Week 1---L'école primaire

Bonjour mes amis!

It's been a while since I've made any updates, so I thought I'd go ahead and do that. Last week (May 20th-24th) was my first week in schools. It was a holiday on Monday, so I didn't have to be in classes until Tuesday. Tuesday morning, I woke up and got ready. I had to take the bus to the IUFM to meet a sweet lady named Pascal. She was going to drive me to my high school(Lycee Edouard Gand). We got to the high school which seemed like an interesting set up. It was like a little village of high schools. We found mine and went to find the teacher who would sort of become my mentor for the day. Sounds good if it had worked out that way. Instead, we got there and found out that due to exams and other things, it wasn't the best week for me to be there. Nothing like a little bump in the road to start the week off right. Both of us were a bit frustrated with the situation. We went back to the IUFM to speak with Anne and figure out what I should do for the week since my high school was no longer a go.

Side Note: One thing I've learned since getting to France is that nothing ever happens in the time you think it should happen and it's just best to be open minded and easy going or else it's highly possible to go mad. It's more of a cultural difference than anything else really. In the US, we've become accustomed to making a plan and sticking to it, to getting things we want when (or soon after) we've asked, etc. The lifestyle in France is a lot slower paced. It just takes some getting used to is all. In most ways, I've come to like it. In other ways, I've learned to be more patient. A small joke we have going in the group here is that we always have tomorrow to do what we don't want to do today. All in all, it's a learning experience I'm more than happy to have. There is a lot to be learned and appreciated when you don't rush through life.

Anne, being exceptionally crafty, was able to get me set up with an elementary school. I started that same day, a few hours later than expected, but the same day none the less. Anne is a lifesaver. I ended up going to Ecole Annexe, which is an elementary school right behind the IUFM. Years and years ago, students from the IUFM used to do there student teaching with the school, but they have to many students at the IUFM to do that now, so it's just sort of there now. The school is tiny. It's just 5 classes, one per grade level. The teachers and the principal are all amazing, and the students are as sweet as can be. My first morning was spent observing a class of students ages 7-8 practice in the gym for their upcoming end of the year show. I am happy to say that I was able to understand them and they were able to understand me completely. I was a bit nervous working with these ages because unlike older students, they don't speak any English. Our communication was dependent on me, so there was a lot of pressure. Thankfully it worked out really nicely. I observed each class at least once this week, so I was able to see how each different grade learns. It was really interesting to see them all learning the same things I learned years ago, but in a different language.

 

 

 

 

My week with these kids has been so beneficial for me, and for them as well I think. I was able to observe some differences in the education systems and they were able to learn a bit about a new culture. I spent the week talking to them and telling them about where I come from. I answered questions like: "Do people have black hair like me where you live?", "Do you have movie star friends?", and "Do you eat French cheese in America?" The kids couldn't have been sweeter. I left with a stack of drawings and notes from the kids. Hopefully I will get to stop by sometime while I'm still here to go say hello again. I had a very gratifying and happy week. Fell in love with the kids and the way we talked to each other. I will be at another elementary school this week. Can't wait to see what they ask next!

 

 

 

 

Love from France,

Taylor