So close to being a certified TEFL teacher.

I've just taught my 2 hour assessed Practicum and I feel like it went really well. Regardless of whether or not it was a perfect lesson (no such thing) it gave me the confidence in my teaching ability that will really help in looking for a job beginning this weekend. The areas of my teaching style that were shaky in the beginning of the course have come along nicely. There are still tons of things I need to work on my I really value my practice teaching hours that have given me a good starting place for understanding how to approach teaching.


Here are some pictures from my amazing lesson on asking for and giving advice using modal verbs!
Here's me in front of the room with my amazing modal continuum from weak to strong. Taro is the only one that noticed Lou was taking this picture!


Here is Lou in the foreground working with some students and Garrett and I in the background trying to figure out a word someone is describing.

I had some really good activities. My theme was Dear Abby and it turns out our students are very good at giving bad advice. They had fun with it and I think we all enjoyed watching them come up with problems and then suggesting advice. I've had so much support from my practicum group that it'll be weird to teach in a class without them. You'd be amazed at how much of a difference having 4 extra heads in the room makes. Our group is really great.

Our final is Friday and after that the thing that has consumed all of my time for the past 5 weeks will be over and it will be time to find a job and a permanent dwelling. I've also come to terms with the fact that I'll probably have to get a motorbike pretty soon. Getting around by songthaew is fine when you're going back and forth between the same place every day, but finding a job and working will be so much easier if I can determine when and how I get places. Don't freak out parents, I will wear a helmet and take it easy until I figure out what I'm doing. Bikes here don't actually go that fast because of all of the traffic.

Tonight was really great. I went out for dinner at this amazing cheap delicious hole in the wall place that Ani knew of. Afterwards we went for a walk and wandered some of the sois she knew in the area and found the most amazing temple that I will certainly return to this weekend with camera in tow. There are tons of little corners of Chiang Mai that I look forward to exploring now that I have some free time and a year ahead of me. I really would love to find a place to settle though. This apartment is good for what it is, but I want a homier situation that involves a kitchen and perhaps a lounge chair or two. We'll see about that this weekend.

Last night while I was blogging I felt the entire building shake and wondered what the hell was going on. As it turns out, Chiang Mai is no stranger to earthquakes! At first I thought I was going crazy but this morning I talked to classmates about it and it was definitely an earthquake that started northwest of the city. It makes sense when you think that we're at the foothills of the Himalayas.

Ok, I know you're probably sick of me updating so frequently now that I have the time, but it seems that once it starts the flow just doesn't stop. I think I'm still on my teaching high though. Time for some reading and bed.

(Oh! and to continue my streak of mail I was walking out of the building this morning and there was a Christmas card from the other Fiona! Two mail items from people named Fiona in less than 12 hours. What are the odds?! It was a cute card and it made me smile to see that she was thinking of me.)