Our Trainees
 Some excerpts from the diary of a IHC-YL course
6 nervous teachers, a dozen (!) surly teenagers and 7 awed-at-first but soon very enthusiastic 9 year olds. Using 2 (wise and wonderful) trainers and 2 very patient and helpful administrators, mix thoroughly and bake in sweltering May temperatures under lots of pressure. Results in a tough (firm but fair) crust with a soft warm centre that, um, just melts in your mouth. Sprinkle liberally with dill and serve with vodka.
It is always a strange experience for a teacher to become a student again. At last someone else would be entertaining and informing us. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. Get into pairs, get into threes…. I hate the communicative method! Our trainers effectively (and actually quite painlessly) elicited our collective wisdom and filled in the gaps. The sessions were practical and hands on, related well to our classes and some were even quite fun.
Two classes and two groups for teaching. Each group had a week teaching one class and observing the other, then we swapped. Teenagers first for me, I don’t think I’ve seen that many teenagers in one room since I was at school. The room wasn’t a bad size but it just happened to be the hottest May in Moscow for a very long time. I suppose it’s better to get this group out of the way.
First day everyone was totally nervous. The teachers that is. The little kids seemed a bit overawed, and it made me realize what an adult environment Tverskaya is. The younger ones have that wonderful quality of wanting to please the teacher. All the time. Me, me, me! Keep them all moving and doing something all the time and they don’t have a chance to think about anything else.
The teenagers took everything in their stride and kept their cards close to their chests. A very mixed bunch: levels, personalities, size, maturity. A week of teaching and a week of watching were just enough to start getting to know them. Much to our surprise they seemed genuinely sad to finish. They could have looked like they were enjoying it during the classes. Such is the nature of the beast, I guess.
Glad I did it? Definitely. Learn lots? Absolutely. Recommend it? Unhesitatingly. Is that a word? It is now.
David Connolly — IHC YL Course, May 2005
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