So before my sanity completely goes out the damn window and I seriously lay hands on one of these kids, something has come up to keep my focus: IM SHOOTING A MOVIE....
Well several actually. My 9g grade class and I are discussing films and how they are made in our textbook. I figured while we were learnin about this, we might as well bring it to life. I told the first class about it, and they seemed pretty calm about the idea. But the second half of the class was all excited. At the beginning of class they asked if they could play a game, so I agreed we could if there was time at the end of class. Well I announced we would make a short film and they didnt even want to play the game anymore. They immediately started thinkin of ideas for their short film
Cannes here we come....
So just to raise the stakes, each half of the class is broken into 2 groups (a groups of 6 and a group of 7, 2 short films for each half of the class, and 4 short films for the whole class of 26). Im gonna solicit a group of judges to determine which film from each class is the best and the winning teams get a pizza party. Today's class was geared around making it all happen. Coming up with what type of movie they will make, what the movie will be about, the characters, the plot. I actually got some really funny scenarios
1. A Western-2 guys are playin poker when 2 girls walk in. The bartender serves them a drink. The two poker players begin to argue over which girl looks the best and they have a shoot-out. There is a sheriff and a waitress somewhere in this short film also.....
2. A Comedy-a story about 2 friends and their kids. One friend has twins (sara and mara) and a daughter, and the other friend has one daughter who believes she is a clown. The sister of the twins has a b-day party and one of the twins makes the clown upset. The clown switches the twins into the others body.........
3. A Horror-a guy and girl are picnicking when 2 monsters attack them. The monsters kidnap and imprison her after they kill the guy. Her friends decide to rescue her and kill the monsters.......
4. A Suspense-a guy is cheating on his wife with his only love. His wife hires private investigators to prove her suspicions correct. After gainging proof, the investigators call the wife to confront the husband and his lover at a restaurant. Things go terribly wrong when the wife picks up a knife and kills the lover, causing the husband to kill the wife and investigators in a fit of rage.
How exciting do these films sound??? We are gonna get props (costumes, fake blood, etc) and Im gonna film this. There is some kid who does work with small clips and movies, hopefully the films look legit.
Ok, Im VERY excited!!!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ureka!!!
So, since this class is always so bored of hearing me speak, and dont like to think, for the next class Ive decided to have them do the work. Usually We go sentence by sentence and I ask them to think about what the text means. BUT for the next class, I thought it would be good to split the class into small groups, assign them several sentences. Beside putting definitions on the board, Ill have THEM decipher what the text means. We'll see how that goes, since they naturally know everything!
BASTARDS!
BASTARDS!
*Side-Note* Isnt that pic soooo cute. Im surprised I found this pic of this lil black girl (ha). Not feelin that pink dress tho....
Survival is the name of the game....
So after that last post about my bad day, I got several comments that said basically survival is the name of the game. I obvioulsy am not the ONLY volunteer having these problems, and I could almost bet money there are some out there worse off. Its just a shame that Im tryna figure out how to merely survive and make it til the end of my service. I feel like that a fucked up reason to stay here......
I am going over Gulliver's Travels with my 19g class and boy is is difficult for them. The language of the book is damn near ancient and extinct, and the vocab is very hard for them. We have to take the text line by line, which not only takes forever, but bores that crap out of the class. But I think the reason why they are bored so much is becuase they dont want to think! I ask what they think such and such means, and the majority of the class stares into space. They arent trained to use their minds and again, are very LAZY. Its such a shame.....
I am going over Gulliver's Travels with my 19g class and boy is is difficult for them. The language of the book is damn near ancient and extinct, and the vocab is very hard for them. We have to take the text line by line, which not only takes forever, but bores that crap out of the class. But I think the reason why they are bored so much is becuase they dont want to think! I ask what they think such and such means, and the majority of the class stares into space. They arent trained to use their minds and again, are very LAZY. Its such a shame.....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The wait is over...You're obviously NOT smarter than a 5th Grader!
Well I posted this yesterday, and after an overwhelming response of WRONG answers (ok, maybe it was just one person but whatevs), Ive decided to put you all out of your misery. Here is the question:
There are 7 girls on a bus.
Each girl has 7 bags.
Each bag has 7 big cats,
and each big cat has 7 small cats.
Each cat has four legs.
How many legs are on the bus?
And the solution:
7 girls X 7 bags= 49 bags
49 bags X 7 big cats= 343 big cats total
343 big cats X 7 small cats=2,401 small cats total
2,401 small cats + 343 big cats= 2,744 total cats
2,744 total cats X 4 legs= 10, 976 total cat legs
7 girls X 2 legs= 14 legs
10, 976 total cat legs X 14 total girl legs= 10, 990 total legs on the bus
see how simple that was??? hahahaha dont worry, Im not smarter than a 5th grader either apparently!
