After about four months of SFI lessons, I don't think I have learnt as much as I think I could. I am working on my vocabulary but I don't think it's at a level that I am happy with. I can remember more words but I am better at reading. I really need a lot more practice at listening and speaking.
I am not learning as much as I was hoping through SFI lessons. I learn a lot of new words on some days, and on some days, I would go home not learning anything new. I find that the lessons miss their mark sometimes. I wish the teachers would help us acquire new words every day and teach us how to use the words in sentences. Also, it would really help a lot if they make us read dialogues instead of just narrative or informative texts.
Dialogues are important, I think, because it is more helpful in our daily life. That is one of the main reasons why I am having problems with speaking Swedish. I find that I do know a lot of words but I can't speak well since I still have problems stringing the words together into proper sentences. It's really bothering me that I can't express myself well in class, even though I have lots of things I want to say. I feel so frustrated. I find myself using the same words over and over again so I am not able to explain clearly.
Pete and I have been speaking more and more Swedish at home. It's not easy. I find myself speaking haltingly as I stop to remember the words. Luckily Pete is patient and let's me find the words myself. He will only help me if I really can't remember the words or if I made mistakes. Then, when he speaks to me, he has to speak slowly and most times I make him repeat as I try to translate the words in my head. Because of that, we still mostly speak English, especially when we have things to discuss, but generally, we have been speaking more Swedish.
I have also been watching more Swedish programmes lately. That is hard since they speak quite fast and sometimes they speak a different dialect from the people here. I have to depend on the subtitles and even then there are many words I still don't understand.
However, last Thursday, they started showing a programme called Swedish At All Cost (Svenska Till Varje Pris). It's a reality series about a group of eight immigrants who are learning Swedish. They come from all over the world and are of a wide age group. They have finished the basic Swedish course, Course A and B (I'm currently doing C), and their aim is to finish Course C and D by the end of eight weeks. The eight participants have to live in a castle for the whole duration and have lessons there taught by two experienced SFI teachers.
I found the programme very interesting. It is about something that I am going through now, after all, so I watch it to see how they learn and see if I can learn from them. From the first episode I have already found inspiration in an Afghan lady featured there. She and her family had a hard time in Afghanistan and then they moved to Iran where it wasn't much better for her. Finally the family sought refuge in Sweden. She was illiterate when she got here and now she is able to read and write after she finished Course A and B. Even the two teachers find her bright and think that she should be able to do well.
Watching the participants makes me think of my classmates and I. They way they talk is exactly like how we talk in class. Our Swedish is limited to the few generic words that we know and the grammar is all over the place, but I was thinking, ah finally something on tv that I could understand! Luckily there is the subtext so even though they said something in broken Swedish, the proper sentences are flashed out. It's like a Swedish lesson for me.
It will be interesting to see the participants' progress in the coming weeks. Since they live together for eight straight weeks and they get to learn Swedish practically 24-7, I am sure their learning would be accelerated. I am also interested to see how the teachers teach them. Maybe I can get some tips about how I can learn too.
Talking about accelerated learning, I think I am going to approach my teachers and tell them that I want to learn faster. I want to finish Course C and D by June, if possible. The main reason is that Pete and I want to start working as soon as possible. We are looking at locations for our catering or cafe and if we find something suitable, we would want to start immediately. And if I were to start working, I don't think I can continue my lessons.
I am thinking that maybe the teachers could give me extra work every day and perhaps even get one-to-one time in class. I am also prepared to put in more hours at home and of course, speak much more Swedish with Pete. If the teachers don't agree, I guess I'll just have to learn on my own and ask to sit for the tests earlier. Whatever it is, I guess I am reponsible for my own learning.
Showing posts with label SFI(Swedish for Immigrants). Show all posts
Showing posts with label SFI(Swedish for Immigrants). Show all posts
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Teaching and learning
The last few weeks have not been so great in school. The theme that started last month is Occupations and Jobs. I do like it that we would be taught according to themes. I felt like it is great since we would be taught in a more systematic and organised way. Also, this theme is a good choice since it is very applicable to us. After all, most of us would like to find jobs here and it's important to know Swedish since it's the basic requirement for most jobs here.
Before this, the lessons were not quite well-planned. We seemed to be taught in bits and pieces - whatever the teachers have planned for the day. This time, the teachers said they have planned to teach according to this theme. So, when I heard about the theme, I was quite happy. In my mind, I thought they have planned the lessons together so we would be taught systematically.
However, it has been four weeks since the beginning of the theme and I have not learnt as much as I wanted to. We have had to write our CVs in Swedish, write letters to employers and practice answering interview questions. Sounds good, right? However, we had to flounder about when we were doing those tasks.
The problem is that the teachers did not teach us the proper vocabulary before we started on the tasks. I expected to be taught the words first since those words are new to us. The words are also not used in every day conversations so it was really tough. I had to depend on Google translate all the time, and you know how some words and expressions can't be translated directly. I pity the rest of my classmates too. Some have never written a CV in their life, to write one in Swedish is double the difficulty.
Then there are the texts that we had to read and understand. Some of the texts were easy and some are so tough, I had to look up every third word. We had to discuss some questions in groups, however without knowing suitable words, our discussions were a bit superficial. It was really tough knowing what to say but I couldn't say it in Swedish. I couldn't even use English since not everybody in my group knows it.
I don't have anything against the tasks. I could see the benefits in doing them. What I needed, what we all needed, was to be taught the vocabulary first and how to use them in sentences. Without the words, it would be nearly impossible to do the task well and to achieve the objectives of the lessons.
