We have guests staying with us this week… my sister, brother in law and my baby nephew! A bit like the Three Kings, they came bearing valuable gifts – Mini Eggs, Creme Eggs and decent tea bags, which believe me are worth just as much as gold, frankincense and myrrh to an English Expat!
We have a lot planned this week, but unfortunately today was written off thanks to two Small People with high temperatures and sore throats. With another baby on the way, and limited time before three becomes four, I packed my Sister and Brother in Law off into Munich to have a day alone together, because I am nice like that (and secretly I wanted my uber-cute nephew all to myself)!
He helped me with my Florence Nightingale duties, choosing DVD’s for the invalids to watch, handing me empty water bottles to refill, and keeping everyone amused with his antics. He also spent the day pointing at the snow outside, as he hasn’t really seen it before. I can’t wait to take him out in it properly, and as I think more will arrive before the week is out, hopefully everyone else will have recovered enough to enjoy it too! This picture taken earlier today totally captures his cheekiness I think (and I am also quite jealous of his Forbrydelsen jumper!)!
In other news recently…. quite out of the blue I have been offered a “job” teaching English to a group of 8 year-olds for a couple of hours a week. I am probably both very brave and stupid, but I have said I am happy to do it! I like to say yes to every opportunity (within reason) that arises in life abroad, and I get on well with most children which is quite helpful! I hope to gain a bit of German out of it as well, although I do realise that they will possibly be words that might not be useful in everyday life! In the meantime if anyone has any tips for teaching English as a foreign language, please please send them this way!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
no tips, language not my thing.
But, well done you.
Will be fund and useful for your memoirs, if nothing else!
Thanks Gemma! :) xx
Congrats, Emma! Coincidentally, I am also starting a job teaching ESL to German kiddos (tomorrow!) at the German School here in Seoul. In my ‘real’ life back in the US, I was a German teacher (lived in Germany during my high school/Uni years as well) so this job is a dream job for me – working with German parents/colleagues/kids. Bizarrely, I speak German with the parents and colleagues, but English with the children. I’m a qualified ESL/EFL teacher as well, so I’m happy to answer any questions you have, but in the meantime, I suggest songs and games and crafts – all the same sorts of things you’d do with your own kiddos. My problem is that I’ve always taught older kids (middle, secondary, and Uni) and these kids are German kindergarteners (3-7) so I’ll have some adjusting to do with the age groups. Should be interesting for both of us – I’ll look forward to comparing notes, but in the meantime, enjoy your adorable nephew!
Thanks so much Caroline, some great tips there! How did today go for you? I hope it went really really well! :)
Ooh Creme eggs, cute babies and an interesting job offer!
I think you will enjoy the teaching. I help twice a week teaching computer skills to 5-7 year olds. Thankfully we all speak the same language, but I’m sure you will have a lot of fun.
Thanks Trish! I think it should mostly be fun! I didn’t know you taught computer skills, that in itself can often be a foreign language to me! :)
I teach EFL and my tip for 8yos is short plays e.g. acting out fairy stories (you’ll have to find out what German kids know) or other short scenes, even jokes with a punchline.
Some great ideas, thank you :)
Oh he is so delightful i can see why you shipped his mum and dad off for the day..
Well done on the job offer, looking forward to reading about it x
Thanks Frankie, it’s a very casual thing but it should help with my German! He is sweet isn’t he, such a lovely age! Hope you’re well! Emma :) xx
oooh congratulations on the new Job! Sounds like it will be lots of fun! I hope you are enjoying the creme eggs! xx
Thanks Emma! The creme eggs are sadly a dim and distant memory!!! :) xx
Best kind of guests!
Congratulations on the job!
The kind that can come again! Thank you very much :)