September Tutoring

Another month of tutoring is about to begin--in five minutes! I just found out this morning that I will be tutoring a new student this month. Her name is Linsey and it sounds like she is fairly advanced in her English. So, I'm excited to see what I discover in her today. I also am tutoring Jiho who I have had for the last 3 months. It's still been rough with him, but I hope to discover new ways of making a connection with him. Well, I'd better hurry off to class!

Tutoring

Another month of tutoring begins today! I so enjoyed last month. I have sad news though. I knew Haram couldn't continue lesson with me because she is coming to the US for a 5-week vacation. But I just found out that I don't get to teach Ireh either. She decided to try another realm of HomeschoolFriend, something I'm not trained for. There are different curriculums--Pathway, God's World, Institute for Excellence in Writing, etc. I teach Pathway and Ireh is moving to God's World. So sad!

But I am continuing to teach Jiho. We had a rough start last month, but by the last week he had improved his attitude and his study habits immensely! So, I look forward to tutoring him and hopefully drawing him out a little more!

Monday's Adventures

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with what Monday brings. I start both my tutoring and my class with Thomas Edison. Both sound a little daunting. The class is Managerial Communications. And it looks like a lot of work. Besides, I'm trying to study for my Advertising TECEP test (one where I just study and take the final). So, I'd better give myself a pep talk! I can do it--I think!

The tutoring I actually really look forward to. I've been watching all the monthly tutor meetings that were recorded from October to May, trying to catch up on all the things that have changed since I had to quit. Boy, it's a lot of info to take in.

So, I found out that two of my students are actually girls! I just wasn't sure because I wasn't familiar with their names. That should be fun--I haven't taught any girls yet.

Rob, Joseph, and a friend, Richard Scott, are out shooting guns this afternoon. I think Richard just went and bought a handgun so they all had to go try it out!

Well, please pray for me this week! I really want to get off to a good start in the tutoring job and in my class. Somehow, it all just seems...well, like I said before, overwhelming. But if I can take each day in stride and not focus on the unknowns, I think I'll make it!

Whoopee!

So, I found out today that I am going to be a tutor for HomeschoolFriend this month! I am so psyched! I have two classes Monday through Wednesday, levels 5 and 7. So, these students should be fairly fluent speakers because the levels go from 1 to 10. One class is a 2 on 1 and the other is a 1 on 1. I think all of the students might be boys. Which I usually work quite well with boys!

Anyway, I have a lot of catchup work to do to find out what has changed since I tutored last fall. Thankfully, I have a few days to do that!

On another note, the Carlsons are having their party again tonight! I think I will feel up to playing vball this evening so that will be nice!

No Students

Oh, I thought I'd mention that I didn't get any Korean students to tutor this month. But I'll keep trying. And maybe I'll get to sub sometime. There have already been several sub requests but I didn't want to teach at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning. Nope, I'll wait for something a little more humane!

Tutoring

Once again, it's the end of the month. This means that I may have a chance at getting a student through HomeschoolFriend. HF is a Christian organization linking English-speaking tutors with South Korean children who wish to learn English. I've been trying for three months to start up tutoring again with HF. But their ratio of students to tutors is near even right now and the experienced tutors get first priority--which is only right!

When I tutored last fall, it was such a blast! The three boys I had were Thomas, Albert, and Jason. Thomas and I worked together the longest. He was very smart but also very shy. Towards the end of our time together he was finally able to laugh a little and be more adventurous.

Now this was NOT the problem with the other two. No, sir! Albert was a complete crack up! Basically, I couldn't get him to shut up! He was very fluent in English and talked a hundred miles an hour about video games and whatever randomly came into his head. I was continually laughing. The problem with him was actually accomplishing anything in class. :)

Now Jason was yet another kind of student. He was Albert's older brother. He had been placed in a class that he wasn't really ready for. So, it was a constant struggle for him. If I had taught him longer, I would have had him re-evaluated because it was hard on him to push through so much material he didn't know. But he was a talker, too--again, especially about video games! Since I've never played a video game in my life, I mostly just sat, listened, and hoped I laughed at the appropriate times!

Just writing these memories down reminds me how much I enjoyed the little bit of tutoring I did. There have been times in the last few months that I thought of just giving the idea up of ever getting on HF staff again. But I feel renewed excitement and I think I'll keep trying. Maybe one of these months I'll be able to start up again this work that I love!