There are 7 girls on a bus.
Each girl has 7 bags.
Each bag has 7 big cats,
and each big cat has 7 small cats.
Each cat has four legs.
How many legs are on the bus?
And the solution:
7 girls X 7 bags= 49 bags
49 bags X 7 big cats= 343 big cats total
343 big cats X 7 small cats=2,401 small cats total
2,401 small cats + 343 big cats= 2,744 total cats
2,744 total cats X 4 legs= 10, 976 total cat legs
7 girls X 2 legs= 14 legs
10, 976 total cat legs X 14 total girl legs= 10, 990 total legs on the bus
see how simple that was??? hahahaha dont worry, Im not smarter than a 5th grader either apparently!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Bad Day
So let me just say, teaching english in THIS country has lost its luster LONG time ago. Altho I honestly have some good moments, lately they are been few and far in between. I feel like this situation is really killin my spirit cuz im always somewhat upset or sad when I go to work.
So today I had the 10g, and they USED to be my fav class. I would brag about how smart they are and how I loved to teach them to BUL when they would ask how I liked it here. But now, some of them MOFOs is on my shit list! The first half of the class today just really gets on my nerves, and all I can do really is shake my head in defeat.
We were going on some passages from Gulliver's Travels. Now normally the texts we read in class arent TOO difficult, except for vocabulary. But the book was written so long ago, and uses vocab that is out of date, so I KNEW they wouldnt be able to understand the passage we were reading. And plus the other half of the class is ahead them and they didnt understand SHIT when we went over it together last week.
So I decided we would read the pass together, then discuss the meaning almost line by line cuz it was really hard for them. OFCOURSE, this half of the class KNOWS EVERYTHING. So we begin the pass and when I say they was lookin so DISINTERESTED, I could have swore they read the entire book front to back. They looked so bored, and like I was sayin something they already knew. But its mighty funny that after each line I would ask what it meant and the room was DEAD silent.
So since they KNOW EVERYTHING, I said ok cool, after this line yall can read the text by yallselves (thats not a word). So one girl just busts out this HUGE sigh of relief, like she was bout to die if I went on explaining another line. They read the text by themselves. and low and behold, they DONT UNDERSTAND SHIT! The chick who was bored to death and sighed said aloud, "oh teacher, I didnt understand anything" So ofcourse we wit my smart mouth goes, I knew that. I TOLD yall from jump the text was hard, but yall wasnt payin attention and wanted to read it alone. So she says well the first few lines that we reviewed, I understood everything. Mighty funny tho that when I asked the class what was going on, BLANK STARES!
So Im flamin mad at this point. We done wasted time cuz they think they so damn smart. Class ends. I go to the teachers room and ask someone what grades I will have to teach next year, and she says probably the same students as now. And you should have seen my face drop cuz I wasnt wit it! She asked why and I said I didnt want to teach them. They are rude, lazy, never want to work and just plain uninterested in learning anything. I feel like this is a waste of time. And further more, the 9g and 19g have STOPPED coming to the extracurricular activity courses before and after school. I could be spending that extra time sleeping, but I wake up and go to the school and wait for the students to come, and NO ONE SHOWS UP!
So this heifer says to me "well thats how they are with all the teachers"
BITCH that didnt help me! It didnt make me FEEL BETTER. It just made me think even more why the hell the school applied for a volunteer when the students are horrible and make me feel like shit sometimes. Seriously, there are places in Africa and South America where the students are extra thirsty to learn english. Here, NO. They just dont give a shit. And its so sad cuz the kids generally dont seem like they even aspire to anything.
I really am at the point where I am ready to go home. I did not come here to deal with snot-nosed lazy ass kids who dont want to learn. I left my family and friends to come here for what? To come to school everyday WAITING PATIENTLY for students to show up so I can HELP THEM with their english, just to have no one come? or to go to work everyday and stand in front of an unappreciative bunch of kids who could care less about learning? Hell to the nah. I am seriously thinkin bout how the next year will go, if it will go at all......
But on a high note, I bought this cute new jacket and wore it today wit my stunna shades. I surely was the talk of the town......
ok, im back to bein sad....
So today I had the 10g, and they USED to be my fav class. I would brag about how smart they are and how I loved to teach them to BUL when they would ask how I liked it here. But now, some of them MOFOs is on my shit list! The first half of the class today just really gets on my nerves, and all I can do really is shake my head in defeat.
