Christopher CO #2

I observed my second class on Tuesday, January 22nd. I got to sit in on Ms. Olivia James' speaking class. She introduced me to everybody and asked me where I wanted to teach. When I said Korea, the Korean students got excited. I sat in the table with the students and got to have a little "classroom chat" with them while the activity was getting underway. Ms. James was asking the students to group up into partners and find a topic to talk about in their upcoming presentations to the class. There was one kid, Rick, who I helped out. We talked about his core values, Freedom, Passion, and Travel and tried to dig out a topic worth presenting on. After a lot of back and forth, he decided that he wanted to talk about the freedom to choose what you study. He wants to break down the difference between rigidly following what your parents tell you to do, and, as he puts it, following your heart. I had a great time helping him as well as observing Ms. James interact with the students. She seems to care about them and understand their different personalities. While I was talking with Rick, she was walking around the classroom helping other students with their search. I was able to appreciate how she paid attention to everyone individually and helped them reach their goal. At the end of the class, I got Rick's phone number and Ji's. Ji was one of the Korean students who lit up when I said I wanted to go to his country. We wanted to get to know each other a little more and he wanted to talk to me more about Korea. We agreed to hang out, and as it turns out Jessica is Ji's conversation partner so we're all going to hang out together!