Next Step

 At this point I've now observed more intermediate classes as well as going to my first beginner's class. I will begin with that experience and then go back to the intermediate class as well as a few other important tidbits.

Beginner:

-The beginners course with Professor Karen Kolcun is nearing the end of its semester. The students have spent an entire semester working on their skills. About 30% of their original students remain, which I am told is about average in this setting. With adult students, life gets in the way, and their biggest hope for each student is just see them all regularly. Students are praised for attendence more than anything, and it's clear to see how much more advanced the most regular students are when compaired to students that have less than perfect attendance. There is no love lost here though, as Karen hugs students that haven't been around lately and thanks them for coming. It's definitely a family environment in this class, and I think that's a good thing for the group because the comraderie helps them keep coming. Most of the class is Spanish speakers from various countries and one student is from Bulgaria. At this point in the semester most of the regular students have scored high enough in testing to move into the next level at the start of the next semester. In between the lesson Professor Kolcun and I discuss all of these issues and how it was a struggle for her when she started. She states that she was very close to quitting during her first semester and I can understand why. She is a retired 3rd grade teacher that decided teaching night classes would be a good hobby to make some extra money, and she was imediately in charge of 30 students with very little or no English. Her ability to stay flexible and motivated certainly comes as a shining light to a future educator that doesn't know if they will be up to the task. I've heard horror stories of teachers changing their careers within the first few years of teaching, and English 101 seems quite daunting. The class had spent most of the semester with basic communication with a large focus on food and restaurants. The group had made a quick trip to buy pizza and work on using English in public spaces, and was working on another similar trip to end the semester. I am impressed with Karen's ability to find the answer with large gaps in language. She doesn't get discouraged and the students all ehlp each other find the answers to questions in class. Most of Karen's classes are with projectors, white boards, and books, which is definitely a different method from Dr. Britton's so it's good to see two different ways to work a classroom.

Intermediate:

-I am continually impressed with Dr. Britton's never-ending list of one-off lesson plans that she lays out in an organized fashion to teach language skills. We discussed how she sets long terms language goals for the class, and selects things from memory that will get the class there. I asked about setting up structured curriculum. She mentioned that fall semesters work the best for a structured curriculum for the first half of the semester before people stop showing up, but by summer semester, the goal is to just keep feeding the students input through reading, writing, and conversing. ost of the students in intermediate have an uncomfortable ability to have natural conversations, so we're getting students repetition at this point, as many students are very close to testing out of the program entirely. Some students were already fully matriculated into the school working towards their associated degree. 

TidBits:

-I have been working with the intermediate class and Cindy has been giving me alone time to tutor students on the material presented in class. First it was one-on-one with more advanced students, and now I have spent time leading group work while she relaxes and supervises if needed from her desk. 

-It was fortunate that there is one Japanese student (JS) in Cindy's class that I have started observing in the class. I had mentioned my goal to teach English in Japan and Cindy has intentionally partnered me up with (JS) time to time to spend time with my target audience. I noticed my language skills have helped bridge any gaps the student might have and it makes teaching English slightly easier understanding the other side of the language balance, as compaired to mentoring students with an L1 I do not understand. 

-I have been asked several times if I would be taking a postition at the school when my observation is complete. I am flattered that they recommend I should do so. 

-Cindy also recommended I look into working with ESL in the prison system as she started there and thinks I would be a good fit there. She also brought up options to teach online to asian students late night so I can do it on the side. 

-Karen and I discussed attending the next restaurant in persona activity and asked the class if I can come. They agreed. I am looking forward to that.

-I had my first course with Mr. Ernie Tootoo. He teaches an evening mixed level class. Per program standards he also includes daily lesson plans on the white board at the beginning of class as shwon below. The standards for the program's class implementation seems incredibly loose, allowing for each teacher to work how they deem fit, but guided by the CASAS system and state requirements, and it doesn't seem too overbearing on the teacher, other than students being pulled from classes to test throughout the semester.