We were going on some passages from Gulliver's Travels. Now normally the texts we read in class arent TOO difficult, except for vocabulary. But the book was written so long ago, and uses vocab that is out of date, so I KNEW they wouldnt be able to understand the passage we were reading. And plus the other half of the class is ahead them and they didnt understand SHIT when we went over it together last week.
So I decided we would read the pass together, then discuss the meaning almost line by line cuz it was really hard for them. OFCOURSE, this half of the class KNOWS EVERYTHING. So we begin the pass and when I say they was lookin so DISINTERESTED, I could have swore they read the entire book front to back. They looked so bored, and like I was sayin something they already knew. But its mighty funny that after each line I would ask what it meant and the room was DEAD silent.
So since they KNOW EVERYTHING, I said ok cool, after this line yall can read the text by yallselves (thats not a word). So one girl just busts out this HUGE sigh of relief, like she was bout to die if I went on explaining another line. They read the text by themselves. and low and behold, they DONT UNDERSTAND SHIT! The chick who was bored to death and sighed said aloud, "oh teacher, I didnt understand anything" So ofcourse we wit my smart mouth goes, I knew that. I TOLD yall from jump the text was hard, but yall wasnt payin attention and wanted to read it alone. So she says well the first few lines that we reviewed, I understood everything. Mighty funny tho that when I asked the class what was going on, BLANK STARES!
So Im flamin mad at this point. We done wasted time cuz they think they so damn smart. Class ends. I go to the teachers room and ask someone what grades I will have to teach next year, and she says probably the same students as now. And you should have seen my face drop cuz I wasnt wit it! She asked why and I said I didnt want to teach them. They are rude, lazy, never want to work and just plain uninterested in learning anything. I feel like this is a waste of time. And further more, the 9g and 19g have STOPPED coming to the extracurricular activity courses before and after school. I could be spending that extra time sleeping, but I wake up and go to the school and wait for the students to come, and NO ONE SHOWS UP!
So this heifer says to me "well thats how they are with all the teachers"
BITCH that didnt help me! It didnt make me FEEL BETTER. It just made me think even more why the hell the school applied for a volunteer when the students are horrible and make me feel like shit sometimes. Seriously, there are places in Africa and South America where the students are extra thirsty to learn english. Here, NO. They just dont give a shit. And its so sad cuz the kids generally dont seem like they even aspire to anything.
I really am at the point where I am ready to go home. I did not come here to deal with snot-nosed lazy ass kids who dont want to learn. I left my family and friends to come here for what? To come to school everyday WAITING PATIENTLY for students to show up so I can HELP THEM with their english, just to have no one come? or to go to work everyday and stand in front of an unappreciative bunch of kids who could care less about learning? Hell to the nah. I am seriously thinkin bout how the next year will go, if it will go at all......
But on a high note, I bought this cute new jacket and wore it today wit my stunna shades. I surely was the talk of the town......
ok, im back to bein sad....
Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?
There are 7 girls on a bus.
Each girl has 7 backpacks.
In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 little cats.
How many legs are there on the bus?
Each girl has 7 backpacks.
In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 little cats.
How many legs are there on the bus?
Monday, March 16, 2009
*Fingers Crossed*
So I spoke to my mom yesterday and we talked about my spring break plans. Its been such a hassle gettin her over here and I dont really believe it will happen til I see a flight confirmation or something of that nature. IF she stumbles over to this side of the world, then we might go to a magical place. But I dont want to jinx it, so Ill keep it secret til I actually buy the plane ticket.
Its really the only thing ive been looking forward to these days. A nice break away from work and school!
Viva la.....you fill it in....
Its really the only thing ive been looking forward to these days. A nice break away from work and school!
Viva la.....you fill it in....
Today
Well except for Poppa callin me at the butt crack of dawn and our hour and 15 min phone convo, my day was pretty mediocre. 2 students showed up to my extracurricular act. class. I expected that tho. I only had the 9g today, so the day went by fairly quickly. We worked on the past simple tense and did an activity I found somewhere and played a game called Ghost. It was actually pretty cool.
But then my stomach started hurtin and my back has bee aching for the past few days. I went to talk to this lady who works on my job and she talked me into smokin a cigarette. After like 2 pulls I started to get a headache and admitted defeat.
I came home and just layed in the bed. Its actually the only thing I do these days. I sit and watch TV all damn day cuz I have no life.
Blah blah blah
But then my stomach started hurtin and my back has bee aching for the past few days. I went to talk to this lady who works on my job and she talked me into smokin a cigarette. After like 2 pulls I started to get a headache and admitted defeat.
I came home and just layed in the bed. Its actually the only thing I do these days. I sit and watch TV all damn day cuz I have no life.
