EFL / ESL

After Arrival

In my last post, I described the arduous drive from Querétaro to Merida. Here’s what has been happening since. Our Airbnb We booked a cute little Airbnb for a month, figuring that we would need at least that long to conclude the purchase of our home and get some initial repairs done. It is aContinue reading “After Arrival”

Old, but still worthy: A letter from Quarantine

Friends, I wrote the following while I was teaching narrative writing to one of my advanced English students. I recently discovered it still lurking on my computer and thought I might share. Before you read it, please know it was a writing exercise from September and not a reflection of my current state of mind.Continue reading “Old, but still worthy: A letter from Quarantine”

Write!

And now it begins — the quest to occupy myself with productive things to do. Writing is one that comes to mind, so here I sit. I just finished doing some research for a private class I’m giving on writing. My student is a smart and ambitious bio-engineering student whose English skills are better thanContinue reading “Write!”

A chapter ends, another begins.

Well, it has been a very stressful five months in lockdown. Not being able to keep to an active routine, not seeing students everyday, not having friends around — all of these things have made the time more difficult to endure. And yet, things continue to evolve in interesting and unexpected ways. As many ofContinue reading “A chapter ends, another begins.”

What day is it, anyway?

It’s been several weeks now that we’ve been stuck in this “contingency.” I think I may be getting used to it, if that’s possible. The streets here have been pretty empty. We’ve taken some photos to demonstrate some of the differences between “before” and “now.” Parking is definitely not an issue these days. Continue reading “What day is it, anyway?”

I’m a teacher!

I had no idea when I decided to teach EFL that I would love it the way I do. Turns out I’m pretty good at it too. At the Anglo, every teacher is observed by someone from the QA department once per quarter. Because our school is so new, we haven’t had observations until justContinue reading “I’m a teacher!”

Time is flying

I can’t believe it has been over a month since I wrote anything here. It isn’t because I don’t have things to say — I always have something to say — it is more because I have been so busy! Teaching I started my new job about six weeks ago, so I have completed theContinue reading “Time is flying”

A New Normal

Most weekdays 5:15 a.m. Get up (really?). Feed the dogs. Shower, if time. Dress. Eat. Take meds, vites, etc. Kiss the hubby good-bye while he slumbers 6:00 a.m. Leave. If I’m lucky, I’ll get their before the students do. Class starts at 7:00. Ah, traffic! 7:00 a.m. First class of the day. Everyone looks tired.Continue reading “A New Normal”