I *just* finished my very first class, the class at VEMZ (the Vladimir Electric Motor Factory, or as they like to call it, the Vladimir Electric Motor Plant), and it was awesome. I was worried that the students would be at very different levels from each other, because had they been studying at the AH, they would have been divided up into two different groups (second level and third level). I was worried that the more advanced students (who supposedly were in the minority) were going to be bored out of their minds; however, while some students were a little more advanced than the others, they were all pretty much on the same page. They were also all very nice and very interested in learning, and really we simply had fun. The class was 90 minutes long, and it simply flew by. I love that class. I actually felt like I accomplished something today.
Let me tell you a little bit about the factory. VEMZ has a website (click here), and if you can't guess, I am totally going to see if I (or my class and I) can make the English text on their website a little better. Anyhow, before I left for VEMZ, I had talked with K (who taught there last year) about whether or not I could bring my camera or my laptop to class. The camera part was not because I wanted to take pictures of the factory, but simply because I essentially take the damn thing with me every where I go. The laptop idea was because I thought it would be a good prop to talk about, and if I did a lesson on the internet, I could at least show them the offline version of my site. But K said that wasn't a good idea, and her explanations made sense. A lot of factories in Russia are either dual use or designed to become dual use rather quickly if need be. (For those of you who don't know what I mean, "dual use" tends to refer to a product that can either be used in the civilian or military sphere). Additionally, all factories, dual use or not, have to worry about industrial espionage. So, no camera, no laptop. Besides, it would really suck is some over-zealous security guard decided to confiscate my two most precious possessions. Anyhow, I was already feeling a little security conscious when I arrived, and of course I was met with a nice set of security guards who needed to be presented with a pass in order for one to go by. Luckily, I was expected, and was escorted in. In theory, I should receive my propusk (pass) tomorrow. So, I go through the security gate, and enter a complex that to me was very similar to a military base, both in layout and quality of the buildings. I felt oddly at home. The classroom was in some ancient factory classroom, with motor schematics and information on geometry and chemistry on the walls. And it had an ancient chalkboard. I haven't seen a chalkboard since elementary school, and this thing was pretty old. (I had even brought white board markers, but they weren't any use!) Nonetheless, we made do with the pathetic little chalkboard and pieces of paper. The class was a lot of fun, and they definitely learned things. Several of them walked me out and showed me how to get to the nearest bus stop. (One of the words I taught them in class was "security guard") On our way towards the security guards, one of the girls pointed at the security building and said, "They are security guards!" and she sounded really, really excited to say this. It is such a good feeling to have had a successful first class. Of course, I am still worried about tomorrow, when I have three 90 minute classes, one of which is packed full of 14-year-olds, but as for right now, I'm feeling pretty good about things.
Let me tell you a little bit about the factory. VEMZ has a website (click here), and if you can't guess, I am totally going to see if I (or my class and I) can make the English text on their website a little better. Anyhow, before I left for VEMZ, I had talked with K (who taught there last year) about whether or not I could bring my camera or my laptop to class. The camera part was not because I wanted to take pictures of the factory, but simply because I essentially take the damn thing with me every where I go. The laptop idea was because I thought it would be a good prop to talk about, and if I did a lesson on the internet, I could at least show them the offline version of my site. But K said that wasn't a good idea, and her explanations made sense. A lot of factories in Russia are either dual use or designed to become dual use rather quickly if need be. (For those of you who don't know what I mean, "dual use" tends to refer to a product that can either be used in the civilian or military sphere). Additionally, all factories, dual use or not, have to worry about industrial espionage. So, no camera, no laptop. Besides, it would really suck is some over-zealous security guard decided to confiscate my two most precious possessions. Anyhow, I was already feeling a little security conscious when I arrived, and of course I was met with a nice set of security guards who needed to be presented with a pass in order for one to go by. Luckily, I was expected, and was escorted in. In theory, I should receive my propusk (pass) tomorrow. So, I go through the security gate, and enter a complex that to me was very similar to a military base, both in layout and quality of the buildings. I felt oddly at home. The classroom was in some ancient factory classroom, with motor schematics and information on geometry and chemistry on the walls. And it had an ancient chalkboard. I haven't seen a chalkboard since elementary school, and this thing was pretty old. (I had even brought white board markers, but they weren't any use!) Nonetheless, we made do with the pathetic little chalkboard and pieces of paper. The class was a lot of fun, and they definitely learned things. Several of them walked me out and showed me how to get to the nearest bus stop. (One of the words I taught them in class was "security guard") On our way towards the security guards, one of the girls pointed at the security building and said, "They are security guards!" and she sounded really, really excited to say this. It is such a good feeling to have had a successful first class. Of course, I am still worried about tomorrow, when I have three 90 minute classes, one of which is packed full of 14-year-olds, but as for right now, I'm feeling pretty good about things.
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