Internationalmatt's Blog

My First English Class- Constanta Romania June 1998

My first trip to Romania in June 1997 I helped with some Conversational English Classes. That was a positive experience for me, so when I returned to Constanta in June 1998, I taught my own class. It was an incredible experience for me. I like to use humor when I teach to help reduce stress for the students. It can be stressful to learn another language. I like to help my students feel relaxed so they can learn.

my first ESL class

We taught the classes in a school in the evenings. We also spent time with the students in the afternoons. I let the students choose a place they wanted to show me in the city and had them explain the place to me in English. The first evening of class  my students kept looking at each other and were discussing something in Romanian. During the break I asked my translator what they were discussing and he told me they were asking each other “is this really a teacher?” The reason was because my teaching style was something new to them. We had a great English Camp and I learned a lot about Constanta and Romania from them.

I can still remember their names and faces. I can still remember the times we spent in the city walking around. It was a memorable time for me and was a big reason I began to do what I do now. They were my first English students. They made a lasting impression on me.

April 1, 2010 - Posted by internationalmatt | International Friendships, Internationals, Romania, summer, Travel experiences