the three classes I am currently teaching

I am currently teaching three different classes for the local community college. The first is on Tues. & Thurs. and is a higher level class focusing on civics & citizenship (which includes a healthy smattering of U.S. History.) Generally, this class is small with regular attendance around 4-6 people.

The second is on Mons. & Weds. (morning) and is a beginning ESL class taught at a YMCA. This class has brand new learners with a handful of intermediate learners. This class is consistently 18-22 people (with a total enrollment of about 25).

The third class is a family literacy class that just began that has a current enrollment of 48!!! (But I expect, as normally happens with community classes that it will level off around 25-30).

I have previously taught in Thailand and most recently in the Dominican Republic. I am delighted to find that teaching ESL in community workshops (like the YMCA or at a Public School in the evenings) is very much like teaching overseas! And, generally, the students are excited to learn and willing to try all the silly things that we do in class.

My class at the YMCA is primarily housewives and retired women (so the age varies from 20 to late 60's.) We were working on prepositions and I brought in bathroom cups (the kind you use when you brush your teeth) and hershey's kisses. We practiced our prepositions by putting the chocolate in the cup, on the cup, under the cup, beside the cup, against the cup, beneath the cup, above the cup, etc. They all loved playing with the cups and kisses. It is so different than teaching highschool students. Adults who are in class WANT to learn and they ENJOY the things we do! This lights up my whole day.

It is so rewarding to help provide the way for a person to 'go further' in our culture!