I do wish that the teachers could plan the lessons better. Having done countless of lesson plans in my 16 years as a teacher, I get even more frustrated when I know that we could have been taught better and more effectively. It's not just me that thinks this way, though. Today, we were given a particularly difficult tasks to do. The whole class had a tough time and then finally, someone brought this up with the teacher. It led to a discussion about what we felt about the lessons and how we were taught. The good thing is that the teacher is keen to hear us out and know what sort of help we needed.
Out of the four teachers who teach us regularly, the best has been the leader of the team. However, she doesn't teach us. She would only cover the teachers if they are sick. The newest teacher which joined us this year is the most ineffective, a sentiment that is shared by all in the class. I did try to help him by telling him how I would like to be taught. I even wrote out a lesson plan and shared it with him. Yet, he didn't take up any of my suggestion and he continued to be unprepared for lessons.
After the discussion today, the teacher said that she would let the others in the team know and hopefully there would be changes to the lessons. She did say, however, that the test for Course C, which I am in, is quite tough. I am worried somewhat about that, however, I know that with proper systematic teaching, I would be able to do it. Let's see how it is like in the weeks to come. I hope the teaching would improve because I am willing and ready to learn. It will be a shame if the lessons and ineffective teaching puts me off my learning.
Before this, the lessons were not quite well-planned. We seemed to be taught in bits and pieces - whatever the teachers have planned for the day. This time, the teachers said they have planned to teach according to this theme. So, when I heard about the theme, I was quite happy. In my mind, I thought they have planned the lessons together so we would be taught systematically.
However, it has been four weeks since the beginning of the theme and I have not learnt as much as I wanted to. We have had to write our CVs in Swedish, write letters to employers and practice answering interview questions. Sounds good, right? However, we had to flounder about when we were doing those tasks.
The problem is that the teachers did not teach us the proper vocabulary before we started on the tasks. I expected to be taught the words first since those words are new to us. The words are also not used in every day conversations so it was really tough. I had to depend on Google translate all the time, and you know how some words and expressions can't be translated directly. I pity the rest of my classmates too. Some have never written a CV in their life, to write one in Swedish is double the difficulty.
Then there are the texts that we had to read and understand. Some of the texts were easy and some are so tough, I had to look up every third word. We had to discuss some questions in groups, however without knowing suitable words, our discussions were a bit superficial. It was really tough knowing what to say but I couldn't say it in Swedish. I couldn't even use English since not everybody in my group knows it.
I don't have anything against the tasks. I could see the benefits in doing them. What I needed, what we all needed, was to be taught the vocabulary first and how to use them in sentences. Without the words, it would be nearly impossible to do the task well and to achieve the objectives of the lessons.
I do wish that the teachers could plan the lessons better. Having done countless of lesson plans in my 16 years as a teacher, I get even more frustrated when I know that we could have been taught better and more effectively. It's not just me that thinks this way, though. Today, we were given a particularly difficult tasks to do. The whole class had a tough time and then finally, someone brought this up with the teacher. It led to a discussion about what we felt about the lessons and how we were taught. The good thing is that the teacher is keen to hear us out and know what sort of help we needed.
Out of the four teachers who teach us regularly, the best has been the leader of the team. However, she doesn't teach us. She would only cover the teachers if they are sick. The newest teacher which joined us this year is the most ineffective, a sentiment that is shared by all in the class. I did try to help him by telling him how I would like to be taught. I even wrote out a lesson plan and shared it with him. Yet, he didn't take up any of my suggestion and he continued to be unprepared for lessons.
After the discussion today, the teacher said that she would let the others in the team know and hopefully there would be changes to the lessons. She did say, however, that the test for Course C, which I am in, is quite tough. I am worried somewhat about that, however, I know that with proper systematic teaching, I would be able to do it. Let's see how it is like in the weeks to come. I hope the teaching would improve because I am willing and ready to learn. It will be a shame if the lessons and ineffective teaching puts me off my learning.
Friday, February 8, 2013
On the other side of the table
This morning, I waited outside the door to the classroom exactly at 8, together with two other classmates. Before long, more and more classmates showed up but still no sign of the teacher. We, including some women in their late 50s or even 60s and a pregnant lady, waited for half an hour and yet he didn't turn up. People started complaining about having to wait all the time and I have to agree with them. This was not the first time the teacher has been late. Anyway, after 40 minutes, we all decided to leave. It's really not nice of him to make us wait.
But apart from this incident, school has been quite good. After my last post about SFI, things have gotten better in school. The teacher has taught us a lot more and there were more text passages for us to read and understand. I feel like I have made progress in class. I'm also sitting next to a woman from Iraq and we speak Swedish to each other. While our conversations are not at all fluent or in proper Swedish, we do try our best to understand each other.
I started off speaking quite haltingly with her but I am beginning to be more fluent and our conversations are now longer and more detailed. This is very important since it forces me to speak more Swedish. I find that I am quite good at reading. I am an avid reader and I read everything around me, even though I might not understand. I am attracted to words, I guess. So, I am quite confident of my reading skills. However, I am still not good with listening and speaking. And this is very evident when I had to sit for a test a few days ago.
That day, a few of us got called out of the class. The team leader and our teacher explained that we were doing Course C now. Some of the other people in the class are also doing the same course while others are doing the B course. Some are going on to course D after this, while some will stop at the end of course C. This depends on the educational level we have attained back in our countries. For me, I am doing course C and D.
Then, we were given a test to see how far we've gotten. I was quite surprised to be tested so soon, especially when it's supposed to determine if we are at the halfway point of our course. I have only been in school for 11 weeks. Isn't that too early to see if I am halfway through the course? I felt like I still have so much more to learn. But I sat for the test anyway.
