October Update

It was a busy month, with assignments coming thick and fast, but I think most of 'em are behind me. The load was pretty heavy for a while there, and it seemed like papers and presentations were all due at the same time, making for a lot of stress on ol' Stig, I can tell you.
In general, life has been pretty good. I've adapted to getting up in the morning and handling the early class with a lot less difficulty than I had anticipated. I've never thought of myself as a morning person, but I find myself handling the class okay, and wanting a nap more in the afternoon classes.
The 'dean' of the program handles the curriculum design class, and we've started designing lesson plans with the Alberta Program of Studies guide, a massive document, as our starting point. We've just done PhysEd and Health. Next up is Math and science (ugh!).
I always hated doing lesson plans in Korea, mainly because I had no idea of what the fuck I was doing. Well, after studying the whys and wherefores of lesson planning in Alberta, I still hate doing them like poison. A lot of pointless busywork. It's okay to have the big overarching vision, and some goals in sight (which I almost never did in Korea), but the detail of working out to do in one class just makes my ass tired.
The field experience class is held once a week, and we just go over what we saw the last time we went out, and think about other things to look for next time. The prof is pretty good. All of the profs have had a lot of experience teaching, and bring a wide variety of experiences to the classroom. Our field exp. prof just completed a term as principal of a school. He said he left there feeling wrung out and drained, but has been rejuvenated by this class.
Another class dealing with society and education was the one that put a lot of pressure on us with assignments and so on. But the prof has pushed some things back and given us some breathing room after we whined and bitched and complained as much as we possibly could. I participated in one group presentation, which the class has been doing the past coupla weeks. We each had an educational philosopher to present. Mine was Friedrich Frobel, the inventor of kindergarten. I learned a lot about how people have influenced the development of education and educational theory. it isn't as dry as it sounds, because most of my classmates are pretty smart, and their presentations were really well done.
The fourth class is yet more theory about education. This past week, I did a solo presentation about "Cognitive Views of Learning and The Role of Attention."
Whew.
I had read the chapter on Cognitive thinkers in the text, and zeroed in on the role of attention out of all the various topics presented. mainly because I thought capturing students' attention was pretty important. The presentation went pretty well, and I got a lot of positive feedback.
I have been focused on school the past coupla months, with a little over one month left to go until the Christmas break.
Every once in a while, I'll start reminiscing about life in Korea, and sometimes I wish I was back on the patio at Dunkin's with Flint, smoking a cigar, laughing at the mooks and shamelessly ogling the hotties.
Sigh.
But, those days are gone for now. Maybe we'll get back there again someday. I'm fairly satisfied with the progress I've made in school, and I'm looking forward to continuing the process of developing my professional talents.
Take care.

Back To School

I have returned to school in order to get my Bachelor of Education (After) degree, so it may cut down on my posting to this site.
I have been busy getting all of my paperwork in order, meeting profs and fellow students, looking for a place to stay, and on and on. It has been an exciting but at the same time stressful time.
Stay tuned.

Shut The Hell Up!

Have you ever been caught in a conversation that just won't end?
Some people seem to think that because they can form words, they just shouldn't stop. I do not have the gift of gab. I can make a pithy comment every once in a while, but my main forte is listening.
Being a teacher, you have to talk. When I told my friends that I was going to Korea to teach conversational English, they all fell about laughing. I'm not sure if they believe it even yet.
I've listened attentively in school, upon occasion. I've also tuned out when I decided the teacher had nothing more to tell me. I try to be aware of those moments in the classroom when I'm losing them, and switch to doing something else to keep their interest and energy up.
Some people miss those signs, or ignore them. I've had bosses who start talking, just as I'm ready to leave for the day, and continue to chat about this and that before launching into another of their interminable anecdotes.
Sure those stories are interesting the first time you hear them, but it's hard to stifle the yawn during that second or third time.
And then you start thinking that maybe body language will help. So you maybe check your watch quickly, or shift what ever you're carrying to a more comfortable position, or start looking at the door.
But some people even then keep on yammering away, oblivious to your distress. They are fairly launched now, and nothing short of a nuclear explosion is about to stop them.
So then you start looking for that break in the torrent of words, so that you can insert your "Well, it's about that time, isn't it?" But there is no break. The person has become so enamored of their monologue, they believe the glazed eyes and slack-jawed expression is due to awe at their acumen and insights.
And so you drift away, into the land of imagination. What about a swift kick into this guy's groin? Will that shut him up? Maybe I could just start screaming profanities and what I really think of him and his stupid fucking stories.
There used to be a TV show from England called "Billy Liar," about a boy who had these kind of daydreams during his dull, suburban life. They only made one series of that show, and it's a pity. It was a fairly standard British comedy, but the daydreams almost gave it a Python-esque quality.
Eventually the torrent of words is interrupted, or the guy decides that he wants to go, and you're set free. Free to go home, but all the while thinking that you wish the guy would just learn to shut the fuck up.