Self-Introduction
Today I was at work (okay, well I`m still at work) thinking up different ways that I wanted to structure my first lessons for the upcoming term. The teachers has asked me to have our first lesson be an introduction about ourselves, our home, and our interests. Now, anyone that has been around me when I`m planning out anything, from events to meetings, might know that I`m the type that thinks and brainstorms and swirls ideas around in my head for a long while before I come up with anything. And then all of a sudden, in the wee hours of the morning before an event, inspiration strikes and I figure out what I want to do. Those that see this as a positive attribute can call this working well under pressure. Most others call this procrastination.
Most of the time, however, it really is that I really think about how I want to present something, or how I want the proceedings of a meeting to go, and it takes a long time for me to settle on an idea or to be satisfied with what I`ve come up with. I always need to make sure that the meeting has that generous dose of Elaine-creativity that will make the meeting more than a simple gathering.
So for the past couple of days I have found myself stuck again on this issue of making my first class more than just a regular class. Besides my great desire to NOT be talking about myself for the full 50 minutes, I want to set the tone of class as being interactive and creating an environment where the students feel comfortable speaking (that is, after all, my chief concern). But I find myself again stuck on logistics and trying to be original and not simply following the examples left by my predecessors. Partially this is due to being mildly terrified at having to talk about myself in so many classes and keeping it interesting for the students, and partially it`s because I know I still have about a month to prepare.
I know that inspiration will strike sooner or later, and when it does, I will be very grateful for the reminder that I do plan good things and I can make something as mundane as talking about myself into an interactive activity. For now, I know I will be brainstorming and planning in my roundabout and not super efficient way, and I guess I will have to be okay with that until I get a little bit more time pressure. Anyways, this is only one of the things I have to think about for the coming month, I guess it`s just occupying a little more space in my brain because I know it`s more about me and less about business ;)
Most of the time, however, it really is that I really think about how I want to present something, or how I want the proceedings of a meeting to go, and it takes a long time for me to settle on an idea or to be satisfied with what I`ve come up with. I always need to make sure that the meeting has that generous dose of Elaine-creativity that will make the meeting more than a simple gathering.
So for the past couple of days I have found myself stuck again on this issue of making my first class more than just a regular class. Besides my great desire to NOT be talking about myself for the full 50 minutes, I want to set the tone of class as being interactive and creating an environment where the students feel comfortable speaking (that is, after all, my chief concern). But I find myself again stuck on logistics and trying to be original and not simply following the examples left by my predecessors. Partially this is due to being mildly terrified at having to talk about myself in so many classes and keeping it interesting for the students, and partially it`s because I know I still have about a month to prepare.
I know that inspiration will strike sooner or later, and when it does, I will be very grateful for the reminder that I do plan good things and I can make something as mundane as talking about myself into an interactive activity. For now, I know I will be brainstorming and planning in my roundabout and not super efficient way, and I guess I will have to be okay with that until I get a little bit more time pressure. Anyways, this is only one of the things I have to think about for the coming month, I guess it`s just occupying a little more space in my brain because I know it`s more about me and less about business ;)
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