Language worries, sunshine and another 'first'

The first week back after time off is always a struggle, no matter who you are or what you do. So for the first few days of this week I was feeling pretty fed up. After a week of being with Lois, I felt lonely being on my own again. I feel bad for complaining, seeing as though most people do a Year Abroad totally alone and I know this is probably one of the hardest parts, and often one of the most overlooked parts, of a Year Abroad for many. I don't particularly like the idea of school (it's always fine when I get there though)and I find myself thinking about summer back in England more and more and looking forward to being back. I'm by no means hating my time here, but I think by the end I will certainly be ready to go home. Anyway, here we go. Here is the week that was.

On Monday afternoon I was with the Year 5 class once again. I again did most of the teaching which I actually quite like. One thing that does grate on me however, is the constant repetition that I'm required to do. I tell them what page they need to turn to in their books and maybe one or two students will listen. Others are talking, other are day-dreaming. I say it again. A few more turn the pages. I say it again, but those talking aren't listening. I begin the exercise, when all of a sudden students start asking what page they need to look at! It's pretty hard work. In the lesson we were practising manners and phrases used when in a shop situation. Phrases like 'I would like..' and 'here you go..' etc. One highlight of the lesson was when everybody was able to put this into practise in a mock shop situation. One boy had baked a big cake for the class and while one student played shopkeeper another student was the person buying some cake. It was good motivation for them, and of course, I also made sure I played the role of 'buyer' and received a piece of cake.

Tuesday involved more speaking practice with various age groups, from the Year 6s to the Year 10s. In a lesson with the Year 7s I presented a short presentation I had prepared about a celebrity, which would then act as an example for them since they will be doing the same shortly. My final class of the day involved me giving feedback on a mock speaking exam done between two students. I was really impressed and tried to give as much positive feedback as possible, but also of course had to find mistakes for them to improve on. The mistakes the students seem to make are always the same ones and when I hear them it does make me realise how complicated parts of the English language are. I still find it difficult to properly explain why something is wrong - I frequently find myself saying 'It's just the way it is!". However listening to others learning English makes me proud to be an native English speaker. After the class I had a chat to the teacher and towards the end of the conversation was surprised when she asked me "are you tired today?" "No" I replied (I was actually pretty awake!) "Oh" she said "You're German is pretty bad. You seem to be struggling to find words." (I told you the Germans don't 'beat about the bush') Great. I explained that a week away from school had taken it's toll, but I was disappointed. Disappointed because I know she's right. Despite feeling a little more confident in my German skills than a few weeks ago, I now feel worried about them. We're over 6 months in and by this point I should have a much better grasp than I currently do. I really don't know what more to do though - I speak German as often as I can. Despite all my moaning, if I could re-do a Year Abroad, I would without a doubt choose to be a Language Assistant again, but I cant help but wonder how much more my German would have improved had I been working in a German company, speaking just German day in day out. Oh well. I know that I'm not going to return to England anywhere close to fluent in German (which before this Year Abroad, I had hoped would be the case) but all I can do now is crack on and keep practising.

On a very positive note, the weather here this week has been stonking! I've been cycling to school without my coat and still been warm. Pretty amazing considering it's still March if you ask me! I know I've said it before, but I really do love cycling to school. It wakes me up and I feel refreshed on my arrival. In an effort to make the most of the great yellow ball in the sky reappearing, I enjoyed Tuesday afternoon sat out on my balcony watching some cycling on my laptop. I didn't last long because I actually got too warm! But I'm certainly not complaining and I just hope it lasts.

Sat out in the sun watching a bike race - perfect!

 

 

Recently I wrote an article for my other school which has now gone up on their website. (If you remember I already did one article for one of my schools). I was asked by Annette to send a picture of me which could be included in the feature. I have very few pictures of me, as most of them are of me with Lois. However, there was one picture I had which I sent to her. Annette replied saying that because there was some beer pictured with me in the photo, it wasn't suitable for the school website, which I totally understand and completely overlooked when sending the photo. (She was however proud that I was becoming a real Bavarian!) Consequently I ended up having my picture taken by the school photographer especially for this feature. There is one in English (aimed at the students - Annette asked me to do one separately for the students in English as she doesn't want them to find out that I know German!) and there is also one in German (for the parents).

