TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certification
So I walked in last Saturday and the teacher who runs the certification program goes to me “are you ready for your practicum?” and I froze…I remember it being Sunday on the schedule.
Shit…She changed it…somehow I missed that very crucial piece of information.
Fortunately I had my lesson plan with me, albeit marked up…but I had it with me none the less.
So the first person went, the second person went…and then I got up, and using every ounce of teacher that I had in me. Relying on every skill I’ve ever picked up from addressing a crowd of a couple of hundred and talking about anal sex, bondage, domination or any of the myriad of topics I’ve been asked to speak about at conventions, using every experience I’ve had as a keynote speaker, remembering everything I had learned teaching Kindergarten in the inner city…I put on a smile and with cool confidence began my class…and ran through the entire fifty minute lesson in fifteen minutes, figuring out what should be cut short, what should be extended…adding things I thought of on the fly, taking out things that I deemed no longer appropriate to a room of students who were supposed to be native Hebrew speakers in 8th and 9th grade (14-15 year olds) High-Intermediate ESL Course.
Her hand flying across my evaluation sheet I was certain I failed…that she’d take this time to fuck over the Linguist who corrected her on her bastardization (actually, there isn’t a strong enough word to describe just how badly she fucked up her presentation) of Phonetics.
Now certain that I failed or scored incredibly low, I finished and wrapped up my lesson. My head still held high because I gave it my all with the one still voice in the back of my head going ‘sometimes all you have to give isn’t good enough.’ My colleagues clapped for me as I thanked them for their input after my lesson. I went and took my seat. Then I watched everyone else do their practicum. Afterwards we were asked to go outside so she could do individual evaluations with us, bringing us in like lambs to the slaughter, one at a time.
Eventually I was called in…and as I sat down across from her, waiting to hear the bad news…she told me “I’m pleased to tell you, that you’re the Top Student in the class…” – a designation that they check off on the evaluation form…it goes to one student in the class…I was that student.
I passed. I’m now a certified TESOL/TEFL/TESL Teacher…with the highest score on the practicum. If you want to see my evaluation (I’m pretty proud of it) you can view it here
Maagan Michael/Israel Update
In class today my cell phone went off: it was my representative (different than the Shaliach) from the Aliyah Agency. I was approved to be on Maagan Micahel Kibbutz (apparently they have a long waiting list). I also found out that I have my follow up meeting where I get some of my papers, etc. on November 14th at 12 Noon at their offices in New York City…what’s that…an excuse to fly home…wait…twist my arm a second…
I’ll be home Late on Monday, November 12th and I’ll fly back to Buffalo early on November 15th (I’ll post my full, upcoming, travel schedule Tomorrow).
If you want to see the Kibbutz that I’ll be on (Maagan Micahel), you can go here. From the pictures it looks gorgeous. I sent an introduction to the director of the Ulpan and he responded and says that if I want to, I can certainly request to work with the cows when I get there (THEY HAVE COWS!!!). He says it’s dirty, and bizarre hours…done and done. I love cows…I used to feed them dog biscuits on my Uncle Bruce’s farm.
Anyways, I have a lot more to write about…so an actual entry later today.
Peace all!
moocowinthecity