Well, the semester is in its fourth week now, and this week I alreday had to give a 90 minute presentation on grammatical categories regarding universal grammar and syntax. I'll be starting to write my paper on the same subject this week, although I am expected to give it in before the end of september. Why put off to tomorrow what you can do today? Uh, yeah, I'm working on that...
Other than that, I'm working real hard on my job at the university as a french teacher. I've given two classes, and the first one went really well, two students actually came up to thank me at the end of class, but the second one I had a larger group and it was a lot more difficult to keep tem interested, concentrated and active...
I am also somehow managing to fit in 4 private clients in my schedule. (Most of whom I teach out of my home). So I'm getting tons of experience. My youngest pupil is 8 years old and my oldest around 31. So I get to try out teaching with a very wide range of groups, from private lessons to university class, from kids to (older than me) adults. It's really a great experience and even the "bad" ones turn out to be valuable.
I think I'm going to be a good teacher. Of course, sometimes I get afraid and worry if I'll ever make it, but in my gut, I have this feeling telling me I'm good at it, that I can do this, and do it well.
On another subject, I keep having these ups and downs concerning homesickness. I must admit though that being home for the holidays in December has helped me a lot because it made me realise that the life I was missing, my old life on the Montreal Plateau, just doesn't exist anymore. The people still do, the city still does, but my life in its particular constellation is gone. My home is in Berlin now.
I don't know why I needed to go so far away...
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thoughts and ramblings of a canadian student living in Berlin
5 comments:
Continued best wishes on the teaching! I know what you mean. I moved from NYC, and whenever I go back it makes me sad to realize that's not my home anymore. It's not though. Things, people, places and times change. It's great that you lived in a world class city & it's great that you live in another and have been able to take something so essential from your old home (Frnech) and use it to teach others and provide you with a fun exciting life in your new home. Hang in there! In my own brief year of teaching, I learned much more from the tough cases. You're young and motivated. Stay confident! Stay excited! I think it's the most rewarding job in the world, and I highly encourage you to get cracking on that assignment NOW! :-)
I'll keep a spot ready for you on my lap.
John: thanks for your encouragements. I was thinking of you when I wrote this post, knowing you also moved from NY to LA... When did it start feeling like home?
Not to depress you, but it doesn't & I don't think it ever will. I'm just a man without a home now. I am always wondering where I could move to in order to feel grounded once again. The people here are so different I will never fit in. I'm just in some horrible limbo. I felt more at home in Dublin in March after a few days than I do here after almost 9 years.
L.A. just is NOTHING like NYC.
Don't let that depress you though. I would guess that Germany is way different than Montreal, but still much much better than L.A. - I hope.
Well, when I was in LA, I must admit that I really didn't like the city. like ti was dirty or something.
I guess Berlin is really ok, but its like in my head, Montreal is home, but when I'm there it doesn't feel like it.
you should definately check out berlin sometime... maybe just in time to get to Munich for Oktoberfest?
Tout n'est qu'expérience, tu le sais... Vis au fond!
Cool pour ta job, ça m'a l'air de bien aller!!
xox
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