The test was so tough! Much, much tougher than what we usually tackle in class. I had to read three different text types - a diagram, an information sheet and a newspaper article. There were so many words I didn't understand and have never seen but I managed to make sense out of what I read. Then, I had to answer some questions based on the texts. I managed to get almost everything correct -I got two questions wrong.
Once done, the teachers looked at my results and we discussed my progress. Actually they were talking to me and each other while I just nod or shook my head. They are satisfied that my reading and writing skills are there but when I was asked to answer some questions, much like the Oral Examinations I used to administer to my students when I was teaching back home (my, how the tables have turned), I wasn't able to speak so fluently. Many times I had to use English to put my thoughts across. Not good, and I knew it myself. So I have been given another date for me to show my progress in speaking - 21 Feb. I guess I have to step up my efforts and make sure I am more fluent and confident when I speak.
But apart from this incident, school has been quite good. After my last post about SFI, things have gotten better in school. The teacher has taught us a lot more and there were more text passages for us to read and understand. I feel like I have made progress in class. I'm also sitting next to a woman from Iraq and we speak Swedish to each other. While our conversations are not at all fluent or in proper Swedish, we do try our best to understand each other.
I started off speaking quite haltingly with her but I am beginning to be more fluent and our conversations are now longer and more detailed. This is very important since it forces me to speak more Swedish. I find that I am quite good at reading. I am an avid reader and I read everything around me, even though I might not understand. I am attracted to words, I guess. So, I am quite confident of my reading skills. However, I am still not good with listening and speaking. And this is very evident when I had to sit for a test a few days ago.
That day, a few of us got called out of the class. The team leader and our teacher explained that we were doing Course C now. Some of the other people in the class are also doing the same course while others are doing the B course. Some are going on to course D after this, while some will stop at the end of course C. This depends on the educational level we have attained back in our countries. For me, I am doing course C and D.
Then, we were given a test to see how far we've gotten. I was quite surprised to be tested so soon, especially when it's supposed to determine if we are at the halfway point of our course. I have only been in school for 11 weeks. Isn't that too early to see if I am halfway through the course? I felt like I still have so much more to learn. But I sat for the test anyway.
The test was so tough! Much, much tougher than what we usually tackle in class. I had to read three different text types - a diagram, an information sheet and a newspaper article. There were so many words I didn't understand and have never seen but I managed to make sense out of what I read. Then, I had to answer some questions based on the texts. I managed to get almost everything correct -I got two questions wrong.
Once done, the teachers looked at my results and we discussed my progress. Actually they were talking to me and each other while I just nod or shook my head. They are satisfied that my reading and writing skills are there but when I was asked to answer some questions, much like the Oral Examinations I used to administer to my students when I was teaching back home (my, how the tables have turned), I wasn't able to speak so fluently. Many times I had to use English to put my thoughts across. Not good, and I knew it myself. So I have been given another date for me to show my progress in speaking - 21 Feb. I guess I have to step up my efforts and make sure I am more fluent and confident when I speak.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Bring back the fun
This is the start of the third week of school. I enjoyed school last year before the break. My class was great with helpful, friendly and fun-loving friends. And we learnt a lot in class. The teacher would introduce new topics and we learnt new vocabulary and construct sentences with these words. Some times, she would hand out worksheets and we learn even more words through reading the passages contained in them.
When I got transferred to this new class, I thought we would be doing the same, only at a faster pace. However, it has been many days and sadly, I have not learnt much in class. Instead of being taught new words and phrases, we had to write about what we have done during our short break, what we have done during the weekend, what we were going to do the next weekend. To me, it hasn't helped me to acquire new words. It's purely repetition of words and sentences. Repetition is good but this is too much.
I would get bored since I would finish my writing quite quickly since I would just use the sentences I have already used and just replace a few words here and there. At other times, we would be given newspapers to read. We were to select an article and then tell the others in our group what we have read. This is the hard one. Too tough for beginners like me. I had to use the translator of almost all the words in a short article. Harder still to summarise it before I can tell it to my group mates.
So for the last two weeks, I have been quite miserable in class. Every morning, I would tell Pete that I dread going to school. This is very different from last year. I was always eager to go to class because I simply can't wait to tackle the worksheets and reading passages. Now, it's boring yet stressful in class since the rest of my classmates have learnt much more than me and they are better at speaking.
I thought I was the only one feeling like I'm wasting time in class. Last Friday, I talked to a classmate who lives near me. I learnt from her that the rest of the class also feels quite frustrated about the little progress that's made. She said that their previous teacher was much better. He insisted on everyone speaking Swedish only in class and would teach them a lot of new words every day. They had to make him slow down since he was teaching too much.
And then yesterday, somehow, someone brought up this issue in class and I found that everybody felt the same. Our regular teachers were not there yesterday so we talked about it with the teacher assistant. We shared our feelings about the lessons and she promised to discuss our issue with the teachers and to let them know how we feel. Let's see how it goes from now. I really hope the lessons would be like how they used to be. I want school to be fun again.
When I got transferred to this new class, I thought we would be doing the same, only at a faster pace. However, it has been many days and sadly, I have not learnt much in class. Instead of being taught new words and phrases, we had to write about what we have done during our short break, what we have done during the weekend, what we were going to do the next weekend. To me, it hasn't helped me to acquire new words. It's purely repetition of words and sentences. Repetition is good but this is too much.
I would get bored since I would finish my writing quite quickly since I would just use the sentences I have already used and just replace a few words here and there. At other times, we would be given newspapers to read. We were to select an article and then tell the others in our group what we have read. This is the hard one. Too tough for beginners like me. I had to use the translator of almost all the words in a short article. Harder still to summarise it before I can tell it to my group mates.
