Up for Air...

On March 10th, I began my CELTA course. When I signed up for it, and even in the days leading up to it, I had no idea just how rigorous it would be. It's not necessarily difficult, but the pace is incredible. Just the other day I found myself thinking: "Wow, I have 45 more minutes to work on this lesson plan than I did on the last one!"
They begin teaching you the CELTA method, and on the second day you are expected to start demonstrating it in your lesson plans. After that, you teach every other day, incorporating more and more from the input sessions you've had thus far. Which, essentially means, you get told something on Tuesday, and Wednesday, and on Wednesday night you are expected to teach a lesson using what you've learned. This, of course, is happening while you're attending lessons from 11:30-8:00 at night... giving you about 4 waking hours to assimilate and design lesson plans in.
Alongside, of course, 4 additional assignments.

I've always considered myself a slow and steady sort of person. This course is incredibly different than anything I've ever done before. The pace is almost blinding. But the more time that goes on, the better I get. From the very first input session I knew that this course was worth it, no matter what. John, one of our two trainers, gave a lesson on Hungarian. He never spoke a word of English and taught us all the words for water, tea, coffee, beer, wine, how to introduce ourselves, offer a drink, and accept it or reject it. Having not even glanced at the words again, I can still remember most of them. Sensational.
In many of my methodology classes at USF they mentioned student centered teaching, but I was never presented with a real "how," or even solid suggestions. The CELTA course, and especially John, has it down to a science. His teaching is an art, and I hope to emulate his teaching methods completely. Although we certainly have different styles, his skill is undeniable.
The people I am at the center with are wonderful. It's a wide range of English speakers from all over the world. English, Australian, American, Irish, even an Iranian English teacher. I was worried that I wouldn't have a friend, or someone that I really connected with here, and find that all 12 of the people I am with are great. I couldn't have been luckier.
All in all, I'm doing great. I am learning so much and getting so much practice and great instruction on student centered learning. I'm surrounded by amazing people who are consistently amazed at my teaching skills... which is an incredible ego booster.
I feel healthy, and successful, and accomplished. Sometimes, in positions like these, I tend to take on a leadership role. Here, that's sort of impossible because everything is individual and so fast paced. Instead, what's happening, is that I am excelling at my work tremendously(I was even pointed out as an excellent example to the rest of the students, as John said "It took me 10 years to get ICQ's down, this guy picked it up in 3 days") and while I am excelling I'm supporting and helping those around me.
I've never felt so at peace with my work and my own abilities. I've excelled at things before, but never at something that I saw as so challenging and so worth learning. I'm finding myself more at peace with the people around me, more patient with things that would normally bother me, more accepting and loving and helpful...
This course has been amazing for me.

I upload some pictures later this week or weekend. The course actually takes place at a sort of resort... which is so helpful. I can't imagine taking this course and commuting back and forth and trying to do other things at the same time. It would be impossible.

Leaving Nong Chang for a while...

I just enjoyed the last week of the semester. I'm not sure why I enjoyed it so thoroughly. It wasn't at all due to leaving, by the end of the week I was decidedly glad that I will be coming back next semester, if only for a few months.
I had an amazing week though. I loved my kids, even the classes I don't normally love. I found out who my real friends were, or at least which Nong Changers would miss me enough to make a show of it. The week was just great.
First, the kids. It turns out, fourth grade is my favorite again. After many struggles, I finally figured out my job. The truth of the matter is, I am not "The English Teacher,'' I am one step in a long (and horrendously flawed) assembly line of English instruction. My hour a week will not move mountains, will not flood little minds with a sudden realization of past progressive tense (or even the names of body parts), it is one of many hours a week they spend learning English, and, I hope, the one they care about and enjoy the most.
I know this is true of my fourth graders, who have grown to love me in a way that would be suffocating if they weren't under 4 feet tall (literally). When I enter the fourth grade floor it's an explosion of children. I become a great comet of English instruction, with a long tail of children glittering behind me in the distance.
Many attempt a coveted show of manhood: the "Shake Hand stand off," where we shake hands in an attempt to squeeze the other's hand so hard that their knees buckle. A few kids actually get the better of me (thanks to a trick they've passed around about moving their hand in such a way to make my knuckles rub one another, very painful).
The rest simply walk beside me and hold my hand, even the boys, a show of affection far beyond the coolness of American fourth graders. (Indeed, grown men are very affectionate in Thailand and also India, and I have heard the same of the Middle East and Africa.) Those that have completed their shake hand test, or who have failed to score the coveted hand, or arm around the shoulder, simply trail behind me, screaming, poking, and prodding me playfully, sometimes painfully, but always in good humor.
Outside of school, Anno and I had a series of goodbye dinners, all of which were lovely. One was a little telling, however. Anno will not be coming back, and was very much looking forward to having a dinner with Somran and Noom, two of our friends from the office. Both were informed and seemed enthusiastic.... neither showed up. They had their excuses the next day but still, it was disheartening.
Two of my friends were very sad to see me go, however, even for only two months. One, a Dr. who plays basketball with me, was shocked and disappointed (admittedly, I broke the news to them rather late, the day before I left). His English is excellent, he's educated and youngish (probably not too much older than me) and an excellent candidate for a good friend when I return.
Another is "Nes" who runs the new internet shop in town which has quickly become my favorite. He's supposedly working on a degree in communication technology, but mostly he drinks and plays video games. He's invited me to share a beer on several occasions, and I less occasionally agree. Always it's been nice, and he insisted that I stay my last night and drink with him and his friends. I'm not sure if I'll have many opportunities to interact with Nes outside of video games or drinking, two activities I don't hope to spend a lot of time on, but it's nice to be liked.
So, here I am, already in Chiang Mai, waiting for Trevor to come (appallingly late). I don't miss Nong Chang, but I'm happy that I am going back, even if only for a month or two before heading to the states.


Pictures Galore... First, several pictures of my students:







And two of me in Uthai Thani, at the Temple on the hill...