After many ups and downs, and left and rights, I am finally back int the classroom. Teaching 4th grade at Modern Knowledge School here in Bahrain has been great thus far. While it is true I have an enormous class of 30 kids, a very small room, and absent technology... I am extremely happy to be teaching again.
There is no public education system here in Bahrain... so a child's quality of learning really does depend on the family's finances. The more money you are willing to cough up... the better the education your child will have. Modern Knowledge is no exception to this... however they have recently lowered their tuition rates which pulled in many more kids than expected. Some classes have as many as 34 kids. With concrete walls and just enough room to maneuver the desks, things can get pretty LOUD.
The first couple weeks of school were exhausting, as I spent much time preparing the classroom, learning the curriculum, and planning lessons. It took a while just to get back in the flow of things, but now that I have a few weeks under my belt, things have been much easier.
I am extremely grateful to my fiance' Beni (future post coming) and her sister Sharina who helped me get my classroom prepared in such a short period of time. Between the cleaning, organization, and bulleting boards... we managed to get everything done in just a few days.
My class has been a joy. The majority of the kids are Bahraini, taking up residence in or around Manama. However, I do have one student from Egypt, two from Jordan, and two from Syria. They are all Bilingual, speaking English in school and Arabic in their homes. Some of my English can be difficult for them to understand at times. It's amazing how much quicker they are to respond when I just remember to speak a little slower. Only rarely will they speak Arabic in the classroom. Boys in arguments will often switch in order to say things they ought not to say... they know I can't understand them. Sneaky boys.
Below are pictures of my classroom and students. We did a team building exercise during the 2nd day of school called "marshmallow towers". Enjoy!
There is no public education system here in Bahrain... so a child's quality of learning really does depend on the family's finances. The more money you are willing to cough up... the better the education your child will have. Modern Knowledge is no exception to this... however they have recently lowered their tuition rates which pulled in many more kids than expected. Some classes have as many as 34 kids. With concrete walls and just enough room to maneuver the desks, things can get pretty LOUD.
The first couple weeks of school were exhausting, as I spent much time preparing the classroom, learning the curriculum, and planning lessons. It took a while just to get back in the flow of things, but now that I have a few weeks under my belt, things have been much easier.
I am extremely grateful to my fiance' Beni (future post coming) and her sister Sharina who helped me get my classroom prepared in such a short period of time. Between the cleaning, organization, and bulleting boards... we managed to get everything done in just a few days.
My class has been a joy. The majority of the kids are Bahraini, taking up residence in or around Manama. However, I do have one student from Egypt, two from Jordan, and two from Syria. They are all Bilingual, speaking English in school and Arabic in their homes. Some of my English can be difficult for them to understand at times. It's amazing how much quicker they are to respond when I just remember to speak a little slower. Only rarely will they speak Arabic in the classroom. Boys in arguments will often switch in order to say things they ought not to say... they know I can't understand them. Sneaky boys.
Below are pictures of my classroom and students. We did a team building exercise during the 2nd day of school called "marshmallow towers". Enjoy!
Amazing how different classrooms in other countries are. Sorry there's no technology! Write a grant! :)
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