So for the last two weeks, I have been quite miserable in class. Every morning, I would tell Pete that I dread going to school. This is very different from last year. I was always eager to go to class because I simply can't wait to tackle the worksheets and reading passages. Now, it's boring yet stressful in class since the rest of my classmates have learnt much more than me and they are better at speaking.
I thought I was the only one feeling like I'm wasting time in class. Last Friday, I talked to a classmate who lives near me. I learnt from her that the rest of the class also feels quite frustrated about the little progress that's made. She said that their previous teacher was much better. He insisted on everyone speaking Swedish only in class and would teach them a lot of new words every day. They had to make him slow down since he was teaching too much.
And then yesterday, somehow, someone brought up this issue in class and I found that everybody felt the same. Our regular teachers were not there yesterday so we talked about it with the teacher assistant. We shared our feelings about the lessons and she promised to discuss our issue with the teachers and to let them know how we feel. Let's see how it goes from now. I really hope the lessons would be like how they used to be. I want school to be fun again.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Last week with the classmates
We had a surprise test in class last Friday. There were some comprehension questions to answer, a mock-form to fill and we had to write a message and a letter - all without using Google translate or other dictionaries.
The teacher told us after the test that our lessons would be different starting from next year. After looking at our results, she would plan an individualised curriculum for each of us depending on our abilities. That means from next year, we all would have different sets of work to do in class. There would also be two other teachers to be in the class. They are fluent in Arabic and Romanian. That way, the Arabic and Eastern Europeans students would get help too. We were also given a new schedule for next year. It didn't look as fun. There's morning class on Mondays and afternoon class on Fridays.
Today, when I got to class, I got another piece of news. I have been bumped up to a different class next year. Based on the results of the test, five of us would be joining another group. Basically we are going to make way for ten new students who would join our existing class next year. The group that I would be in is going to be taught at a faster rate. Also, there would be another teacher to teach us in conjunction with the one who is currently teaching us. But the best part is that I have a new schedule that's looking better. I have afternoon classes on Mondays and morning classes on Fridays. Longer weekends, yay!
But the sad part is that I would be in a different class from my friends. Only one of them will be joining me, so that's not too bad. I have become quite fond of my classmates. They are always sharing food with me and they look out for me. We also enjoy chatting with each, especially about having to adjust to the life here. It's nice to know that other people understand what you are also going through. That's not to say that the new class I'll be in won't be as understanding, but I don't know if I would be able to fit in as easily as I have with this class.
I won't think about it yet. After Thursday, we will be having a short Christmas break. Classes will resume on 7 January so I'll have a lot of time to relax. Or study. If this new class I'll be joining is more advanced, I need a lot more practice. I don't want to lag behind everyone else. Time for me to buck up and get more serious about my studies.
The teacher told us after the test that our lessons would be different starting from next year. After looking at our results, she would plan an individualised curriculum for each of us depending on our abilities. That means from next year, we all would have different sets of work to do in class. There would also be two other teachers to be in the class. They are fluent in Arabic and Romanian. That way, the Arabic and Eastern Europeans students would get help too. We were also given a new schedule for next year. It didn't look as fun. There's morning class on Mondays and afternoon class on Fridays.
Today, when I got to class, I got another piece of news. I have been bumped up to a different class next year. Based on the results of the test, five of us would be joining another group. Basically we are going to make way for ten new students who would join our existing class next year. The group that I would be in is going to be taught at a faster rate. Also, there would be another teacher to teach us in conjunction with the one who is currently teaching us. But the best part is that I have a new schedule that's looking better. I have afternoon classes on Mondays and morning classes on Fridays. Longer weekends, yay!
But the sad part is that I would be in a different class from my friends. Only one of them will be joining me, so that's not too bad. I have become quite fond of my classmates. They are always sharing food with me and they look out for me. We also enjoy chatting with each, especially about having to adjust to the life here. It's nice to know that other people understand what you are also going through. That's not to say that the new class I'll be in won't be as understanding, but I don't know if I would be able to fit in as easily as I have with this class.
I won't think about it yet. After Thursday, we will be having a short Christmas break. Classes will resume on 7 January so I'll have a lot of time to relax. Or study. If this new class I'll be joining is more advanced, I need a lot more practice. I don't want to lag behind everyone else. Time for me to buck up and get more serious about my studies.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Lucia
Every year on the 13th of December, Lucia is celebrated all over Sweden. It is a popular celebration here, but it's not an official holiday. It is usually marked by a procession headed by a girl who is chosen to be the Lucia. She would be dressed in a white robe with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head. Behind her, there would be other girls, also in white robes, holding a candle each. Boys are also in the procession. They would be dressed in other traditional symbols of Christmas such as the Christmas elf or gingerbread men. As they walk, they would sing the traditional Santa Lucia song. After that, they would sing other Christmas songs. This usually takes place in schools and teachers are assigned to be in charge of the event (ring any bells, my friends from MOE?)
This morning, my SFI-classmates and I were lucky to be able to witness this ceremony. Our classes are held in a high school, so we were able to watch the kids perform. Our teacher brought us to the school hall where we joined the other kids. I guess there were about 300 kids there. Walking into the hall and seeing the basketball hoops, futsal goal posts and benches arranged for the kids and teachers to sit on brought lots of memories for me. Just a few months ago, I would be teaching PE to my kids in a hall such as this.
The performance started after the lights were turned off. Then when the curtain was lifted, the kids were standing in a semi-circle holding candles in their hands. The girl who was chosen to beLucia, with the candles in her hair, was standing in front of the semi-circle. I couldn't really see her face though. It was too dark.
