I have been working as a Gymboree Instructor for 19 months now, and I have met a lot of kids that became very important to me. I always look forward to seeing them every week, and when they become sick, or asked for a leave from class, it actually makes me a bit sad. I try not to have any favorites in class, but I cannot help it. Some kids are just too cute or too smart, and they make my heart jump when I see them smile or hear them laugh.
I think it's because they bring out the child in me. My friends always say that I am weird/crazy/unpredictable in a way that, I just act like a child. Not childish. Just, child-like. At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to teach kids, and at a very young age at that. But after a month in Gymboree, I realized that this is all I ever want in my life right now.
Now you might think that teaching kids is easy. Believe me, it takes a lot of time and patience to learn how to teach them. At Gymboree, I feel like I am playing with them. But actually, I have to learn a LOT of songs (especially for Music classes) that are really challenging. On top of that, I had to make sure that I've read the lesson plans, and that I have prepared for Art classes (this was before I came to Nanning).
After one year of Gymboree days, I started to work on another school --- V-Kids English Learning Center. Here we needed to prepare more because it is the very first V-Kids center, and if we can survive then we can keep opening centers all over China. At first it was very tough. I mean really tough. Since we use an interactive approach in teaching, we had to prepare the lesson plans by ourselves, according to the computer program that we use for teaching. After a few months, our bosses purchased a new computer program called English Time, and we had to write new lesson plans for that.
I think it's because they bring out the child in me. My friends always say that I am weird/crazy/unpredictable in a way that, I just act like a child. Not childish. Just, child-like. At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to teach kids, and at a very young age at that. But after a month in Gymboree, I realized that this is all I ever want in my life right now.
Now you might think that teaching kids is easy. Believe me, it takes a lot of time and patience to learn how to teach them. At Gymboree, I feel like I am playing with them. But actually, I have to learn a LOT of songs (especially for Music classes) that are really challenging. On top of that, I had to make sure that I've read the lesson plans, and that I have prepared for Art classes (this was before I came to Nanning).
After one year of Gymboree days, I started to work on another school --- V-Kids English Learning Center. Here we needed to prepare more because it is the very first V-Kids center, and if we can survive then we can keep opening centers all over China. At first it was very tough. I mean really tough. Since we use an interactive approach in teaching, we had to prepare the lesson plans by ourselves, according to the computer program that we use for teaching. After a few months, our bosses purchased a new computer program called English Time, and we had to write new lesson plans for that.
I now have three V-Kids classes and 10 Gymboree classes per week. It doesn't sound that much, but it is a lot. I am not complaining, but I am glad to have these classes. I love my V-Kids classes since the kids are getting better at their social skills, and they are very smart and creative! As for my Gymboree classes, I enjoy taking Music classes, and the Play classes are great too!
I can't believe that I used to be that girl who kept appearing at interviews only to be disappointed because the schools in Hong Kong won't hire her because she's a Filipino. That seems like ages ago.
I am now the head instructor for both Gymboree Nanning and V-Kids. I am lucky to have people who help me with work, and friends who are supportive and always there when I need them.
This is me now. Just like the Gymboree kids who move to the next class level, I am growing up.
