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Time to kiss 2011 goodbye and raise a glass to 2012.

Goodbye 2011!

It’s been a very mixed year for many of the people I love:  enormous and unexpected losses, some serious highs and lows…but some wonderful new friendships and new beginnings to nurture in 2012.

2011 – the year I lost my magnificent and precious Dad

Dad

2011  - the year I re-discovered my singing voice

2011 – the year I started teaching English in lycée… braving the staffroom and parents evenings; calling registers and marking homework!

Lycée Léonard de Vinci - Monistrol

2011 – the year Joe and I celebrated 21 years of marriage…

Still going strong…

another year where my extraordinary family gave meaning to everything I did…

Arty, Beth, Harry and Luke

and added love, laughter and support through good times and bad.

Sisters

Mum and I

And so we start another new year, full of hope and optimism…

Lucky us...

Hopes and Dreams for 2012

This year I’m hoping for a chance to sing with a band – the seeds have been sown… oh please let them flourish!

This year promises a little more financial stability… oh please let it be so!

If you ever get to heaven – we shall keep on trucking.. need to make some strategic decisions and get it out there come what may!

This year… in May… I shall be 50… taking my time to get my head round that one, and decide just how I want to celebrate this astonishing event!

So to all who have taken the time to read this far – Thank you for your support! And here’s to a wonderful, healthy, happy, exciting, healing, dynamic, awesome year ahead… May all our hopes and dreams come true – I think we deserve it!!

Time to Sparkle...

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Nope…. it’s still not snowing! But we put the tree up yesterday, and it looks beautiful!

I’ve had literally no spare time, and I’ve really missed writing my blog, so thought I’d grab this little window tonight to give a quick update… don’t know why it feels so important, but I guess this just feels like such a big change for me personally, that chronicling it in a blog will give me something to look back on and remember how it felt!

inside every teachers handbag...

So a few weeks have passed since I last wrote. The lovely Emilie (who I’m replacing) has had her baby.. (Huge congrats to you  if you’re reading Emilie!). I’ve somehow managed to write 147 brief and fairly generic school reports (online)…and only had to correct four: one for bad grammar, and the other three for over zealous praise (when the marks didn’t tally)!

I’m one week in to a 3 week project with the Premieres (Harry’s age) which is going really well – really hope it ends as positively as it’s begun! We’re creating a Jeremy Kyle style daytime reality tv show – we watched a few of the unbelievable and jaw-droppingly ugly episodes… foully airing the very worst of English culture… then divided into groups and the guys are creating their own shocking scenarios, each group with it’s own host; and we film them all on Monday and Wednesday next week! The originality and enthusiasm has been fantastic… we’re too short of time to really do it justice, but I’m praying adrenalin and a good attitude and atmosphere will bring it all together in front of the camera!

The Secondes project started today… it takes a special place in my heart as I’m working with them to perform  a scene from Sherlock Holmes (quite ambitious linguistically- especially in two weeks!) Actually the scene is from the 2010 BBC Sherlock, but I’ve been re-reading Dad’s Secret of Sherlock Holmes, and re-loving it! The BBC version so cleverly translates the brilliantly described (by Doyle and Dad) first meeting between Holmes and Watson from Victorian London to today …it’s been a real treat to work on, and made me feel nicely connected to Dad…joining the dots a bit of the huge changes that this year has brought…

Gotta have it!

So two more weeks of school… parents evenings next week…. Hahaha! That will be an adventure; for me and the parents!

Then it’s a pre-Christmas concert on 16th at our precious L’Ours Maçon – Beth and Harry performing, Luke stuck in St Etienne with end of term exams (though he too is managing to fit in a concert on 9th December at the Zing Bar!)… then first thing Saturday morning we all pile in the car and drive to Roscoff, picking Luke up on route…take the overnight ferry to Plymouth where Joe will have opened his third and final Panto the night before, Then it’s the Atkins whistle-stop UK tour hugging as many relatives as we can for five days.

We return on 23rd/24th for a quiet family Christmas in Tence (hope we have some snow by then!)…. phew!

Thanks for reading, it could well be the new year before another blog appears, but you never know!

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That was a great week of teaching… the shock is starting to wear off and I’m getting into my stride. I really like all my students, and feel like I’m making a connection. I don’t know how much their English is actually improving grammatically, but their increasing confidence and motivation is truly rewarding.

Leonard de Vinci

I’m finding that the more I prepare a lesson myself, and the less I use the text-books the more success I have. I guess that makes sense really as I then know what I’m trying to achieve out of the lesson.

With the Premieres this week we watched the you-tube phenomenon – the 2009 Susan Boyle audition for Britain’s Got Talent, and then worked on an article from “The Week” about her, using a questionnaire I’d prepared. It went really well – then they did an interview of each other, (which I’ve brought home to mark) – again, really successful. With the Secondes, we’ve been following our ‘crime’ theme, and they all had to write a police report from a fun murder investigation, with four suspects and an audio piece (that didcome from a book)… I’m marking that too, and they’ve produced really good work.

the corridors!