English: http://www.asr-regensburg.de/index.php/fuer-schueler/austauschlehrkraft
German: http://www.asr-regensburg.de/index.php/fuer-eltern/marcus-Begley

Following a good day at school on Wednesday, I was feeling better in myself and more positive. Since the speaking exams for several year groups are fast approaching I was doing lots and lots of speaking practice this week. Teachers have been arguing about who gets to have me and have been rushing to the board to 'hire' me out for their class. I like this and I do enjoy school more when I have more do to. (Yet I still find myself complaining when I find I have more lessons to do - I'm hard to please) But I prefer having things to do, than not. Honest. I was part of a lesson with the Year 5 class. They are always loud and full of energy and can be quite a handful. As the class returned to the classroom after break, I noticed one boy tipping sachets of sugar (the type you add to your coffee at Costa or Starbucks) into his mouth. Whole sachets! I told him he shouldn't be doing that and he was persuaded not to carry on. But I think it was too late. He was super hyper throughout the lesson. Although with that being said, the whole class was. I felt sorry for the teacher who had to constantly tell them to be quite or listen or stop fighting or sit down. I knew how he felt - Teaching can be really hard, frustrating work.

My plan at the school I go to on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The teachers 'book me' for whichever lesson they need me.
It works really well

 

As you can see from my plan, Thursday involved lots of speaking practice. The lessons went well and I even found myself covering for a teacher who was ill, which as an Assistant, I am strictly not allowed to do. I knew the class and I really didn't mind, so it wasn't a problem. I'm pleased that they feel I am responsible enough to cover a class on my own. The class were louder than they normally would be, which is to be expected when they have a new, different and young teacher, but they did listen when I told them to be quiet and I had lots of students come to me to ask me what certain words were in English, so I like to think I proved helpful for them. In my weekly afternoon conversation class, I found myself in a new situation. I asked the class to get in pairs. No one moved. I asked again. Nothing. They were looking straight back at me. Maybe they didn't understand. "Can you get into groups of two please?" I rephrased. Still nothing. After what seemed like an age, they began shuffling into pairs. I'm not sure why, maybe they were tired or just seeing what I'd do, but this had never happened before. After the lesson I wondered what I would have done had they not listened to me. I'm still not sure! Despite the shaky start the lesson went well and we did a full run through of the exam they will be taking in 3 weeks time, so I like to think it was useful.

The view from one of the classrooms at the school

 

 

Thanks to the gorgeous weather, Friday was a very enjoyable day. Wearing just t-shirts (ok, maybe not JUST t-shirts, but you know what I mean), Lois and I walked into town and once again admired Regensburg in the sun. I've been here for over 6 months now, and the city and the buildings are not at all getting old. They are still as spectacular as the first time I saw them. It's so great to see the ice cream parlours reopening now the sun is shining again, after being closed for winter. We did our usual browsing of stores and wandering the cute little cobbled streets before stopping at our favourite lunch stop, doing some food shopping, and finishing with a slice of cake before walking back. Normally we catch the bus back, but today we wanted to walk and what a pleasant walk it was! Back at the flat we sat out on the balcony and relaxed. It was really nice.

We awoke on Saturday morning to a grey and miserable looking sky. Like many, the sun appears to have weekends off too. As we got ready to walk to the local shop, rain started to fall. We turned back and returned to the flat but unfortunately, even after trying to wait it out, it was still falling. Cue SuperMarcus to the rescue. I hopped on my bike and cycled through the wind and rain (not quite as dramatic as it sounds) to the shop to buy our lunch supplies. We were house-bound in the afternoon so passed the time watching some interesting TV.

Sunday was much of the same since the sun seemed to be making the most of having the weekend off. However on Sunday I did enjoy another 'first' experience, one to add to the many other 'firsts' I've already experienced on this Year Abroad. I voted. For the first time in my life, I voted. And it wasn't even in my home country! There were local elections taking place all over Bavaria on Sunday and since I have lived here for over 6 months, I had the right to vote. I made my way to the local 'Wahllokal' in the morning, put a cross by my choice and slipped it in the box, satisfied that, whilst I personally wasn't really going to gain much from many of the new policies the candidates were campaigning on, I was doing the best for Regensburg. On departing, I was told something by one of the women overseeing the voting which I didn't understand. Well I got the gist of it, but I didn't get everything. Just like every other time this happens to me, I smile, nod, laugh a little, agree and move on. Lets hope it wasn't anything too important!

Ready to vote for the first time
 - Passport and voting card at the ready!

Next week we're off to Zurich for the weekend so on Sunday afternoon we searched online for some things we can do and see whilst we're there. It seems it's very 'arty' and musical, neither of which really appeal to us. However we're looking forward to seeing what Switzerland is like and adding another country to our list of countries visited.

As you can probably guess, the next school week involves lots more speaking and I've also been tasked with doing a few of my own lessons, so I'm sure to be kept busy.
                                                             

Thanks for reading, and until next time,

Tschüß