My time at Averroes vs ALLC
Two completely work environments, each with their separate challenges and rewards. At the American Language Learning Center in Zahle I've been met with a very enjoyable time. The students were mostly adult so I was a lot more relatable to them - it's been a while since I was a teenager so school students are less predictable - and they seemed very lax when I was teaching them. I had a professional relationship with all my students, but they were all really friendly. Eventually, I became extremely lax and started to lose control in one of my classes, which led to the coordinator splitting the class because I was unable to control a class of 30 students. I also had a few students leave each of my courses because I spoke too quickly and in an accent they could not understand. They also did not like that I wouldn't use Arabic in the classes, which was one of the rules at the American Center, a rule that I was convinced was right until a few months ago where one of the courses raised some good arguments for the use of the first language in classrooms. Teaching was rather straightforward; I used a book that had a great teacher's guide which helped integrate the language skills and use them all in combination.
Things at Averroes were a little different. I taught a discussion class to grades 6,7,8,9, and 10 once a week to each. There was difficulty in preparing for these classes because discussion topics for each is very different due to the huge range in ages, and misbehavior was common. I have a hard time controlling classrooms it would seem. With that said, I had so much fun teaching these students. Yes, I had a much easier time at the American Center, but the discussion topics I used for Averroes were very interesting and entertaining, and the students were absolutely incredible. I loved these kids dearly as though they were family, and that was a huge reward. I left on February because Practicum II is a very demanding course and my schedules did not agree with each other, and the students were genuinely saddened that I had to leave. I still observed one of the classes and I had so much fun being a part of their academic life without the stresses of teaching.
Things at Averroes were a little different. I taught a discussion class to grades 6,7,8,9, and 10 once a week to each. There was difficulty in preparing for these classes because discussion topics for each is very different due to the huge range in ages, and misbehavior was common. I have a hard time controlling classrooms it would seem. With that said, I had so much fun teaching these students. Yes, I had a much easier time at the American Center, but the discussion topics I used for Averroes were very interesting and entertaining, and the students were absolutely incredible. I loved these kids dearly as though they were family, and that was a huge reward. I left on February because Practicum II is a very demanding course and my schedules did not agree with each other, and the students were genuinely saddened that I had to leave. I still observed one of the classes and I had so much fun being a part of their academic life without the stresses of teaching.
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