It's the end of the fourth week at the Leys. This has been the difficult middle section, just as it was last year, but the one that I knew was always going to be more stressful. I chose to this year's film in the 3rd/4th weeks, knowing that it was possible as long as I prepared for it and had the right set of students. It was a sluggish start, but they soon came round to the idea of making a film, which was chosen from a selection of 5 proposed ideas across two classes. 'Bad Romance' was aired at the Course Show on Monday, setting the standard for the rest of the presentations, to great acclaim. Some teachers just don't know how to prepare a video presentation... they overlook the technical issues and forget that the microphone is usually built into the camcorder and so you can't film students far away and expect them to be heard! Subtitles also help!
As a general thought, I must agree with some of the complacency and slackness recently of some staff expressed in meetings, although last minute changes to study tours don't help. I did recently get to visit Wimbledon Centre Court for the first time, however.
In addition to making the film, I have also been teaching a study option class in the afternoon (which replaced horse riding) but I have been very casual about the extra lesson.
Last Friday the Bell staff put on a drama tour in the rain... where the kids were duped into walking round Cambridge meeting staff dressed up as historial Cambridge characters... I was going to play Stephen Hawking and position myself next to Corpus (Christi) Clock... but it was deemed inappropriate and, although I had a synthesised voice, my laptop would have got very wet.. and I might have got arrested, too.
It is difficult to keep tabs on the outside world when you do this job. The residential nature of the work keeps it all quite insular and it is enough just to keep yourself together and not make any serious mistakes. I don't think that is likely and I am enjoying it again, like I did last summer. I have had to be a little bit selfish at times, but only for the good of my own class and the ever present need to impress. I thrive in conditions like this and it makes the inbetween boredom of unemployment more so by comparison.
I have applied to work in Saudi Arabia for just one month (22 Sep - 21 Oct) because the pay is excellent. However, I have had no comeback from HR since we had a meeting about it 7 days ago. My application has been received but my passport waits with me, waiting to be copied. I think the chances are 50-50 at best and I won't be heartbroken if I don't go. I've had some serious advice given to me about it.. Most have tried to put me off, but I do thrive on a new challenge, and I couldn't think of a more culturally challenging country to work in than Saudi. Anyway, we shall see if my 'continuing TEFL travels' are spiced up or whether I play it safe and go back to Bedgebury for the Autumn Explorer.
I have received a speeding ticket for doing 36mph in a 30 zone whilst on duty, driving the minibus... and today (Tuesday) I drive the same minibus down to Heathrow, taking 7 Brazilian girls to the airport.
Anyway, 2 weeks left of the summer school. Have to keep my energy levels up.. everyone is tired but you have to keep going and remember that you are dealing with kids who are visiting England and a Bell course for the very first time and each have their expectations.
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