Life in Mongolia is progressing normally. Our workshops are on a regular schedule, we are getting accustomed to the homework grading, and it is getting cold. Though it is just the first of November, we have had several snows including one that has remained on the ground for several days. It is this time of year that we think of when we think Mongolia. This is probably the case because the majority of our time spent in this country has been during the frigid months. Mongolia doesn’t really seem like Mongolia if we don’t have to bundle to go outside or watch our step while walking so as not to slip on the ice and break something. This may sound sick, but we actually enjoy the cold. There is a beauty in the cold months that cannot be matched by the warmer months. Besides, the warmer months aren’t as entertaining, there is no ice!
As promised the first of October, we are going to give an update of our class structure as well as more information about the curriculum that we are using. As is to be expected, we have had several more students drop out of the program over the past month. Two of Joshua’s dropped because they were pregnant and did not feel that they could handle all of the added responsibilities of EXCEL. Others have quit because they are currently too busy, and some we just haven’t heard from. This brings an element of discouragement, but most of the students who began the program are working hard to continue.
We currently have twenty-five students still in the program. Craig still has his original ten, Jennifer has nine which may be eight on Saturday, and Joshua is down to six. It is understandable that some have dropped because EXCEL is not an easy course. Besides being required to attend at least one if not two three hour workshops a week, they must also complete a sizable homework packet every two weeks and be observed teaching in their classrooms by their supervisor twice during the semester.
We are in the thick of the semester right now as we near the mid point. The students turned in their third homework packet this past Saturday, and we have been actively grading. Each homework assignment is comprised of three parts: Methodology, Literature, and Listening. In the Methodology section, students must read a section about English teaching methodologies, answer ten or more questions regarding the reading and their own classroom experiences, and complete two classroom application activities. This all requires a great deal of planning and writing on their part. In the Literature section, students must read two chapters out of a literature book (usually simplified), answer a number of comprehension questions, and write half to full page answers for one or two deeper thought questions related to the reading. The literature book for this semester is a simplified version of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. In the Listening section, students must listen to a short audio clip and answer twenty or more comprehension questions. To wrap it all up, there is a writing exercise in which the student is required to write one page about a particular topic and their thoughts, feelings, etc. The writing exercise is usually related to the listening topic.
The course teaching material is likewise split up into three sections: Methodology, Oral, and Listening. The semester includes several three hour workshops for each topic. The Methodology is considered to be the most important material because this is why the government wants us to teach the program. The topics vary but are all related to how each teacher can become more effective in teaching English as a foreign language in their classes. The Oral material focuses on teaching new topics while having the students listen and talk usually to each other. The underlying goal, at least as we were told last year, is to get all of the students talking as often as we can. This is also the principle that we are trying to instill in them as teachers. Language, after all, is a subject that one cannot remember without using. Listening workshops challenge student listening comprehension. There are other aspects of the course that are involved to some degree in all lessons, but for sake of time and space, they are going to be omitted at this time. Perhaps we will give some more detail at a later date.
This post will be continued in one week with information about grocery shopping in Mongolia. Stay tuned for the latest information from your very own Mongolian correspondents!
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