Well, the end of school came and went, and of course, the bittersweet goodbyes I shared with my class. They were so amazing and I know they will be incredibly successful next year. In May, a representative from the school corporation came to school and interviewed me about going abroad for the school district's online magazine. Below is the link to the article:
http://elkhart.k12.in.us/content.php?id=906052
The last day of school, I booked my flight to Taiwan. I will be flying out of Indianapolis on the morning of July 29th. I will arrive around 9p.m. Taiwan time, so at least it will be dark, which should help with adjusting to the difference in time. The first 10 days, we will be staying in a hotel, which will also help to get acclimated to the culture and getting around the city. The training will be in Taoyun (sp?), another major city in Taiwan.
I will also be attending an orientation session on July 8th in Indianapolis where I will meet the other teachers going and a teacher who is going to be returning to Taiwan for a second year. We'll learn about housing for the year and other aspects of our trip.
When I arrive in Taiwan, I'll sign my contract, which will begin on August 1, 2009 and end June 30, 2010. This allows me to come home and have a bit of a summer to recover before returning to school.
Today, I bought myself a beginner's guide to Mandarin, which will hopefully give me a leg up when I go into my Mandarin classes. My family and I have also set up our webcams and practiced chatting with each other. Let's just say it was quite funny.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Below is a description of what I will be doing at Taipei Municipal Bing Jiang Elementary School.
Students 496、Teachers 49
The Number of Classes to teach
◎Total lessons to teach in all schools：17lessons
Grade 3 ×5class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Grade 4 ×4 class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Grade 5 ×4 class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Grade 6 ×3 class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
English Clubs ×3 class about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Teach local teachers or relevant people × 2 lesson per week
（Total lessons to teach in school【1】：17 lessons）
Besides Classes, Needed Activities:_5_lessons
1. Conduct English clubs and competitions
2. Assist planning for English Summer Camp
3. Design courses for the English Village
4. Assist building the English website and update the data
5. Develop the E-materials
6. Hold events of Western holidays
7. Bilingualize signs on the campus
8. Instruct staff and faculty or parents English courses
Co-teaching Types
Each teacher, including Foreign and Local Teachers, is in charge of
course designing and teaching for one situational classroom. In the
process of designing, through peer review and teaching demonstration,
the co-teaching can be achieved.
Building curriculum is always something I have wanted to do, so I can't wait for this opportunity to start.
I will be attending an orientation in Indianapolis in early July, where I will meet the other three teachers who are going from Indiana. I will be leaving for Taiwan at the end of July in order to be there for the start of an orientation on August 1. I've also been firming up the visa application process and making sure I have all of my shots and a complete physical. The end of school is quickly approaching, which has raised by anxiety level about moving to a foreign country, but I'm still very excited. Busy, Busy, Busy!
Students 496、Teachers 49
The Number of Classes to teach
◎Total lessons to teach in all schools：17lessons
Grade 3 ×5class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Grade 4 ×4 class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Grade 5 ×4 class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Grade 6 ×3 class, about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
English Clubs ×3 class about 30 students in class× 3 lesson per week
Teach local teachers or relevant people × 2 lesson per week
（Total lessons to teach in school【1】：17 lessons）
Besides Classes, Needed Activities:_5_lessons
1. Conduct English clubs and competitions
2. Assist planning for English Summer Camp
3. Design courses for the English Village
4. Assist building the English website and update the data
5. Develop the E-materials
6. Hold events of Western holidays
7. Bilingualize signs on the campus
8. Instruct staff and faculty or parents English courses
Co-teaching Types
Each teacher, including Foreign and Local Teachers, is in charge of
course designing and teaching for one situational classroom. In the
process of designing, through peer review and teaching demonstration,
the co-teaching can be achieved.
Building curriculum is always something I have wanted to do, so I can't wait for this opportunity to start.
I will be attending an orientation in Indianapolis in early July, where I will meet the other three teachers who are going from Indiana. I will be leaving for Taiwan at the end of July in order to be there for the start of an orientation on August 1. I've also been firming up the visa application process and making sure I have all of my shots and a complete physical. The end of school is quickly approaching, which has raised by anxiety level about moving to a foreign country, but I'm still very excited. Busy, Busy, Busy!
Friday, May 8, 2009
On Wednesday, May 6, I received an email from a cooperating teacher I will be working with next year. Below is an excerpt from the email:
"Bin Jiang English Village is a brand new English learning center in Bin Jiang Elementary School. Basically, you will be developing materials, designing lesson plans and teaching for Elementary School kids (Grade 1 to 6 ). Besides the job, you will also have a chance to explore Taiwan and probably learn some mandarin."
