The daily equation
I am in week one of my new job teaching conversational and business English to adults. I chose it based on the need to be doing something constructive and there are a few perks:
-a driver who is polite and the car is air-conditioned
-being late can never be my fault
-working in the office and off-site for variety to spice up the work day
-teaching people who genuinely want to learn more, and they know that English will help them further along in life and career. Sappy, but true.
I think it's going to be interesting........
This morning I went Downtown to the National Bank of Egypt to give lessons to a few employees.
The first class was a group of 4, professionals all in their late 40's/early 50's. A woman and 3 men who had all worked at NBE for over 20 years.
And they were a riot.
They laughed and giggled and teased each other. Trying to be serious, but giving in to the peer pressure of the others. I could not help but laugh as well! I loved the idea of seeing professionals, parents, adults, filling in workbooks all in a row, then laughing so hard they had to wipe tears from their eyes.
I may be doing some editing in the curriculum.
"President Mubarak is a man of peace."
Ah, no. Gandhi is a man of peace.........
Then they asked how I felt about the President. Theirs, not mine. I was relieved. Defending incompetence gets old.
My second class is a man on the board of directors, in a large office high up in the building. He was friendly, lived an interesting life, talked about his family and working his way up the financial ladder. We casually discussed US/ME relations and perceptions, which I hope will increase in the future. He's a polite, quiet* man, although eager to learn and speak English. I look forward to teaching him, as I saw a 'no smoking, please' sign** on his desk. Ahhh, kismet.
I think I said it almost 3 years ago when I first ventured to this land, but seriously,
*rare in Egypt
**EXTREMELY rare in Egypt
-a driver who is polite and the car is air-conditioned
-being late can never be my fault
-working in the office and off-site for variety to spice up the work day
-teaching people who genuinely want to learn more, and they know that English will help them further along in life and career. Sappy, but true.
I think it's going to be interesting........
This morning I went Downtown to the National Bank of Egypt to give lessons to a few employees.
The first class was a group of 4, professionals all in their late 40's/early 50's. A woman and 3 men who had all worked at NBE for over 20 years.
And they were a riot.
They laughed and giggled and teased each other. Trying to be serious, but giving in to the peer pressure of the others. I could not help but laugh as well! I loved the idea of seeing professionals, parents, adults, filling in workbooks all in a row, then laughing so hard they had to wipe tears from their eyes.
I may be doing some editing in the curriculum.
"President Mubarak is a man of peace."
Ah, no. Gandhi is a man of peace.........
Then they asked how I felt about the President. Theirs, not mine. I was relieved. Defending incompetence gets old.
My second class is a man on the board of directors, in a large office high up in the building. He was friendly, lived an interesting life, talked about his family and working his way up the financial ladder. We casually discussed US/ME relations and perceptions, which I hope will increase in the future. He's a polite, quiet* man, although eager to learn and speak English. I look forward to teaching him, as I saw a 'no smoking, please' sign** on his desk. Ahhh, kismet.
I think I said it almost 3 years ago when I first ventured to this land, but seriously,
Egypt = Surprises
*rare in Egypt
**EXTREMELY rare in Egypt
