Observations

This past week has been a lot of fun, with nothing really out of the ordinary happening. We are back online, and the XXI century is as great as I remembered it being.

In my classes I have been having so much fun. I adore the students, even the ones who are quite intolerable, they all have their quirks. In Art with the Freshman they had the option to make short videos to hear how they speak. They wanted me in the videos, which means while they spoke, I sat there awkwardly smiling (and not knowing what to do with my hands, Dad). They also wanted me in their class photo. I felt all sorts of honored to be included in their fun. This whole week they are working all day, every day, on a project for a robotics competition put on by ESA (a European Space Agency). It is impressive to watch them work and I get the chance to help with their English (the project is in all in English and consists of a letter of intent and video for the first part, interviews for part two and a trip at the beginning of the next school year). They have made so much progress during the short time they have been working on the project, and they really deserve to pass to the next level. They have taken over the whole project and shown more initiative than I have seen from any student all year.

My favorite work moment came today, I was with the Freshmen and another teacher came looking for the main teacher, who was out. We chatted for a bit and one student overheard me, and summoned the rest of the class by yelling "TIFFANY IS SPEAKING SPANISH!" They all came running over (literally) and huddled around the teacher and me to listen to me speak. They then took the time to explain to every other teacher that came into the class from that point on (it was a decent amount because they wanted to see the robot before break) that I speak Spanish. But well. But really well. The other teachers all just laughed at them. I hadn't realized, this is the only class that has never heard me say more than two words in a row in Spanish because they love to speak English and understand really well so I never need to translate. I was proud that this was the case, but laughed a lot, especially because they said "falas castelan ben" which is you speak Spanish really well. But in Galician. Absurd.

On the social side of things, Saint Patrick's Day was an experience here in Galicia, the Ireland of Spain. We went out to a pub called Saint Patrick's Day Pub, seemed like a sure fire shot.

 Out of business (if it was just closed, then it should go out of business for poor planning) 

 We went to a concert at a small bar, two Guinness and you get this cool hat. I obviously drank mine and celebrated my heritage.

We hosted Sunday lunch at our flat. Angel made delicious Spanish appetizers and a dessert and I made glazed chicken with Thai peanut sauce and tzakiti with veggies. Not to be conceited, but our meal was the best. Group consensus agrees with this. Lunch was followed by the longest game of UNO in world history. Two hours.

 UNO has become a four letter word in our flat (comment, Xairo, a student from my private classes, whom I adore, wanted to play UNO, when he had one card, he yelled ONE!, it's called UNO in English too hahaha)

Tuesday night we went to a Galician concert. It was so cool to watch the band play and the Galicians dancing. The music has heavy Celtic roots and includes a tambourine, bag pipes, accordion and drums (somehow I typed drunks the first time, which also seemed to be the case here, so not really a typo)

 American looking tapas preconcert

Giorgia, Elena, Me, Lia, Francesca, Francesco, Becca

I have a video clip of the band on my camera...but it is not wanting to upload, maybe next time. This was my past week in a nutshell. I am having a great time with my friends and at work, and now I have to pack my bags because in 8 hours I'll be on a plane to Madrid. To see two of my favorite people. For those of you that care to read on my observations of the Spanish school system, continue.

It has been much too long since I did an update on the cultural differences between Spain and the United States. The biggest thing I am noticing right now (as it is the end of the trimester and that means grades) is the way the school system works as far as grading goes. The students are graded on a scale of 1-10, with  a 5 being passing (for the non-American's reading this, we do percentages, and to pass you need a 70%, but that is just scraping by, an 80% is more average). The grades are shared in front of the class, for everything. The teacher reads down the list and everyone learns their grade at the same time their peers learn it. So much for the confidentiality we hold so dear in the States. There is also no reason to beat around the bush about a students inability to understand something, this is addressed in front of everyone. I suppose that it is already really obvious who is smart, and who isn't, because they all know each others grades. I have been told that certain students are a lost cause, by teachers and other students alike, I have had teachers apologize to me because I (of my own violation) chose to spend extra time working one-on-one with students with learning disabilities; "Sorry, so-and-so is quite difficult, I just don't know what to do about her" I always want to say, you could start by teaching the student and giving them activities that are more suitable for their level (but that is just the equal opportunity, former Special Education Major in me talking).

Behavior is also a big part of the grade (and with this being taken into account it is a wonder that any of them ever finish school, keep reading and you'll see why), they get negatives for forgetting things, or talking in class (when the teacher is in a bad mood, because they always talk in class) positives can be given for an extra good job, or because you did the teacher a favor like going upstairs for the key (what?!). At the end of the trimester the teachers get together and finalize the grades, I am not a big part of grading in general, so I am not present at these meetings, but I know that some students get passed because certain teachers don't want 'to deal with them' again. These are observations I have seen in my school, stories from others who are or have taught in Spain, as well as stories from my Spanish friends from all over Spain. I am learning a lot about what my own teaching is and isn't from my short time here.