Temperatures are still enjoyable in January, which allows me to walk to the College every morning. The College is situated on three different floors of a building along a busy junction 20 minutes from our apartment.
The College building
So I leave the apartment, say hi to the driver of our next door neighbour, in Burmese of course, cross the road one lane at a time and greet the flower seller who is always at the corner of the road waiting to sell them to the drivers waiting for the green light.
Our apartment's building
Main road from our apartment
I continue on, pass a health clinic, then several small restaurants along this busy road. Here I turn left and find myself on the animated road parallel to the other one where I can see many little shops, food stalls and the tailor shop from the neighborhood.
Then I hear a “dong”, and here come the monks walking single file down the street with their bowls, and the gong lets people know that they can give food or money.
I join the main road again, pass the crowded bus stop, turn left again to avoid the hundreds of pigeons fed by the mobile phone seller and finally arrive at the College.
I come into the classroom, and there stand the students respectfully with crossed arms saying all together “Good morning, Teacher”.
Before getting into today’s lesson, we begin with a game of “hot seat” (there are two teams, one student from each team having their backs to the board) with last week’s vocabulary. It begins gently, but they are quickly into it and soon they are all describing the phrase I have written on the board.
I really enjoy teaching, the students give their very best and it is highly motivating! The greatest thing is when, after an answer from a hesitant question, I see their face light up!
When I have finished teaching the second class, I meet with David, and it is our turn to be students. Writing, vocabulary and dialogue exercises for conversations about everyday life. Our pronounciation is not always very good, but fortunately our Burmese teachers are very patient with us.
