The morning was spent preparing for the YLT middle school class...we were told that today would be the last class, as next week, the students have tests to prepare for.
I taught them the song "Peace Like A River", which went okay in the 1st class, but middle-schoolers are the same all over...I think it was too uncool for them. More riddles, and then a demo on American football. We did the demo for both classes. N. told us after the first class that some of the kids know how to play American football. In fact, YLT formed a team that was coached by American coaches. L. had suggested while I was preparing the football presentation that I should also teach baseball. But I figured they already knew the sport, given that it was so popular in other countries out east. But lo and behold, N. said the kids know nothing about baseball! Yet ironically, they knew about American football. L. had a good laugh about that. The 2nd class, however, said they didn't know how it was played. It was fun explaining it to them, with L. playing defense and me playing offense. The matching games (from http://www.esl-games.com) were a hit. In the last class, I gave them points for their team for each match they made. In class 1, team 1 beat team 2, score 6-1 (I didn’t keep score for the match game until the 2nd class). In class 2, team 2 beat team 1, score 19-16.
After class, we took group photos with the senior faculty (headmaster) and class 2. The students were quite patient despite having to stay at school so late. Maybe they were just intimidated by the headmaster.
We were driven home in the van (L. was glad we won't have to ride in the bumpy van anymore) and stopped by the cafeteria for some food. We took some to go and spent the rest of the evening at home...where we had no power for a while. We waited in the growing darkness, talking about communicating and misunderstandings about asking each other when to/when not to do/take something). The power eventually came back on, one building at a time. L. finished her final exam, which she had been told, earlier in the semester, wouldn't have to be prepared...but then told again last week that she'd have to give one. Just another addition to her growing list of incentives to leave.
