Miss Wilkinson

Well, one thing is for sure, I don't think I'll ever spell my name wrong again after writing it about a million times on the board.

I've sort of been a fail at all this blog pavlova, mainly because quite often I can't think of how to sum up this experience in the space that a blog post gives me.

Anyway, as with everything, this week has been a melting pot of highs and lows. Lows; my oven broke, and then my boiler, which meant I was a day without hot water. Then a whole group of kids didn't turn up to an 8  o'clock class (which I got up especially for. Somehow hearing "they must have forgotten" doesn't really wash with me). Highs; I've had some really really successful classes, with students who genuinely seem interested in what I have to say and I get a huge buzz out of grabbing students' attention for a whole hour.

On the whole, classes have been "interesting". Yes, that panacea word which covers all possibilities. I haven't had any nasty students, but let's just say it is sometimes difficult to motivate certain members of the class. My stance on it is to try and get them to work, but not to burst an artery if they simply refuse, because I'm not there to discipline. If the kids want to work, they will. A few of the teachers seem to have got the wrong end of the stick as far as 'language assistant' is concerned. Language assistant does not equal child minder for the kids you don't want to teach. It's difficult to stand your ground with a woman who has twice as much experience, is twice as old and about four times as scary as you are. When you try and explain that you are not comfortable with actually teaching classes, you are met with advice on how to teach them, rather than them taking them back off your hands again. My response, a slightly pathetic "d'accord" and a limp smile.

It's fair to say I've had my challenges for this week. I've had kids who sit in stunned silence at me as I try to fill each awkward dragging minute by gabbling in English, hoping that they will understand at least something. I had one boy tell me all about the problems with his knee, when frankly, I couldn't have given two peaches. I've had kids screw up a worksheet that I had just given them (but hey, technically it's not my class to teach and I probably would've done the same, given the chance). I asked a girl numerous times to get on with her work and her response of "je réfléchis" worked for the first 5 minutes of the lesson, but somehow I don't think her brain was capable of thinking for the entire 40 minutes.

A few years ago I really would've taken it upon myself to worry about these kids, to force them to do work, but if they don't want to be there then there's not really much you can do. If the teacher doesn't even care about them then why should I lose sleep over it? Sure, if I was a teacher then yes, I would motivate them because it would be my job.

Difficult students aside, I've just spent some time in my favourite place, Carrefour. Rosslyn took me out to get a snazzy little oven with the capability to do rotisserie, hello roast chicken! This means that I can fulfill the ultimate French dream, a real nice camembert baked to perfection, served with a crusty French baguette. Bliss.

Anyway, I am truly turning into a little old lady and need my beauty sleep. 8 really is an ungodly hour to actually start work so I'm really exhausted.

Off to bed I go! Before long, I'll be donning my frilly nightie and drinking Horlick's before bed.