They started by singing the traditional Lucia song. Then the Lucia, started singing solo. Her voice was really nice and soothing. Then the others joined in and they sang other Christmas songs. They even sang Wham's Last Christmas. After a few more songs, the event ended and we walked back to our class. Our teacher said that it wasn't very traditional and the songs they sang were quite new - not hard to guess since one of the songs was a rap. But nonetheless, I felt lucky to be able to watch it. If I weren't in this class, I don't think I would be able to be part of it - something that every Swedish kid would experience as they were growing up.
As someone new to the country, I am eager to learn more about it. It's useful to me since I want to not only experience the Swedish culture, but most importantly to fit in. Not to mention, it would make me understand Pete better. Sometimes we do have misunderstandings which are purely the result of our different upbringing and cultures, but that's another story altogether.
This morning, my SFI-classmates and I were lucky to be able to witness this ceremony. Our classes are held in a high school, so we were able to watch the kids perform. Our teacher brought us to the school hall where we joined the other kids. I guess there were about 300 kids there. Walking into the hall and seeing the basketball hoops, futsal goal posts and benches arranged for the kids and teachers to sit on brought lots of memories for me. Just a few months ago, I would be teaching PE to my kids in a hall such as this.
The performance started after the lights were turned off. Then when the curtain was lifted, the kids were standing in a semi-circle holding candles in their hands. The girl who was chosen to beLucia, with the candles in her hair, was standing in front of the semi-circle. I couldn't really see her face though. It was too dark.
They started by singing the traditional Lucia song. Then the Lucia, started singing solo. Her voice was really nice and soothing. Then the others joined in and they sang other Christmas songs. They even sang Wham's Last Christmas. After a few more songs, the event ended and we walked back to our class. Our teacher said that it wasn't very traditional and the songs they sang were quite new - not hard to guess since one of the songs was a rap. But nonetheless, I felt lucky to be able to watch it. If I weren't in this class, I don't think I would be able to be part of it - something that every Swedish kid would experience as they were growing up.
As someone new to the country, I am eager to learn more about it. It's useful to me since I want to not only experience the Swedish culture, but most importantly to fit in. Not to mention, it would make me understand Pete better. Sometimes we do have misunderstandings which are purely the result of our different upbringing and cultures, but that's another story altogether.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Substitute teachers
The usual teacher in my Swedish class has been at home sick for the last three days. While she was away, we had two substitute teachers. The first one was the teacher for another class just before ours. He offered to take over our class since she came down ill while preparing for our lesson. He didn't teach us the next two days since he has his own classes to teach. We got a part-time teacher for the rest of the days.
The two teachers had the same idea when it came to teaching us - speak Swedish. All their explanations and instructions were given in Swedish with no effort to translate into any other language at all. Our usual teacher would speak in Swedish first and then in English, since most of us understand it. I find it very helpful. I could learn and remember the words used and since the instructions and explanations were in English, I would learn more. I could write down notes in my book and go home to learn them.
But the substitute teachers would have none of that. When my classmates asked for translations in English, they refused, saying that we were there to learn Swedish, not English. As a result, I didn't learn much these last three days. When I got home, I would ask Pete to teach me. I should have just stayed home and ask Pete to be my tutor. I am very sure I could have learnt much more then. Three days wasted, just like that...sigh...
The two teachers had the same idea when it came to teaching us - speak Swedish. All their explanations and instructions were given in Swedish with no effort to translate into any other language at all. Our usual teacher would speak in Swedish first and then in English, since most of us understand it. I find it very helpful. I could learn and remember the words used and since the instructions and explanations were in English, I would learn more. I could write down notes in my book and go home to learn them.
But the substitute teachers would have none of that. When my classmates asked for translations in English, they refused, saying that we were there to learn Swedish, not English. As a result, I didn't learn much these last three days. When I got home, I would ask Pete to teach me. I should have just stayed home and ask Pete to be my tutor. I am very sure I could have learnt much more then. Three days wasted, just like that...sigh...
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
A decision to make
At school yesterday, we were told that we could opt to start on a specialised course in the hotel industry. The course is a year long and it starts on 7 January until 20 December. The normal SFI course is 15 hours a week. For this course, on top of the 15 hours, there will be attachment too, where you work in a hotel for 2 or 3 days a week. You also need to attend another course that specialises in the hotel industry. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate and might also be offered jobs in hotels.
This course sounds very interesting to me. I know that when I move here, I would want to try a different career. I want to open my cafe but looking at the progress we're making, it might take a while for that to happen. Since the course is designed for people who are interested in the service industry, it would be helpful when I finally start my cafe. Also, this also looks like an opportunity to widen my network here which, in the end would only be good for my future food business.
The thing that is holding me back is the commitment I need to make. If I take this course, I might not have time to work on starting the business. What if, in the middle of the course, a good location opens up and I have to quit? I would feel like I've taken up a space that should have gone to another more suitable person. There is a class limit of 25 so there could be people who could be turned away.
Also, if I am on this course, I would not be able to visit my home at all next year. I was hoping to be able to go back there in August with Pete. But if I do this, I don't think I would be able to take leave to fly back home. Then, there is also the fact that I am not aiming to work in a hotel. But if I don't take this up, what if I don't get to start my cafe next year? Then I'm left with no job. Would I rather have a job first and slowly build up my food business? Or do I want to just concentrate on opening my cafe?
Hmmm....Lots of things to think about. At least I have some time to think about it, so Pete and I can take our time to discuss and decide.
This course sounds very interesting to me. I know that when I move here, I would want to try a different career. I want to open my cafe but looking at the progress we're making, it might take a while for that to happen. Since the course is designed for people who are interested in the service industry, it would be helpful when I finally start my cafe. Also, this also looks like an opportunity to widen my network here which, in the end would only be good for my future food business.
