WEEK ONE: July 4-6: Teaching English and Managing the Classroom

The Fourth of July--Independence Day--is an important holiday for Americans.  On July 4th, the teachers wore t-shirts bearing American flags.  They discussed the meaning of the holiday with their San SIn students within the American Culture unit. In Taiwan, July 4th was a working day just like any other school day!  After classes were finished for the day, the teachers shared ideas about how to manage the behaviors of the students in the classroom.  The usual problems facing American teachers were found in their classes on the other side of the world as well--too much talking and use of cell phones during class time!

Every Wednesday evening, the teachers take a yoga class at San Sin.  In their first yoga class, the yoga teacher educated them about the philosophy behind yoga as an exercise for both body and mind.  The American teachers appreciated Roslyn's translation of the yoga teacher's Mandarin Chinese!  The class provided them with a good introduction to yoga and a good workout!










Thursday, July 5th, was "School Reporting Day" at San Sin, with many San Sin students coming to school to get their report cards.  So the American teachers taught only half of their usual class schedule. For lunch, they enjoyed the traditional Taiwanese Hot Pot restaurant directly across from the school with English teachers Julia and Johanne.  They learned how to cook meat, vegetables, and seafood together in one collective individual pot!  And after classes on Friday, they walked to one of the many beef noodle shops in Kaohsiung with some of their favorite students!