First week at Uhlandschule

     This week was spent at the elementary school with 1st through 4th grade students. It was very different from what I was used to during student teaching back home, but it was good getting to be flexible and see how well we could do. These students haven't really learned English yet so communicating with them was a challenge but a good one!

     One big difference about school was getting there. Riding your bike to school sounds so cute and fun until you have a rainy day. I have learned to enjoy my rides to and from school now that I know the way and don't have to worry about getting lost. I turn on some music and enjoy the alone time before and after school. However, it isn't as enjoyable when it is rainy and windy. You learn to leave when it stops, no matter how early it may be from your normal time. And a rain jacket is great except the hood doesn't stay on while you ride through the wind. Definitely makes you appreciate having a car!

     Another difference is the schedule of their school day. The first class we taught was at 8:15 and it lasted 45 minutes. Then they have a 5minutes break outside before their next class which is 40 minutes. Then they have a 30 minutes break outside that acts like their recess. And then 3 or 4 more classes that are 45 minutes each. Some students only have 5 classes a day and some have 6. If they don't have another class they just get on their bikes and leave for the day. It is a little crazy how much free time they have between classes and yet they get done so much earlier than we do at home. 

     One big difference is the lack of internet and technology at the school. If we wanted to use something from the internet we had to download it to our computer before to have it which made planning very important. It also meant that anything we wanted to give to the students to do had to be printed before and then just copied at the school. We had a projector (beamer in Germany) in the lunch room where we had most of our classes to we could show our PowerPoints to the class. But when we were in the classrooms they only had chalk boards so we would have to walk around and show things on our laptops. It wasn't ideal but it worked alright. 

     It was definitely different and took some adjusting but it has been a great experience so far getting to work with these kids and try new ways to help them understand us and learn English. It is a lot of motions and songs and repeating words but we are learning what works and what doesn't. I am excited to go back on Monday and have another week to work with them. Definitely thankful for this learning experience!