The thing that is holding me back is the commitment I need to make. If I take this course, I might not have time to work on starting the business. What if, in the middle of the course, a good location opens up and I have to quit? I would feel like I've taken up a space that should have gone to another more suitable person. There is a class limit of 25 so there could be people who could be turned away.
Also, if I am on this course, I would not be able to visit my home at all next year. I was hoping to be able to go back there in August with Pete. But if I do this, I don't think I would be able to take leave to fly back home. Then, there is also the fact that I am not aiming to work in a hotel. But if I don't take this up, what if I don't get to start my cafe next year? Then I'm left with no job. Would I rather have a job first and slowly build up my food business? Or do I want to just concentrate on opening my cafe?
Hmmm....Lots of things to think about. At least I have some time to think about it, so Pete and I can take our time to discuss and decide.
Friday, November 23, 2012
This takes getting used to
The past few days since the last blog post hasn't been good for us. Pete had fever during the entire time. His body was really hot and he was sweating even though it was cold. I didn't have a fever but I wasn't feeling well either. We both tried to stay indoors the whole time, but I had to go to school.
I didn't miss any lesson since the school is not too far away for me to walk there. Also, the weather has gotten to the rest of the class as well. Some of my classmates has been ill. We haven't had full attendance this whole week. Our teacher took it easy with us so it wasn't as tiring.
This weather thing is going to take a lot of getting used to. I have to learn to dress warm enough so that I don't get too cold outdoors but not too warm indoors. Sometimes I find myself sweating when I am indoors with all my layers. I am usually early for class and in the mornings, the class would be locked so I had to wait in the hallway for the teacher to arrive. I would definitely need to take off my jacket because I would start sweating if I don't.
I guess the cooling and heating up of the body wasn't good for me. A few days of that could have caused me to develop my cold. I'm still nursing my cold - no change yet. But it's Saturday tomorrow so I can rest more and get more sleep.
I am not the only one trying to cope with the weather. My classmates from Asia also had issues with the cold. After school, we would walk home together. In this weather, we all would be bundled up in our winter jackets, hunching our bodies as we tried to brace ourselves against the wind. We must have been a funny sight! Once, while we were walking and shivering, we passed by a group of kids outside the school. They were only in jeans and t-shirts. We all looked at them in disbelief.
One day. One day, I'll be able to do that. But I'll take it step by step. I'll start by trying not to take 10 minutes just to get outdoors.
I didn't miss any lesson since the school is not too far away for me to walk there. Also, the weather has gotten to the rest of the class as well. Some of my classmates has been ill. We haven't had full attendance this whole week. Our teacher took it easy with us so it wasn't as tiring.
This weather thing is going to take a lot of getting used to. I have to learn to dress warm enough so that I don't get too cold outdoors but not too warm indoors. Sometimes I find myself sweating when I am indoors with all my layers. I am usually early for class and in the mornings, the class would be locked so I had to wait in the hallway for the teacher to arrive. I would definitely need to take off my jacket because I would start sweating if I don't.
I guess the cooling and heating up of the body wasn't good for me. A few days of that could have caused me to develop my cold. I'm still nursing my cold - no change yet. But it's Saturday tomorrow so I can rest more and get more sleep.
I am not the only one trying to cope with the weather. My classmates from Asia also had issues with the cold. After school, we would walk home together. In this weather, we all would be bundled up in our winter jackets, hunching our bodies as we tried to brace ourselves against the wind. We must have been a funny sight! Once, while we were walking and shivering, we passed by a group of kids outside the school. They were only in jeans and t-shirts. We all looked at them in disbelief.
One day. One day, I'll be able to do that. But I'll take it step by step. I'll start by trying not to take 10 minutes just to get outdoors.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Second day
It's the second day of school today. I have made new friends yesterday and made arrangements to walk to school with one of them. Coincidentally, she lives in the same block as me. When I got out the main door this afternoon, she was already waiting for me. As we walked, we chatted and we've learnt more about each other.
In class, there were a few more new faces. More new friends. We continued with yesterday's lesson. We read short passages and answered questions, sort of like a comprehension exercise. Then, we had to do writing as well, a letter.
It might sound daunting but it's challenging and I love it. I tried to use whatever words I have learnt to write. I also asked my friends and learnt a lot from them as well. That's mainly how the lessons are taught here. The teacher would teach and then we would do the written work. We would help each other or we could use the laptops in the classroom to use the online translator. But if we still have problems, we could then ask the teacher.
The work is quite intense. After going through my work, I felt very mentally tired. I thought I had been at work for hours, but when I looked at the time, it was not even two hours! Luckily we were able to work at our pace. The teacher gave us more than enough time to complete the work so I have to learn to take my time and take more breaks.
Tomorrow and Friday, class starts at 8 am. I can foresee lots of yawning ahead. I have to remember to get enough sleep so that I would be fresh and alert when I get to class, so no more watching tv or internet surfing till late.
In class, there were a few more new faces. More new friends. We continued with yesterday's lesson. We read short passages and answered questions, sort of like a comprehension exercise. Then, we had to do writing as well, a letter.
It might sound daunting but it's challenging and I love it. I tried to use whatever words I have learnt to write. I also asked my friends and learnt a lot from them as well. That's mainly how the lessons are taught here. The teacher would teach and then we would do the written work. We would help each other or we could use the laptops in the classroom to use the online translator. But if we still have problems, we could then ask the teacher.
