Teaching is hard work...

I don't have any great photos today or explanations of amazing places I went because, while I am in a completely amazing place, today took place in the same place most of my days occur...school.  Today was spent in doing what we came here to do...work with children and teachers and we certainly did a lot of that today.

First some reflections on how schools are different here.

1) There is no cafeteria.  Students have a fifteen minute break in the morning and they go outside to buy food from street vendors or have a snack from home.  They come at 9:00 in the morning, so no breakfast at school and they leave by 2 p.m., so no need for lunch.  It is definitely a space and time saver, but it seems weird to me to always be in class with no lunch time.

2)  Students don't move classrooms, the teacher does.  Teachers come in and out all day long but the students stay put.  There is no elementary teacher...the math teacher teaches elementary as well as secondary math, the science teacher teaches all grades of science and so on.  In addition, there are no special areas of the classroom, no room for reading groups or for individual work.  Teachers don't even have desks of their own anywhere.  The walls occasionally have posters up, but many do not and they are just blank walls.  And the students sit in rows.  No groups, no tables in squares but rows.

3)  Students attend the same school from 1-12 grade.  There is no elementary or secondary school.  It is all the same school.

4)  All students learn a foreign language (usually English) daily since first grade.  They are expected to learn another language, usually outside of school.

5)  Often music and art are taught after school in clubs.

6)  The teacher teaches from the front of class and is respected so much that all students rise when the teacher, or any adult, enters the room.  Hands are raised with two fingers and a bent arm to get the teacher's attention.

But teaching here, like teaching everywhere, is hard work. I taught a lesson on the deserts of America and Peter worked with students on both understanding English literature and how American education works.  This afternoon we headed to Batumi State University so Peter could explain trends in contemporary English literature to English philology students (Don't know what that is...look it up or ask someone!  That was one of the messages from his presentation)

This evening we were treated to a musical concert from the students.  They shared traditional Georgian song and dance.  I wish we had something as cool as that.  When the boys dance it is in imitation of fighting--I'm sure you'd enjoy it too.

 I'm exhausted and ready for bed so I'm headed there.

Hopefully, I will be able to share pictures of the school and classroom tomorrow.  Once again, the internet is being wonky.  Tomorrow I do my last lesson with students and Peter will teach a lesson on Harrison Bergeron.  Should be an exciting day...we get to meet with the patriarchal bishop.  One more day and then we head back to Tbilisi to prepare to go home...

Edited to add...here are the pictures!

All of the outside of St. Andrews

The school doesn't have a cafeteria so students go outside to this little bakery for a snack between classes.

Student music performances.  Can you tell which adult is the teacher by the way she is constantly addressing children while we are taking pictures?

The video is poor but the music is awesome.
And below my colleague Peter is presenting at Batumi State University.  He is a very well-read and intelligent person who I'm honored to know.