I stood there, looking at the twenty one middle schoolers seated in their desks in front of me. They waited patiently for me to say something. After all, I was the teacher and class had just started.
I wondered what to say and how to say it. Not that I don't know how to start my class, the question went deeper than that. It was more like how do I lead these kids? I don't want to just get up there and teach English. I want to LEAD my class. What's the difference? How do I make that connection? The objective of teaching is to bridge the gap between where one is and where they could be academically, right? So build the bridge and LEAD them across. It sounds so simple, although engineering such a bridge is easier said than done.
On the lighter side, Matzu has been full of challenges and suprises. The students, although requiring much more motivation than previous camps (usually elemenary aged), have been enjoyable to teach. It's fun to take teaching and the way you teach to a deeper level. The kids are very lovable, and love to talk with you. They want to know everything about you! The best thing has been that they try to doing it in English. It's great practice for them, and a delight for us.
The week's schedule was packed. I missed having extra time with the kids. They love it when you just talk or hang out with them. It means a LOT. Little did I know that the weather was to fix that...
About to be windblown in Matsu,
Ginger Jernigan