The work is quite intense. After going through my work, I felt very mentally tired. I thought I had been at work for hours, but when I looked at the time, it was not even two hours! Luckily we were able to work at our pace. The teacher gave us more than enough time to complete the work so I have to learn to take my time and take more breaks.
Tomorrow and Friday, class starts at 8 am. I can foresee lots of yawning ahead. I have to remember to get enough sleep so that I would be fresh and alert when I get to class, so no more watching tv or internet surfing till late.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
First day of school
So today was my first day at school. I'm learning Swedish - Swedish for immigrants. The class is run by Merit Utbildning and a school near where we live has kindly allowed them the use of a classroom for our classes. I would be studying there for four hours four times a week.
This morning, Pete woke me up early. I was feeling kind of excited and nervous. I didn't know how it was going to turn out - will I be able to follow the lessons, would I understand the teacher, would the rest of the class be nice to me and help me out? So many questions in my mind as I went about the chores.
After finishing the rest of the shepherd's pie and a slice of the apple pie, I got ready for school. I should have brought my pencil case, notebooks and files when I was back in Singapore but I totally forgot that I would need them when I started school. I only brought a pen with me and also the file that I received last week.
Pete walked with me to school. Class was supposed to start at 12.30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but the classroom door would be unlocked ten minutes before. We left the apartment at 12.15 and reached there five minutes later. There was only about five other people there. I saw an Asian looking woman and we started talking. She's from Thailand and another Asian woman, from Philippines, joined us soon after. Another woman from Pakistan sat next to me. I guess we were the only Asian girls there.
There were two other guys from Pakistan as well but they sat at the back of the room. A very friendly and jovial Romanian guy joined our table, followed by another Romanian lady. At another table, two other guys were there. I think they are from Albania. On the other side, a group of Arabic ladies were there, chatting away with each other.
The teacher started the lesson by asking us the day and date in Swedish. She spoke Swedish first and then in English. That's really helpful since I am hopeless at Swedish for now. She got us to fill up some forms about our education, career and other interests. At first I filled out my forms quietly. Then I realised that the others at my table were having some problems with it so I helped them a bit.
I finished my forms early so the teacher approached me and got me to do the first few exercises that I missed. She explained a bit but I was familiar with the words so I attempted to finish them on my own. She told me to approach her if I needed help. I was able to complete most of the first two exercises and the Pakistani girl next to me helped me with the rest.
My group mates are very friendly and helpful. They are also easy to talk to. Well, easy is not really the right word to use. Their English is very basic but we managed to understand each other somewhat. I am very surprised that I managed to find out a lot about them in just one day. They told me about their husbands, their jobs, where they live and how much easier it is to migrate to Sweden than Denmark. Two of them also said that they wanted to learn how to bake. I offered to teach them and I will probably have them over to my apartment one of these days.
During the breaks, they shared their cookies with me and welcomed me to the tea and coffee table. One of them also showed me the way to the toilet. Even the Arabic girls gave me and others at my table cookies. The Roman guy also played some songs on his laptop to entertain us. In all, it hasn't been intimidating. On the contrary, the class has been so welcoming and friendly, with smiles all round.
After the first break, we got down to serious business. We were taught prepositions. After writing in Swedish, the teacher would write the English translation below it. Again, at first, I would write quietly. But when I noticed that she was having trouble with some of the English words, I helped by giving the right words and spelling. She was happy to have me in the class, I think, so that the translations would be as accurate as possible.
There are a lot of words I haven't learnt yet and the worksheets that we were given were a bit tough. But the teacher is very helpful and I could also ask my classmates. We couldn't finish our work today so we would continue tomorrow. I'm not sure if I need to complete it at home. I don't think I will. I would just go over it with Pete. He would need to help me, especially with the pronunciation but I would not do more at home. I don't want to be the person who tries too hard to impress.
I have enjoyed my first day in class. I wasn't too lost and I was able to keep up and I made a couple of friends. I even walked home with a friend who turned out to be living in the same apartment block as me. Not bad for the first day. Not bad at all. Day two beckons and I am looking forward to it.
This morning, Pete woke me up early. I was feeling kind of excited and nervous. I didn't know how it was going to turn out - will I be able to follow the lessons, would I understand the teacher, would the rest of the class be nice to me and help me out? So many questions in my mind as I went about the chores.
After finishing the rest of the shepherd's pie and a slice of the apple pie, I got ready for school. I should have brought my pencil case, notebooks and files when I was back in Singapore but I totally forgot that I would need them when I started school. I only brought a pen with me and also the file that I received last week.
Pete walked with me to school. Class was supposed to start at 12.30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but the classroom door would be unlocked ten minutes before. We left the apartment at 12.15 and reached there five minutes later. There was only about five other people there. I saw an Asian looking woman and we started talking. She's from Thailand and another Asian woman, from Philippines, joined us soon after. Another woman from Pakistan sat next to me. I guess we were the only Asian girls there.
There were two other guys from Pakistan as well but they sat at the back of the room. A very friendly and jovial Romanian guy joined our table, followed by another Romanian lady. At another table, two other guys were there. I think they are from Albania. On the other side, a group of Arabic ladies were there, chatting away with each other.
The teacher started the lesson by asking us the day and date in Swedish. She spoke Swedish first and then in English. That's really helpful since I am hopeless at Swedish for now. She got us to fill up some forms about our education, career and other interests. At first I filled out my forms quietly. Then I realised that the others at my table were having some problems with it so I helped them a bit.
I finished my forms early so the teacher approached me and got me to do the first few exercises that I missed. She explained a bit but I was familiar with the words so I attempted to finish them on my own. She told me to approach her if I needed help. I was able to complete most of the first two exercises and the Pakistani girl next to me helped me with the rest.
