Well, the kitchen is tidy, I've done the Su Doku, I've sorted out my sock drawer....I've even paired up the odd socks that have been hanging around. It can only mean one thing...I have work to do. The lesson plan is looming over my head like a big loomy thing. I have two more attempts of three and the first one was a complete disaster. This is a bit like the game Mastermind with the coloured pegs. Remember that? Always stresses me out - the frustration at not being able to see what colour pegs are under the little hood is far too much for me to bear and my anxiety levels reach quite dizzying heights.
My tutor has, effectively, given me 4 red pegs.
The laws of averages are not in my favour.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Failed...
Tis true. I have failed the last module of the TEFL course. All is not lost though I have two more attempts to pass...or I'll be waitressing in Malta!
Monday, 23 June 2008
Beginning another week...
Three and a half more weeks to go...and time is running out fast. After undertaking absolutely no work at all on Sunday I thought I'd better up the pace tonight. 1.5 modules completed. Would have liked to have completed module 8 of the TEFL...but there's no point in rushing these things...tomorrow is not unreasonable. I keep forgetting that I have a whole grammar course to complete also. I'm about half way through that (the forums suggest that there are about 350 questions), but I reckon that it would be prudent to go back and start checking my answers now...just in case. Anyhow, for the first 40 hours I reckon that I'll be finished by about the weekend. That gives me time to concentrate on Everything Else. Of which there is a lot. The one thing that I keep thinking about is being out of a dusty environment. It's reached epidemic proportions here. Is there any point to dusting while the floors above basement level are reached only be a complicated bucket and pully system? I think not. To escape that for 6 weeks is going to be fantastic.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Lazy Sunday
No developments on the Malta front. Took my daily dose of Vitamin B1 in a feeble attempt to fend off mosquitoes when I get there though.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Preperations
After moaning about my TEFL tutor not enabling me to carry on with my next module I had an email from him this morning. I completed the 6th module this afternoon. Am over half way through. From the posts in the forums it looks as if the course is going to get even harder. I'm trying to see it as the home straight. I wonder if I can get it completed by next weekend? Maybe a bit of a tall order but it does clear the decks for all the other things I have to do before I go away.
Today I bought some things that I may or may not need. My mantra as I walk around the shops is 'It's only Malta, it's not a third world country. They have Marks & Spencer for God's sake!' However, I did buy some sun cream and other dull things like that. Looking at the weather forecast for this weekend (rain and gales) I'm so glad that I only have to wait another 3 weeks.
I am having a bit of a dilemma on the clothing front. Cropped trousers really really REALLY don't suit me. What's a girl to do? With legs like mine there ain't no way on this earth I'm exposing my legs to anyone, not even to those in Malta. It's a bike thing. I'm planning on buying a bike whilst I'm out there. Short of riding side saddle it does put me in a bit of a quandary for the correct clothing attire in those circumstances. Suggestions anyone?
Today I bought some things that I may or may not need. My mantra as I walk around the shops is 'It's only Malta, it's not a third world country. They have Marks & Spencer for God's sake!' However, I did buy some sun cream and other dull things like that. Looking at the weather forecast for this weekend (rain and gales) I'm so glad that I only have to wait another 3 weeks.
I am having a bit of a dilemma on the clothing front. Cropped trousers really really REALLY don't suit me. What's a girl to do? With legs like mine there ain't no way on this earth I'm exposing my legs to anyone, not even to those in Malta. It's a bike thing. I'm planning on buying a bike whilst I'm out there. Short of riding side saddle it does put me in a bit of a quandary for the correct clothing attire in those circumstances. Suggestions anyone?
Friday, 20 June 2008
TEFL
One of the reasons I'm going out to Malta is to teach. This is a bit of a ruse to get away from the awful British weather in all reality. As I mentioned before I'm currently working on a TEFL qualification in order to do this. Easy peasy lemon squeezy I thought. Pah! Not likely mate. Did I miss grammar lessons at school (simple past - event, now over, irregular verb)? There's a whole subject out there that seems to have passed me by (present perfect anybody?). Anyhow, I am plodding slowly along with it and hoping to complete within the next two weeks.
I have an apartment. It's lovely by all accounts - certainly that's what the pictures indicate. It's near the bay in Marsascala. I shall be teaching in Paceville (Patch-ay-ville is how it's pronounced - the North American Indians invaded at some point a-Paceville...just my little joke there...). Paceville is not far from Valletta, which is the capital of Malta. However, it's still nearly an hour on the bus (two buses in fact!) from Marsascala. I had to weigh up the pros and cons of being that far out from Valletta (it's not that far in reality, it's just the traffic is so bloody awful). I know Marsascala and like the bay. There are restaurants and bars and there's a lot of local life going on. The tourists tend to head to the north of the island, so there is that going for it also.
What am I looking forward to?
The sun and the heat. That has to be top of the list. But what's it like to live and work in 40+ degrees? Something I've never had to do before.
Life in a different country. 6 weeks isn't horribly long, but enough to get a taste for it I think.
Exploring the island more. There was so much I didn't do before - didn't even scratch the surface in fact. I reckon there must have been about 4500 years of history that I didn't bother with.
What will I miss?
*thinks* well...there's the...uh....there's the...no....ummmm....what about the....errr....oh gosh! oh I forgot about that thing, you know the, ah, the....no......
I'll get back to you on that. Of course I'll miss my lovely friends. DID I REALLY HAVE TO SAY THAT? Oh tish people!
I have an apartment. It's lovely by all accounts - certainly that's what the pictures indicate. It's near the bay in Marsascala. I shall be teaching in Paceville (Patch-ay-ville is how it's pronounced - the North American Indians invaded at some point a-Paceville...just my little joke there...). Paceville is not far from Valletta, which is the capital of Malta. However, it's still nearly an hour on the bus (two buses in fact!) from Marsascala. I had to weigh up the pros and cons of being that far out from Valletta (it's not that far in reality, it's just the traffic is so bloody awful). I know Marsascala and like the bay. There are restaurants and bars and there's a lot of local life going on. The tourists tend to head to the north of the island, so there is that going for it also.
What am I looking forward to?
The sun and the heat. That has to be top of the list. But what's it like to live and work in 40+ degrees? Something I've never had to do before.
Life in a different country. 6 weeks isn't horribly long, but enough to get a taste for it I think.
Exploring the island more. There was so much I didn't do before - didn't even scratch the surface in fact. I reckon there must have been about 4500 years of history that I didn't bother with.
What will I miss?
*thinks* well...there's the...uh....there's the...no....ummmm....what about the....errr....oh gosh! oh I forgot about that thing, you know the, ah, the....no......
I'll get back to you on that. Of course I'll miss my lovely friends. DID I REALLY HAVE TO SAY THAT? Oh tish people!
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Summer Plans
Well, for all those who care I'm off to Malta for the summer. Hurrah. The plan is to work whilst I'm out there - I have to justify my existance somehow. I'm currently half way through undertaking my TEFL qualification and shall be using this to teach - that's the plan anyway. I'm taking The Boy and then The Parents fly out 10 days later. Exciting.
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