Another week of teaching down...and it gets easier all the time. I begin to notice differences in education systems, and one of the biggest (for me, at least), is having time to ask teachers questions. At Sitka High it was always easy for me to go in during the school day (lunch, lab, or office hours) and say "hey, so, calculus basically hates me, and I have no clue what to do" or "Physics...so, what exactly is gravity?" That time with the teacher, doing homework, trying to figure out how the world works and why preceding direct objects have to agree with past participles in French, was basically what kept my afloat in high school.

And I mean really - you don't realize how much the teachers at Sitka High were there for you until you enter a whole new way of learning. So thanks, Sitka High!

At Le Caousou, it is (of course) different. There is no lab. No office hours. You go to school when your classes start, and you leave when the day is done. Wednesday is activity day - badminton, tennis, swimming etc. But if you don't get it, well - "tempis." Too bad. Pay attention in class next time, pal.

It's hard to tell if this is a setback for a lot of students. Also, because it is a private school, there isn't a lot of variation in the social class, and the teachers always comment (in relieved voices) that there are no discipline problems.

Life goes on though - the students are quick and this IS the their learning style. It's how school is. They laugh and joke around just as much as Sitka High kids do. In fact, teaching class sometimes feels like student council all over again "Quiet! Quiet please! HEY! I SAID QUIET!"

And then I threaten to take away the Pictionary opportunity next week...silence ensues. Mwahahaha.