Archive for May, 2008

My plans don’t change: two contracts and many individual
students. My June is filled in so much that some students will have
to change their timetables because I cannot take them at their
usual time. July is also half-filled owing to the two contracts.

What bothers me at the moment is that I went to a plastic surgeon
for a third opinion about a mole on my toe. He recommended surgical removal
with testing it for cancer. That’s 500 litas (1/3 of my salary) and it’s on
June 20th. So, cross your fingers for me!

And so, today I signed a contract for a summer camp.
I will have two groups of 7-9 year olds and one group
of 10-12 year olds. What bugs me most is that these
are mainly boys and there will be 30 of them in
each group. But considering the fact that each
lesson is 60min long, I think I will survive. I have armed
myself with a CD with songs and loads of printed material
for thematic lessons (animals, fruit, numbers, etc). Also,
the company will buy stuff for making posters, so I guess
that’s what I-I mean, they- will be doing most of the time, LOL.
Another good news is that another company that I rejected
the offer from called me today. I will do a placement for them
this Wednesday and then will see if I take them. Some old students
are still holding on, some new are making calls, so June is more
or less settled, as is part of July. What bothers me most is money for
rent, that is fixed for every month, my pension installments and
my holiday money which I’m trying to save for August.

Next, I am so tired and bored out of my mind that I have no words
to explain. I am very happy that I am what I am but I do need
a long break for recharging my batteries. But it’s good to know that
I have a profession that will feed me.

It’s a weekend and I finally had time to go through my wardrobe
and donate 1/3 of it to those who need clothes. I bought
some new outfits as well. Also, I had time to visit
my cosmetologist and now my face aches a lot, however,
it needed to be attended for my skin is problematic.

As far as my employment is concerned, I sold myself to
a local summer school for children. I already hate it but
it’s better than nothing. It is very difficult to organise
intensive courses for adults on my own so far, but
I’m also trying that. The good thing is that I will be
teaching children for 1 or 2 hours daily only, so
I got my hands on several photocopiable books for
primary school with activities like numbers, colours, fruit, etc.

I have been to several job itnerviews by now, but no luck.
Some offers I declined (low pay, lots of travel) and some
I’m waiting to hear from. Will keep you updated.

After spitting much poison about the manner of interview
conducting as seen in a cerain UK company, this week I
have two local job interviews to attend.

I have just returned from one. The pay is very little but
they will employ me with social security. This is a temporary
project until the end of July, just when I have planned my
holidays. I will be teaching General or ESP English for
people who have physical disabilities in their day centre.
Funnt I should mention but after receiving my cv, they
also conacted my former students at another company
for a reference. Vilnius is such a village!

I have one more interview on Friday. I had a call from them
and they seem to be hiring me already. I am really happy
because my students drop like flies until autumn. I did not
expect May to be a month that hard!

Tomorrow I’m going to a conference about teaching
Business English. So, teaching life seems to be a good
thing, after all.

As the summer approaches, I am trying to sort out my
timetable for it. I have sent dozens of cvs to the
schools that advertise for summer camps. I’ve got a
few replies only because -I take it- I am not a
native speaker.

I have just had a long time ago arranged phone
interview with a person from the UK. It took about 15-20
minutes and I was asked different questions.

The basic idea I got from this interview was that the
school decided to call me and make me understand
that I don’t fit by asking disturbing questions instead just
telling that they’d rather hire a native speaker and
only if there are vacancies left, they’d take somebody
else.

The person asked me questions (after commenting that
I had a strong accent when a few days ago I received
compliments for my excellent English from another
person!) like what do parents expect by paying this much
to send children to a school in the UK, what do parents think about
this, that and the other, and more beginning with ‘what do
parents think…”. As If I could read minds, you know!
I told him that parents want their kids to learn English when kids
want to make friends and have fun. The teacher has to
find the golden middle and make the kids come next year.

I didn’t have a chance to ask the questions I wanted about
the contract, travelling and some more. He didn’t even ask
if I wanted to ask anything, only if I read the papers they had
sent to me, which I did, but still I wanted to clarify some
places.Oh, well.

I have one local job interview on Wednesday and I emailed
for more information about one more. I don’t think it
will be difficult to sell myself for a company here
during the summer. The man seemed to be surprised when
I said that I wanted only new experience from this post.
That nearly made me laugh. Why else would one travel to the
UK to work in a summer camp, for MONEY? He said he
had a few reservations and he’d let me know in a few
days. I think I already know MY answer.

Anyway, comemnts, please. Or I’ll start thinking this forum board
is dead as a doornail.