Practicum is officially over. We wrapped things up today with my 11th grade class with an egg drop. I tried to make it somewhat academic by having a discussion and adapting spoken stories about skydiving. After that I told them that they were in a plane that was about to explode with 2 garbage cans (plastic cups), 4 blankets (napkins), some rope (string), and some rubber bands, and they had to make a make-shift parachute for themselves (the egg). It probably would have been good to explain the full metaphor because about 5 minutes into it, when they were still complaining that it was going to be impossible, I realized they may have really thought that we were going to be dropping them out of an airplane, instead of out the window of the second story of the school. I explained that when I went to Interex (the grocery store) they were fresh out of planes, so the second floor would have to do. Four of our five eggs didn’t survive the fall and the fifth had, what we decided, was the equivalent of a broken arm.
I really liked the 11th graders because their high level of English meant that we could do anything they and I wanted, as long as they were speaking English while doing it. Not to toot my own horn, but from the feedback I have gotten from the people observing us and from the reaction from the kids I am a pretty damn good teacher, which is great considering it is going to be my job for the next 2 years.
Speaking of good feedback, we had language station tests on Monday in which we had to act six scenarios out with our language teachers for five minutes each. I was pretty convinced I was going to get a straight B average, and was pleasantly surprised when I opened my report card to find B+’s and A-‘s with only one B. They wrote that my most winning accomplishments in language include my great attitude, and my listening abilities, which I have probably gathered from ease dropping on the conversations of my gazda parents, gazda brother and his friends.
It is encouraging to know that they think I am doing okay, but my real sense of accomplishment in regards to language came on Tuesday, when one of my gazda’s friends came to stay with me for a night, since they went on vacation for the week. We went for a walk around town and I was able to get to know her using mostly Romanian. Now however, my Romanian is super rusty since my family is still gone, and the past two days, Romanian lessons have been replaced by medical, security, and history lectures. Thankfully I am, as we speak, awaiting the company of two Romanians (host brother and his friend) so hopefully they will exchange language practice for the American hamburgers that I am prepared to make them.
Anyways, I am really looking forward to this weekend when we will be having our forth of July party, and next Wednesday, when I find out where I will be living for the next two years!