I clearly did not get a bilingual education degree and I clearly am not bilingual on my own in any way. And when I signed up for this whole tutoring gig I was unaware it included Spanish. Who takes Spanish in fifth grade? Not me, that's for sure. But unfortunately these kids DO have Spanish in fifth grade which means it is a continual thorn in my side and I am responsible for helping guide them through the dark. Sadly, it's the blind leading the blind...
For the past 6 months my brain has been stretching and flipping and flopping trying to dig out this hidden treasure called the Spanish language and it has not been pleasant. I did my time. I did my fair share of
copying studying with friends. I passed Basic Spanish and left it in the dust four years ago as a high school senior. So why now after it has had the chance to lay dormant for four years am I required to bring it back to the surface? It's as if the foreign language Gods are saying "you WILL learn basic spanish," even if these children do not. And DO NOT they are.... if that makes any sense.
Failing grades, nearly failing grades, and a brief shimmering glimpse of hope, only to be smashed by another ugly grade. How will I teach these children to speak, write, and understand Spanish? It's exhausting trying to stay a step ahead of them while ensuring they master the concept.
This has been the most stressful part of working with the students I tutor and I am open for any suggestions on how to get these kids to absorb the info. I am on my knees begging the foreign language Gods to forgive me for the
work with friends copying I did in my time; have mercy on these poor children foreign language Gods, please!
End Rant/Begging/Complaining
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