Hello from Deauville! It's starting get colder, lights and decorations are all around, and it's almost the end to the first trimester of school! At this point in the year, we've been working hard to get things finished before the next vacances, between lesson planning, APE, and the Christmas spectacles, it's enough to make your head spin.
Lesson Planning
So one thing that I've grown a lot with is working on developing and creating my lesson plans, along with some research into ESL resources and learning activities. After first receiving some materials and resources from Ivan, along with the first month or so of already made lesson plans, by the third month or so the lesson planning is up to you, and while you are given several topics and items (basically proficiency tests/quizzes) the routines, methods, and specific vocabulary are left up to you.
Now, for me personally, I was teaching CLIS (the special needs class) along with CP, CE1, and a single section of CE2 at Fracasse. However, now Im going to be teaching all of CE1 and CE2 along with CLIS at Fracasse.
I will tell you, as long as you have a good game plan and you don't lose focus of what you want to have learned, you'll be fine. The fun part is figuring out what ways of teaching clicks with the students while they learn. One example is with my CE1s and CE2s, they love a good competition between their classmates, and it really motivates them to want to learn the material.
Another key in forming your lesson plans is to use all four major aspects of language learning: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Though, to be honest in grade school we focus much more on auditory and oral skills than with reading and writing (they are only 2nd and 3rd graders, after all!).
However, just like with all things, practice and getting to know your students will make it get a lot easier over time. I know that even though I've learned a lot, I'm sure I will continue to be enlightened by my students as the year progresses.
One other thing to mention: along with lesson planning for your English classes, you will also be in charge of 'lesson planning' for your APE after school activities. Don't worry, it's not nearly as involved as one might be for your English lessons, but it is something to keep in mind.
Christmas in Deauville!
Here in Deauville, the city loves to get into the spirit of the season, and they definitely went all out in celebration. For Christmas, one of the big spectacles they did was with the children from APE. The children came out to the city center with the mayor and sang 'White Christmas' (in French of course) at the illumination of the city. Since then, the town has been glowing every night.
Even so, this week at the maternelle (preschool), St. Arnoult, and Fracasse, there will be several Christmas spectacles along with the APE spectacle this Friday. The APE spectacle consists of a series of songs, videos, and other performances by the kids on the last day of school before the vacation. It's a very exciting time that definitely keeps us busy.
Final thoughts...
In writing this, I just want to leave you with some final thoughts:
If you think you'd be concerned about the lesson plans, don't be. Ivan gives a great tutorial during the two week preparatory session after arrival, along with doing observations later in the year to give us constructive feedback on our lessons and also in working with our students.
Also, Christmas is an absolutely wonderful time of year here, and the kids absolutely love learning Christmas songs and doing all the fun corny Christmas traditions with you.
Happy holidays and joyeux fêtes de Deauville!
