Training, training, and more training!!!

Without fail every time I tell someone I am going to China to teach english there is always someone in the group who will ask the monotonous question "Do you even know any chinese?" It is like they forgot the part where I said I am going to teach english not chinese. Weird last time I checked, to teach english the only real element you need is to be able to speak it. Anyhow getting to my point, it is true I am teaching children a language and yes, now have the tools to do so.

The technique is based on english immersion, where we only speak english to the kids. But none the less, ILP is not sending us out there empty handed- we went through training! Yes two, nine hour, days at the Provo library. (and I thought my twenty years of experience with the language would suffice!) I will be coming shortly with a post of the quotes, and doodles that occupied our lovely table for those tiresome hours. The second day wasn't as bad as the first, since after lunch on day two we learned cultural things about China. (and there will be another post on the horror stories about squatters)

The first day and beginning of day two we sat in a conference room where one of the founders lectured us all nine hours. Now I must confess I have a real problem staying awake when anyone stands in the front of the room and speaks, but here they had the lights dimmed! We ate so much candy trying to stay awake that our mouths hurt. It was a fill in the blank book and lasted for far too long for our burned, from finals, brains. Then, at the end of the day, they announced that half of the groups don't have to come till lunch tomorrow. Andrea and I crossed our fingers, but no avail, yes we are the only city in china that had to stay. We did, though, make great friends will the other three girls on our table who are headed to Russia. Annie, Alba, and Samantha- bless them- and too bad they aren't going to be with us in China. I am just glad I had Andrea, and those three girls there to entertain me, because it was a training that never seemed to end.

The end