No more pencils, no more books

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE...HOT SEASON!

Just finished the last class of my first semester as a teacher.

A surprise: when I walked into one of my favorite classes for the last time yesterday, all of the forty nine students rose on cue and launched into a six minute version of a traditional Thai song about teachers. There were different parts for the boys and girls and even several solos, and after the song was finished the entire class sat and one lone student stood and made a speech in English. One of my favorite students, Nut, even started crying.

It's possible I cried a little in front of my students. Whoops...

Also, before anyone congratulates me on a job well done, I'll point out that the typical exit ceremony for me this week was a lot less grandiose. A "Thanks again guys! It's been a great semester. Any questions? About anything?..." followed by deafening silence, and then my little voice, "So, no questions?...," followed by more silence, and then finally, a goodbye wave as I quietly slipped out the door.

Just a few hundred more grades and then I am done.

Yours,
"Teacher Rebecca" as my students know me

The theme of class this week was "giving"

Some choice responses on the giving worksheet:

What would you give your friend for Christmas? Why?:
I would give friend my homework so copy. Because I like friend.

What would you give your mother for Christmas? Why?
I would give mother milk. Becaus she low cacium.

What would you give your teacher for Christmas? Why:
I would give teacher motorcycl.
I would give my teacher a kiss me because I love teacher.
I would give teacher a healthy basket because she is old.

What would you give your boyfriend or girlfriend for Christmas?
I would give boyfriend frist kiss. Because I fell very.
I'm singer. (He meant "single")
I would give my girlfriend a Singha beer because I will be opend her virgin. (!!!...Don't worry, this one was the only scandalous response I received.)

How would you give back to your community?:
I would go picnic family and go shopping. Because love shopping very fun.
I would help the blind. Because they don't feel lonely. I want they know, we are here.
I would grow the tree because Phitsanulok has bed air.

They're cute, right?

Yours,
R

The glamorous life of a teacher

December 7-9, 2009. Classes M 5.1-5.12.
Daily objective: describe your favorite animal.

For the most part, the hypothetical "paragraphs" of "full sentences" about favorite animals turned out like this: Favorite animal cat. Pretty. That's gets a student full credit in my class. However, I saved some of the gems for you:

My favorite animal is a rat. Because it is small. It is cute. It is delicious.

My favorite animal dog. I like because friend alone time.

And the kids who own dictionaries:

I lik goldfish: It'is beautiful and adroit.

I would like a shark because them have a teeth danger. But it animal wonderful. It predator bite sed predator bite crocodile. Some scientists belive shark best target predator.


Additionally, I've been really indulging in the mad perks of teaching. Look at these gifts I got from some of my kids today. That bracelet is from a nice girl in one of my 11th grade classes named Fai. I can't so much specify the giver of the apple-looking-things. I was walking past these two cute girls at school and they saw me and practically fell over themselves in their haste to give me the fruit. Maybe I'll eat them for dessert?



So reader, what is your favorite animal?

Teacher Rebecca