Last night, Friday, Joe and I had the most wonderful meal together at the Galta restaurant in Monistrol. We had planned to go to a concert, but were having such a lovely time we never made it!

And today… big lie-in and Saturday movie day… at home…with hotdogs, popcorn, sweeties and pizza tonight!

Movie Saturday

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Wednesday was a breeze, early start, but early finish, and I had three really nice lessons all with the same year group.

Brought Harry back with me – I just love being at the same school as one of my children. It’s such a privilege to be sharing his space, and to feel so welcome. I passed him in the corridor first thing Wednesday morning – (he’d stayed at school Monday and Tuesday nights, so I hadn’t seen him for a few days) – kissed him hello… it’s just so easy and natural! I’m so glad he’s not embarrassed to have me around – or feels like I’m intruding on his domain.

I also get the inside story on what the students think of my lessons too, which is an unbelievable luxury! So far so good I think… (well that’s what they tell Harry anyway!)

Word is my classes are fun and interesting… and they like my full-on energetic approach, and relentless encouragement!

Bought a few treats on the way home, and we all spent a lovely mellow afternoon together – made fajitas and watched the latest episode of Glee as we waited for Joe to drive back from Barcelona!

Thursday was a great teaching day too… though long, with my 2 hour evening class at the CCI finishing at 8pm.

I trundled home, listening to Frank Skinner podcasts in the van… knowing that Friday was a holiday, and excited about the long weekend!

Lovely surprise – Luke‘s little white car was parked outside the house. He’s taken over a couple of local private classes for me – they’re going really well for him; and as he was nearby he stopped for supper… and a couple of days of family time.

We’re such a close family, but real life means we’re often reduced to various mini-combinations – with Joe away, or Harry boarding in the week, and Luke in his Uni room, the dynamic is constantly changing… quite a difference to our year in the bus where we were together 24/7!

I enjoy the variety, and I love the growing independence of our children… but best of all is the treat of all six of us round the table. Joe had prepared a delicious meal… there was a candle-lit table laid, and even though we were all in various shades of exhaustion… it was magical!

This morning – an undisturbed lie-in… tea in bed… another family meal, this time pancakes prepared by Arthur.

Family Breakfast!

Make a banana pancake...

...pretend like it's the weekend...

So a beautiful sunny day, three washes done… and a final lesson with my fascinating and delightful student Jean-Louis Pichon –  who was the Artistic Director of The Opera Housein St Etienne for twenty five years!

A beautiful day...

And so another week comes to a close… satisfying and rewarding. It seems to all be coming together nicely. Taking nothing for granted – I still need to be fully prepared for every minute of every class with “plan B’s”  at the ready, as I have nothing to fall back on, and whilst I have three years of teaching experience with adults, I’ve no teacher training to speak of… so I have to make it up as I go along… it’s as exhilarating as it is scary!

More next week!

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Not taken this week - but this is Monistrol where I work!

So I don’t work at the lycée on Tuesdays… and it’s a welcome day of recovery and preparation!

Yesterday – Monday- was a long old day! -

Four lessons in the morning back-to back; a mix of 1ere (including Harry for one lesson!) and 2nde ; a mix of first, second, third and fourth lessons; a half-hour lunch break (when I attended a staff meeting of those who want to learn English!! I seem to have volunteered myself – why do I find it so hard to say ‘no’? – curse of the freelancer I guess!)

Then ran back to two more classes, having shamelessly eaten my ham sandwich through the meeting – did a bit of marking in the staffroom, then staggered off to the Chamber of Commerce and did an evening class with the lovely Jocelyn until 8.30pm… then drove home in heavy fog!

Oh how well I slept!!

I had two classes do the test I’d prepared… it was too easy, but they all gave it their full attention, had clearly revised the grammar and vocab I’d asked them to (mostly!)… and when I got home, Beth helped me mark them, checking I hadn’t missed anything – she loved it!

The results are very high, but although it was easy, I felt they deserved the high notes as much for their attitude as the work itself.

I will make it more challenging next time though!

So today I had one class 1pm-3pm at the Barbier plastics factory with my two IT students.

I had a lovely relaxed morning, and saw Joe off to Barcelona – was here for breakfast, lunch (just) and when Beth and Arty got back from school – Nice!

I’ve got my lessons planned for the morning… (no classes in the afternoon).. and I’ll be bringing Harry back.

Just had a team tidy and done the washing up with Beth, Arty and Julien (Arty’s friend who’s staying the night!) and now it’s off to bed…

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Lycée Léonard De Vinci

Day three at lycée, and it was hard to get up this morning!

Saw Beth and Arty off to college, said goodbye to poor Harry still recovering from his wisdom teeth extraction… and drove to Monistrol through the pelting rain to tackle day three.

