InternsEvery six months, two native English-speaking interns are chosen to fill the two positions here at the school. Every week, the interns will be required to prepare a schedule.
The interns will teach in three blocks. The first block is one hour long, divided into twenty-minute sections, with one age group per section. The second is an hour and a half long, divided into thirty-minute sections, with one age group per section. The last block is also an hour and a half long, but it is divided into two forty-five-minute sections, with children from all age groups in each section. Age groups are three, four, and five years old.
While it is the interns’ responsibility to prepare all the material for each class that they teach, the school provides guides, manuals, materials, and any assistance that is needed from the Chinese teachers or the school’s owner (Teacher Yuling). Preparing for a lesson is crucial, and interns will learn to ask a lot questions and use the many different materials available to aide them with each lesson.Sample Schedule
Owl Preschool Staff and Students
There are three Chinese-speaking teachers at our school, one for each age group. Together with the owner, Teacher Yuling, and the school’s wonderful cook, Ayi, interns are provided a great array of support. If asked, anyone will be glad to help with whatever you might need.The students are generally well-behaved. The three year-olds are fairly new at the entire school-experience. Many of them don’t know any English at all when they first come. Sometimes they cry and misbehave, but generally they are able to follow along with simple, fun activities.
The four year-olds have begun to learn enough English to follow along with most classroom activities. Some of them are able to carry on simple conversations. They tend to be more calm and focused than their younger classmates.
The five year-olds are usually able to carry on conversations about things they are interested in. They love to communicate with the teacher with whatever English that they know. They can listen to spoken stories and understand most of what is said. They are always helpful and friendly to the interns, and often serve as translators between Chinese-speaking teachers and interns.All the kids are very sweet. They are willing to learn from and love everyone they meet. They are very hard to leave when it is time to go home. Each new intern that they come in contact will have an influence on the rest of their lives.