Blah blah blah
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Lady Gaga
Now yall all know I aint no Hater (shut up Poppa!). I give props where props are due. And I def have to say, when Lady Gaga FIRST hit the scene with "Just Dance" that was my joint. I looked up the lyrics and all that. That was a banger. Her next one "Poker Face" was eehh. Its an ok track, but the lyrics are clever, so she gets cool points for that. Next "Eh Eh Nothin else I can say" its cute. I like it a lot, and her next one "Love Game" well lets not talk about that.......
Moving along....
Now that I done gave her her props, I just have some questions. Why in the hell is homegirl always in a damn bathing suit in damn near all her videos? I mean seriously, does she walk down the streets of Manhattan in THIS weather with a bathing suit and stockings on? Is she tryna start a trend? Isnt she cold? Im really just tryna figure out what she is doing.
And in her new Love Game video, is she really kissin a girl? Isnt that video a lil TOO suggestive? Did she really spread her legs open like that in the video? And whats with all the crotch grabbin in the video? *confused*
Im just gonna leave it at that....... you can check her vids on my side bar
Moving along....
Now that I done gave her her props, I just have some questions. Why in the hell is homegirl always in a damn bathing suit in damn near all her videos? I mean seriously, does she walk down the streets of Manhattan in THIS weather with a bathing suit and stockings on? Is she tryna start a trend? Isnt she cold? Im really just tryna figure out what she is doing.
And in her new Love Game video, is she really kissin a girl? Isnt that video a lil TOO suggestive? Did she really spread her legs open like that in the video? And whats with all the crotch grabbin in the video? *confused*
Im just gonna leave it at that....... you can check her vids on my side bar
You want to INTERVIEW ME?
Well in an interesting turn of events, a lady that I met a while back asked me if she could interview me. Of course I said yes, but never really thought it would come about. Poli (pronounced like Polly) called me Thursday and asked if we could meet for the interview. We set a time for Fri and met.
She is such a doll, let me tell you. She was very polite, and funny. She asked me questions about my family, my life in NY, things I missed (hey Poppa), the differences, why I was here, what I wanted to do with my life, if I considered myself an adventurist, and a whole bunch of questions. She even asked me what things made me cry (ok, random) and I shared with her that I cry when my feeleings are hurt and told her about those kids throwing something at me and those guys saying rude shit to me. She was so surprised and told me that Bulgarians are very accepting of other cultures and people (hahahaha). We talked (in Bulgarian) for about an hour before another girl I met showed up. They invited me to see an art show with them, and we drove to Sofia to hang out.
They were so cute, and funny. They taught me some curse words, and how to say really bad phrases in BG. And to be quite honest, I could understand about 80% of what was going on and I didnt use the FAKE LAUGH nearly as much as I usually do! We got quick drink before they drove me home.
Oh, one of the girls said I had a Brazilian Butt! I wasnt really payin attention and heard the end of what she said. When I asked if they were talkin bout me, she said of course and said she didnt mean it to be offensive, it was a good thing (Altho compared to EVERYONE else here Im sure my butt looks humongus, but compared to Brazilians, my joint look like a pancake. Cuz they be having mad weight back there). I agreed and said everyone including me loves my booty! hahahahaha Im just glad she didnt try to touch it!
Good times.....
She is such a doll, let me tell you. She was very polite, and funny. She asked me questions about my family, my life in NY, things I missed (hey Poppa), the differences, why I was here, what I wanted to do with my life, if I considered myself an adventurist, and a whole bunch of questions. She even asked me what things made me cry (ok, random) and I shared with her that I cry when my feeleings are hurt and told her about those kids throwing something at me and those guys saying rude shit to me. She was so surprised and told me that Bulgarians are very accepting of other cultures and people (hahahaha). We talked (in Bulgarian) for about an hour before another girl I met showed up. They invited me to see an art show with them, and we drove to Sofia to hang out.
They were so cute, and funny. They taught me some curse words, and how to say really bad phrases in BG. And to be quite honest, I could understand about 80% of what was going on and I didnt use the FAKE LAUGH nearly as much as I usually do! We got quick drink before they drove me home.
Oh, one of the girls said I had a Brazilian Butt! I wasnt really payin attention and heard the end of what she said. When I asked if they were talkin bout me, she said of course and said she didnt mean it to be offensive, it was a good thing (Altho compared to EVERYONE else here Im sure my butt looks humongus, but compared to Brazilians, my joint look like a pancake. Cuz they be having mad weight back there). I agreed and said everyone including me loves my booty! hahahahaha Im just glad she didnt try to touch it!
Good times.....
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