Let the classes begin...

"If you can speak three languages you're trilingual. If you can speak two languages you're bilingual. If you can speak only one language you're an American." ~Author Unknown

I came across this quote when searching for quotes to decorate my classroom with. And the truth of it made me laugh...

So, today was my first day of teaching. I woke up this morning with the first day of school jitters, a feeling that I haven't experienced since I was in elementary school when I would slip on my brand new glistening white shoes that my mom bought me at the start of each new school year, and walk out towards the bus stop. Here I was, after almost eighteen years of schooling, about to take that giant leap from the desk to the front of the classroom.

So, how should I do this? Should I come across as that strict teacher at the start who always ends up being the best in the long run? Let's face it, me, strict? I have never yelled a day in my life. Should I try to be that cool teacher that is familiar with the latest Brazilian teenage trends? That might be easier if I weren't so awkward. After much debate, I opted to just be myself and hope for the best.

The first day was filled with conversation and ice breaker games. The hour and a half classes flew by as we discussed everything from popular soccer players in Brazil to the scariest thing the students have ever done. I was impressed with their knowledge of English and thankful for their eagerness to answer questions and learn about me. Each class seems to have the quintessential smart boy that the other students look to when they are confused, the shy girl that managed to somehow contort her body in a way so that she could shove herself into the corner desk, and the soon to be trouble maker that whispers in Portuguese while others are talking.

I had some trouble pronouncing the student names at first, despite some of their English spellings (figures Bruno and Breno would sit next to each other!) I gave up and decided that I would give the students American names. I had endured being called Diana (pronounced Dee-ana) all throughout Spanish class in high school, so my students as a result will endure the same. Matheus became Matthew, Joao with a squiggly line above the "a" became John without a squiggle and Ana Laura was pronounced the way I was used to. I told the students to call me Diane, but they insisted upon calling me plain old "teacher."

"Bye, teacher," they repeated one by one as they exited the classroom.

"Bye, students," I replied.

It's going to be an interesting five months...