One week

So, the first week of my CELTA teaching course is finally over. It's been a long and tiring week but I definitely feel that it's a worthwhile learning experience. Teaching adults is a change from what I've been doing, but I think most of my early skittishness can be put down to stress about dealing with the observation of my classes. I hate being judged unless I a)despise the person judging me or b)don't really give a rat's ass what they think. As I'm actually rather fond of my two instructors and am determined to make a good impression on them, none of those little helping factors came into play.

However, now that I've got a week's training under my belt, and 3 of my 9 assessed classes out of the way, I feel more confident and can worry about the content and accuracy of my lessons rather than thinking, "Oh crap! someone important with a clipboard is staring at me." The theory classes in the mornings have been really clear in explaining a comprehensive range of techniques and teaching strategies. The peer review and feedback sessions after my lessons, which I initially dreaded, are really helping me iron out the kinks in my teaching procedure.

Dublin is a nice city, despite the predictably unpredictable nature of the weather since my arrival last Thursday. I think it has rained at least once every day, without fail. The usual forecast - mild, cloudy, sunny spells and scattered showers -is definitely in play. I'm hoping to get my coursework assignment out of the way tomorrow so that I can mess around and see the sights. This is not by any means my first time in Dublin, but I've always been down for a specific purpose -a concert, a school trip, etc. - so it'll be nice to meander around the old streets and canals with no real sense of urgency.

Most of my pals are heading off to Oxegen, the big annual rock festival, this weekend but given the expense, likelihood of rain and fact that I've got a proper vacation next month (VIENNA, BABY!!!!), I'm not jealous of them... well, not too much.

Hope you are all well and enjoying yourselves, wherever you may be.