think). Tonight, some of my roommates mentioned hitting a jazz club (those are big here) so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm still really tired, and no, it hasn't hit me that I'm in Prague. It's just like a European Seattle right now and not everyone speaks English!

Later,

Rachel

I'm leaving on a jet plane!

Leaving WEDNESDAY! Wish me luck!