Had a nice second lesson with my smallest Premiere class (only 16 of them – bliss!), then worked with two students on a radio piece they are presenting – (Lycée Léonard De Vinci has it’s own radio station… and tv channel!)

Then came my “reclaim leadership” challenge with my boisterous Seconde class… have to say, it couldn’t have gone better. I’d planned very carefully what I wanted to say… and what I wanted to make sure I didn’t say! And I was really pleased with their response.

On Beth and Harry’s advice I started the lesson by saying we were going to have a “noted” test on Monday, and they all wanted to know exactly what would be in the test; what they needed to revise etc.  Then I told them that yesterday’s behaviour was unacceptable – that they didn’t show respect to me or each other – and that I needed them to act like lycéens and not collegians…

I told them that I really like teaching them, they have a great energy and are really good fun, but they have to take their learning more seriously…etc etc. So having not lost my cool yesterday, I was much better  equipped to take charge.  And they clearly took it all on board, as after my little ‘pep talk’ they really gave the lesson (and me) their full attention. It was still fun and lively, and we shall see how the test goes on Monday!

view from the staffroom -

The rest of the day was great… my ideas for the lessons on Media went well, I gave each student a copy of “The Week”  (a great magazine – if you don’t know it already – check it out!) and got them to find a photo that attracted them, describe why it caught their eye, then write what it was about  etc – then they had to change places and describe their picture for their partner to draw! Lots of laughter, and a good describing task.

I was whacked by the end of the day – I taught five classes… the organisation needed to keep abreast of it all is astonishing for my inexperienced self – but I’m on top of it I think… and I’m sure it will get easier as I get into the swing of it all.

The team of English teachers are fantastic – generous and helpful and all passionate about what they do. I do realise I’m very lucky to have stumbled on such a great job, with such great colleagues in such a great lycée… I’m well aware that it isn’t like this everywhere in France!

Then it was time to go home…

Time to go home... and still the rain falls!

So a seriously mellow weekend planned – and then it’s ”up’n'at’em” next week!

Thanks for reading!

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A 6am start – well that’s a shock to the system at the best of times!

Two good classes with the Secondes (14/15 years old)… followed by a tricky afternoon class.

I’ve now met all but one class of my 147 pupils (how will I ever remember their names!!)

Whilst the Premieres feel like young adults, the Secondes are really still children, and whilst I never lost control, it’s clear that I need to take back the reins a bit tomorrow morning with 2E and let them know just who’s boss!

I’m so lucky to have Beth and Harry’s experienced advice when I get home.

I’ve always tried to make my teaching as “un-schooly” and informal as possible… and whilst this works well with adults and in one-to-one classes, it’s clearly  a bit idealistic inside the lycée system! As Beth and Harry both pointed out (and I see the proof in their conscientious attention to homework and “notes” – in France school life is a constant run of tests and keeping your overall average as high as you can), if they don’t think I’m “noting” their work, they don’t take it seriously…

learning curve for me..and for them too!  We’ll be having a test on Monday!

Tonight I had my Chamber of Commerce evening class – 5 delightful and gentle over-60′s for two hours… so a long old day, but the drive is breathtakingly beautiful as the autumn colours change daily.

The long and winding road...

And so to bed…after a bath and a bit of preparation for tomorrow.. when astonishingly I have to it all again!

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So survived Day One… am just a little tired now!! It all went swimmingly – I loved it! (Thankfully!) Very different from teaching adults, but really rewarding.

Got lost at the end of my first three lessons trying to find the staff room… but found it in the end! Topped off the day with a trip with poor (brave) Harry  to have two wisdom teeth out… and an hour and a half’s drive home.

Still…now I’ve had a glass of wine – watched the latest episode of Glee with three of my four gorgeous children, and so it’s off to do some marking and prepare for tomorrow… when rather shockingly I have to do it all again !

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I’m very excited to report that I’m about to become the new Prof D’Anglais at Harry’s Lycée -Leonard De Vinci in Monistrol.

Harry and friends...

Starting on Wednesday 2nd November, I’m taking over from Emilie who’s on Maternity Leave. I’ll have seven classes of 16-18 year olds; I’ll be writing reports… seeing parents at parents evening… hanging out in the staff room…and getting up horribly early for at least the next 4 months – who’d have thought it!

I’m going to try and chronicle it here on my blog- it’s such an enormous challenge and I’m so fired up and ready for it… let the party begin!

Tomorrow I’m going shopping with Beth to kit me out in “teacher-appropriate” clothes!!

And today I’m getting my office in order…as you can see!

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Just a quickie -

I’ve been setting up a new Welcome to the World website  chronicling our family adventure of 2007/2008 – transferring the site content and all the travel blogs (one by one – there are more than 200!) from our old  ’.org.uk’  website before we shut it down.

Delphi

I haven’t finished the blogs or the photo galleries yet, but please take a look at the site so far – I’ve just uploaded a slide-show to the home page which will give you a whistle-stop tour through our adventures…. it was such a treat to peruse again.

What glorious memories!