Well, let me catch you up on the week for your favorite American’s in China.
Tuesday the 18th I did indeed test candidates who were vying for a chance to go to the UK to study English this summer. I invigilated the test and I also created it. Two of my students from my class this semester were in the testing room when I arrived. The test consisted of two parts a written section and then an oral section and I was impressed by the level of fluency among the teachers. It was during the oral conversation that I found out I had inspired two of my students to speak with foreign teachers and I found out that a student from last semester was similarly inspired by my teaching to sit for her Singapore English exam. On Wednesday I had my Chinese lesson and Chuck, Nate, Carol/Zhu Fang, and I had lunch at one of our favorite diners near the new campus. Thursday was a do nothing kind of day where Nate and I just chilled in the apartment. Friday started out like that, Nate and I chilled at home, but in the afternoon Nate and I went to the old campus play ground where we had been invited. Nate got to play basketball with boys from a local middle school all the boys were aged 12. At the English Corner we met a family that lives near us and we are working at improving one another’s language skills. Chen Bo, Le Feng, and their son Chen Muyang were eager to meet us for a culture exchange.
Today Nate and I just stayed in the apartment, I have been looking up TESOL online programs and Nate has been playing with Mind Craft. I had him run an errand for me to the store and Joni Chuck’s friend followed him to Vanguard asking where Chuck was.
Tomorrow promises to be another busy day, there is the English Corner in the am and then in the evening we will go over to the Chen household.
I also want to talk about something that has made all the difference in sleeping in this very hot (think Death Valley) environment. Chuck bought a bamboo mat to try out and Nate claimed it first. These mats get placed on top of the bottom sheet on the mattress and you lie down on the mats. They remain cool while wicking away heat allowing the user to sleep in comfort all night long. These are everywhere and my friend Basha told me that they are used to sleep on. We got them a few days ago and can’t image how we lived last summer without them. I guess we really are going native here.
Tuesday the 18th I did indeed test candidates who were vying for a chance to go to the UK to study English this summer. I invigilated the test and I also created it. Two of my students from my class this semester were in the testing room when I arrived. The test consisted of two parts a written section and then an oral section and I was impressed by the level of fluency among the teachers. It was during the oral conversation that I found out I had inspired two of my students to speak with foreign teachers and I found out that a student from last semester was similarly inspired by my teaching to sit for her Singapore English exam. On Wednesday I had my Chinese lesson and Chuck, Nate, Carol/Zhu Fang, and I had lunch at one of our favorite diners near the new campus. Thursday was a do nothing kind of day where Nate and I just chilled in the apartment. Friday started out like that, Nate and I chilled at home, but in the afternoon Nate and I went to the old campus play ground where we had been invited. Nate got to play basketball with boys from a local middle school all the boys were aged 12. At the English Corner we met a family that lives near us and we are working at improving one another’s language skills. Chen Bo, Le Feng, and their son Chen Muyang were eager to meet us for a culture exchange.
Today Nate and I just stayed in the apartment, I have been looking up TESOL online programs and Nate has been playing with Mind Craft. I had him run an errand for me to the store and Joni Chuck’s friend followed him to Vanguard asking where Chuck was.
Tomorrow promises to be another busy day, there is the English Corner in the am and then in the evening we will go over to the Chen household.
I also want to talk about something that has made all the difference in sleeping in this very hot (think Death Valley) environment. Chuck bought a bamboo mat to try out and Nate claimed it first. These mats get placed on top of the bottom sheet on the mattress and you lie down on the mats. They remain cool while wicking away heat allowing the user to sleep in comfort all night long. These are everywhere and my friend Basha told me that they are used to sleep on. We got them a few days ago and can’t image how we lived last summer without them. I guess we really are going native here.