The days are dwindling with my kids this year, and with each day, I know how much this year has meant to me, even though it started pretty rough. I love the kids I work with and can't wait to keep up with them next year. They are such an awesome group of kids.
My work visa is now being processed, which will allow me to work and get paid while in Taiwan. I've also officially moved into my brother's house for the summer, and continue to slowly pack up my classroom. I've also taken on a part-time tutoring job to help put some money away for all of the traveling I plan on doing during the next year.
I'm so excited! Only about 3 months left on US soil :-)
"Bin Jiang English Village is a brand new English learning center in Bin Jiang Elementary School. Basically, you will be developing materials, designing lesson plans and teaching for Elementary School kids (Grade 1 to 6 ). Besides the job, you will also have a chance to explore Taiwan and probably learn some mandarin."
The days are dwindling with my kids this year, and with each day, I know how much this year has meant to me, even though it started pretty rough. I love the kids I work with and can't wait to keep up with them next year. They are such an awesome group of kids.
My work visa is now being processed, which will allow me to work and get paid while in Taiwan. I've also officially moved into my brother's house for the summer, and continue to slowly pack up my classroom. I've also taken on a part-time tutoring job to help put some money away for all of the traveling I plan on doing during the next year.
I'm so excited! Only about 3 months left on US soil :-)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
April 4, 2009
My passport has arrived! As usual, the picture is awful (just like a driver's license picture), but now I can apply for my work visa. I have also learned I only need the immunization for Japanese encephalitis, which is a series of 3 shots over 3-4 weeks.
I've also started the process of moving in with my brother. My apartment lease is finished at the end of the month, and to save money, my brother, Preston, offered to let me stay with him until I leave. This also means he volunteered his basement as my storage unit for the next year, too! I've moved some things from my apartment and started to box up some of my classroom, much to the chagrin of my students.
I find it incredibly rewarding that my students are begging me not to go, but am confident they will do wonderfully without me next year. Every time I get a box out to take home, at least one of my students tells me to put it back!
At the first board meeting of March, Elkhart Community Schools approved my request for a leave of absence, which means I will have a job with ECS when I return. This was anticipated, but it will be nice to know I have a job to come back to.
That's all for now!
I've also started the process of moving in with my brother. My apartment lease is finished at the end of the month, and to save money, my brother, Preston, offered to let me stay with him until I leave. This also means he volunteered his basement as my storage unit for the next year, too! I've moved some things from my apartment and started to box up some of my classroom, much to the chagrin of my students.
I find it incredibly rewarding that my students are begging me not to go, but am confident they will do wonderfully without me next year. Every time I get a box out to take home, at least one of my students tells me to put it back!
At the first board meeting of March, Elkhart Community Schools approved my request for a leave of absence, which means I will have a job with ECS when I return. This was anticipated, but it will be nice to know I have a job to come back to.
That's all for now!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
March 25, 2009
This is my first time blogging, so sorry if this doesn't look great. I'm starting this blog as a way to communicate information about my trip to Taiwan in August of this year, and later, as a way to keep in touch with friends and family and update everyone on what is going on.
First, in January of this year, a friend forwarded me information on teaching ESL in Taiwan through the Department of Education. I was hesitant to fill out the application, but I was having a quarter life crisis, and needed a change. I filled out the application, asked for references and mailed everything in at the end of January.
The third week of February, I received an email from the Indiana Department of Education saying I had been accepted to the program and I would be living and teaching in Taiwan from August 2009 to July 2010!
After stressing out about telling my family about my new endeavor (and breaking out in shingles in the process), I bravely told my parents and the rest of my family. To my relief, they were all very supportive.
Now I am starting the process of obtaining a passport, a work visa, and educating myself on the culture of Taiwan. It has been very interesting so far, and I can't wait to share more about this experience!
First, in January of this year, a friend forwarded me information on teaching ESL in Taiwan through the Department of Education. I was hesitant to fill out the application, but I was having a quarter life crisis, and needed a change. I filled out the application, asked for references and mailed everything in at the end of January.
The third week of February, I received an email from the Indiana Department of Education saying I had been accepted to the program and I would be living and teaching in Taiwan from August 2009 to July 2010!
After stressing out about telling my family about my new endeavor (and breaking out in shingles in the process), I bravely told my parents and the rest of my family. To my relief, they were all very supportive.
Now I am starting the process of obtaining a passport, a work visa, and educating myself on the culture of Taiwan. It has been very interesting so far, and I can't wait to share more about this experience!
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