tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9107283502300705854.post3767587310947565605..comments2023-08-10T06:35:10.504-07:00Comments on bryan meeker in sierra leone: I'm MediocreBryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07557697495278736593noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9107283502300705854.post-76258515458870345842010-07-19T06:55:32.502-07:002010-07-19T06:55:32.502-07:00yeah, i wish i could see that glow stick dance ;) ...yeah, i wish i could see that glow stick dance ;) sounds like a really coll experience overall. even before you joined peacecorp. i was thinking i might want to do that someday, maybe somewhere in europe, considering my 3 years of german class at school, although those schools are not the ones that need a lot of help. anyway, have lots of fun for me!!!<br />love, cousin juliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9107283502300705854.post-28134176964236611372010-06-29T20:39:43.408-07:002010-06-29T20:39:43.408-07:00Meeker, you can't be so hard on yourself! Ima...Meeker, you can't be so hard on yourself! Imagine how I felt when I got blank stares from my classes full of American, suburbanite, English is their first language, high school students last semester. It's a tough job, and I give you infinite props for taking it on! I'm sure you're doing better than you think, sometimes there's just that awkward disconnect because they don't know who you are. Plus, they're kids and it's school - they're not always thrilled to be there, especially with summer so close. Keep your chin up and don't lose that optimism!!Monica Fumarolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9107283502300705854.post-86709643518311832812010-06-29T19:06:05.448-07:002010-06-29T19:06:05.448-07:00You mentioned the language barriers...I'm gues...You mentioned the language barriers...I'm guessing that the kids you're teaching speak English (even if it's a second language). It still must be hard to communicate complex ideas to a group of students that have such a different background and culture. I mean, you really don't know what kind of education they have had before and therefore don't know where to start or how much you have to spell things out for them. The thing about the glow sticks and your mix is awesome! You should definitely introduce them to Zeppelin if they don't know it already, and we can't forget Sinatra. Glad to hear you're at least optimistic, even if you're a little frustrated. I'm proud of what you're doing. Much love from the USA!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08071075347397150238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9107283502300705854.post-31756431014607786992010-06-29T17:01:40.177-07:002010-06-29T17:01:40.177-07:00STROBE! I did read online that one of the most str...STROBE! I did read online that one of the most stressful jobs was being a teacher. And you have all the other stresses adding to that.<br /><br />I think the only problem is all the barriers you're faced with. I'd say for the first few weeks don't worry much about it. You'll get used to the kids and they will get used to you (yeah...MAYBE)<br /><br />(-;3Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04047846536462171330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9107283502300705854.post-61757754107430977642010-06-29T15:07:21.803-07:002010-06-29T15:07:21.803-07:00Meeker,
I think solution you have not found yet i...Meeker,<br /><br />I think solution you have not found yet is that every once and a while the kids need to get smacked around a little. Not a lot, but just enough to show them your in charge. They learn better that way.<br /><br />I hope everything else is going well. <br /><br />All the best,<br />MikeMichael J. Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09523540640543327410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9107283502300705854.post-30403000942214709032010-06-29T11:03:46.646-07:002010-06-29T11:03:46.646-07:00Teaching kids in Africa was so different from teac...Teaching kids in Africa was so different from teaching kids in the US. Getting them to think, rather than recite, was something we couldn't really get past other than by letting them play. The first teaching session I did was to some of the smarter, high school aged kids and I thought I was awesome. Then I did the same lesson for the kids and it didn't work at all. We had to rethink the entire lesson plan for the following session of kids and use more of a skit to teach them how to do it.<br /><br />Also, for bad internet write up the blog in Word or Wordpad or something and then just copy/paste into blogger. I think you can also post by email which would also help on the bandwidth. If you use gmail I hope you setup offline gmail so that you can go into "flaky connection" mode where it sends whatever bits of info it can whenever the internet is strong enough. Also, all of the info for gmail is saved on your computer so you don't waste bandwidth downloading the Gmail code everytime. Try HTML mode if you didn't setup offline yet.Michael Steinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13563928598184049542noreply@blogger.com