So ends our first week of TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages). Cheers! The classes are initially scheduled for about 4 hours a day, but typically run later (and thus we have our first experiences of “Tico time” interrupted loosely). Our first week of classes included homework, readings, lesson plans, two quizzes, and some serious consideration given to our final practicum. Our final practicum is supposed to be a thirty minute lesson given in a language other than English or Spanish (since we will be presenting this to some actual students whose first language is such). The lesson should be conducted in a dramatic way so that we, the teachers are doing about 20% of the talking while influencing the students to speak the other 80%. We learned about Rassias, a man who changed the way ESL is taught to ELLs (English language learners). He teaches at Dartmouth and had many opportunities to teach his method abroad, particularly in Asia. Currently, I am planning on doing my practicum in Italian. I think my topic will be cleaning. Cleaning is a universal action and I am also cheap and think that I can use many objects found in my atrium abode so I don’t go completely over budget. Those of you that know me only know how accurate this is.
We finally ventured into San Jose from Coronado on Friday afternoon. Paul, one of our teachers "in-training" helped us take a bus which took about thirty minutes. Diego, one of our classmates came too. He was meeting a friend in San Jose to later go hiking to the volcano. Paul escorted us around the area and made sure we knew precisely how far we were away from the bus back to Coronado. In fact, he made us count the blocks though he hadn’t any idea the names of the streets. He suggested we get some drinks and watch the pedestrians walk from a bar on the second floor. The streets reminded me of an underdeveloped 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, CA- only pedestrians and store after store after store for blocks and blocks. So, Diego, Emily, Paul, and I had drinks and go to know each other. It was one of my best moments so far. It’s such a pleasure to get to know people when you don’t know anyone and when you’re unable to use a lifeline to phone a friend. Paul eventually left to meet up with a former student whom he had brought back to meet us. She is from Toronto and will have had been here a year in July which is when she will be returning home to work. It was nice to meet her and gain insight into teaching, but she presented many challenges to us. She said that many times students are late, use their cell phone during class, and apparently don’t care at all to be there. That’s very discouraging news to hear and I know that I will struggle with these circumstances when it’s my turn. But, I hope I can be a good teacher. I know I will not be the best, but I hope to try my best and include the passion that is somewhere beneath my skin. One by one all of our new friends left. In San Jose you don’t stay out too late especially when the last bus to your home leaves between 9 and 10PM. We arrived at the bus station and it seemed like someone had let it know exactly when it should anticipate our arrival. Within five minutes of us stepping foot on the bus it had departed. We sat right behind the bus driver for fear of it being late and us being Gringas. I’m excited to get more settled into this culture. I didn’t feel like I stuck out as much in San Jose as I do here. In Coronado, I’m pretty sure I am the only blonde girl, perhaps that even some people have ever seen (and no, that’s not intended to be flattery). 
A new week is approaching. One week down. Three more weeks to go. I want them to fly by. I want them to stay forever. I can’t wait to have an apartment. I am apprehensive on actually teaching. And I will be sad to leave this most beautiful view. I am so lucky to be surrounded by so much nature and beauty maybe more than I have ever had the opportunity to live with in my life. 
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