Teachin' ESL

Here at Tulane a bunch of holier-than-thou students a few years before my time succeeded in making "service learning" a requirement for graduation. We have to complete 20 hours worth of "service" our first two years, and 40 the second two. I think the concept behind the whole program is pretty good, helping out the community and whatnot, but it's implemented in a way that really annoys me, mostly because it adds more classes I don't want to take but am required to (take).

So this semester I'm taking Latin American Studies, and the service learning part is working with an ESL program organized by the New Orleans Archdiocese, I think. I'm a T.A. in a level 2 English class, where the people speak more than basic survival English, but can't really have a conversation. In my class there are a dozen or so Hispanics, a few Brazilians, and a French speaker.

It's pretty enjoyable stuff, I mostly just wander around the room and explain things to the students, make copies, and do whatever else the teacher wants me to do. I actually have to teach the class by myself next Monday, because the teacher will be gone, so that should be interesting. It won't be too hard, because this level of ESL mostly involves a lot of smiling, big hand motions, miming, and enunciating the hell out of every word.

In other news, I've got two tests and a paper this week, so I gotta run. Take it easy, y'all.