My group mates are very friendly and helpful. They are also easy to talk to. Well, easy is not really the right word to use. Their English is very basic but we managed to understand each other somewhat. I am very surprised that I managed to find out a lot about them in just one day. They told me about their husbands, their jobs, where they live and how much easier it is to migrate to Sweden than Denmark. Two of them also said that they wanted to learn how to bake. I offered to teach them and I will probably have them over to my apartment one of these days.
During the breaks, they shared their cookies with me and welcomed me to the tea and coffee table. One of them also showed me the way to the toilet. Even the Arabic girls gave me and others at my table cookies. The Roman guy also played some songs on his laptop to entertain us. In all, it hasn't been intimidating. On the contrary, the class has been so welcoming and friendly, with smiles all round.
After the first break, we got down to serious business. We were taught prepositions. After writing in Swedish, the teacher would write the English translation below it. Again, at first, I would write quietly. But when I noticed that she was having trouble with some of the English words, I helped by giving the right words and spelling. She was happy to have me in the class, I think, so that the translations would be as accurate as possible.
There are a lot of words I haven't learnt yet and the worksheets that we were given were a bit tough. But the teacher is very helpful and I could also ask my classmates. We couldn't finish our work today so we would continue tomorrow. I'm not sure if I need to complete it at home. I don't think I will. I would just go over it with Pete. He would need to help me, especially with the pronunciation but I would not do more at home. I don't want to be the person who tries too hard to impress.
I have enjoyed my first day in class. I wasn't too lost and I was able to keep up and I made a couple of friends. I even walked home with a friend who turned out to be living in the same apartment block as me. Not bad for the first day. Not bad at all. Day two beckons and I am looking forward to it.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
SFI starts soon
Of course. Just when I was getting ready to leave the apartment to get to the school for SFI, it started raining very heavily. The temperature was a cold 7C and it was windy. I was fussing about my layers and bag to make sure that everything was waterproof. Pete was fussing about the contents of my bag. He was like "Have you brought this?" "Did you bring that?" "Did you bring your pen?" He seemed more excited than I was.
I really wasn't keen on going out of the building. It was raining and windy and cold. I was standing at the door of the building, contemplating using an umbrella and trying to think of ways to stay dry. That was when I saw a group of kids from the kindergarten nearby, at the playground in front of our building. They were playing in the rain as their teachers kept an eye of them. Ok. If they can brave the rain and cold, I should be able to as well.
I pulled the hood of my waterproof jacket over my head and headed out with Pete. The walk to the school was brisk. The rain was heavy but it wasn't that bad. It did soak a bit of my socks but I wasn't as wet as I thought I was going to be. Once in the school building, we went to the reception counter and someone was there to lead us to the classroom.
When we got there, a class was already in session. There were about 12 people in the class doing work and discussing with one another. When we went into the room, I could feel all of their eyes on me. The teacher was called Jenny and she told us to wait for another person who was going to discuss my SFI classes with me.
When the administrator came, we were led to a room next to the class and there, I filled out a seven-page form about my personal details such as address, contact number, educational background and future plans in Sweden. As I did that, we asked the lady some questions such as where and how long I will be studying. We were happy to know that I will be studying there and my teacher is Jenny, the one I met earlier. I was also going to be in that class too. I guess the people in the classroom would be my classmates. I'm not sure how that's going to be. I didn't really get a good look at everyone but they generally look smiley and welcoming. I hope.
The admin lady told us that they have just started SFI classes a few months ago since the school Lindangeskolan, has allowed them to use their classrooms. How lucky is that? The school is only a few minutes walk away. And I would pass the supermarket so I could buy groceries on my way home too. Very, very convenient.
Once I was done with the form, I was given the file that came with it. The admin lady said that the file is mine and as I get through the classes, it will be filled with stuff. I guess it would become a sort of portfolio for me. I have also been given a timetable:
Tuesday & Wednesday : 12.30 - 14.00
14.10 - 15.45
15.50 - 16.30
Thursday & Friday : 8.00 - 9.30
9.40 - 11.15
11.20 - 12.00
I start next Tuesday where I will also be given books to study. All free. There are some breaks in between lessons and beverages such as coffee and tea will be provided. I can already foresee that I would be bringing some baked goods to share with the class in future.
I am kind of excited. Not nervous yet, but I am sure I will be on Tuesday morning. Although I am joining an existing class, I will be taught at my own pace. The admin lady said that classes are tailored to suit each individual and all of us will proceed at our ability level. It will be interesting to see how that would be like. Being a former teacher, I usually get a class of kids of the same level. Their abilities may be different but they are all learning the same things.
I can't imagine or figure out how the lessons will go. Would the teacher teach everyone the same thing at first and then she would approach me and give me one to one lessons? Would I need to do group work or presentations? Would I be assigned a buddy? Most of all, do they all speak English? It would be hard if they speak in other languages and we would not be able to communicate. Well, no point worrying about any of that right now. Maybe I could revise my notes from the very short three-day Swedish 101 lessons that I attended back home. If I could find those notes, that is.
Once we finish the orientation and meeting the teacher and such, we headed out while the rest of the class got back to work. It had only taken us about 40 minutes. By the time we got outdoors, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. It was a beautiful day. We headed to a newly opened mall. I felt like I was cutting class as I walked out of the school compound. I guess I better treasure the time I get to spend out of school. Soon, I'll have to back to the classroom which means reading, memorising and oh homework!
I really wasn't keen on going out of the building. It was raining and windy and cold. I was standing at the door of the building, contemplating using an umbrella and trying to think of ways to stay dry. That was when I saw a group of kids from the kindergarten nearby, at the playground in front of our building. They were playing in the rain as their teachers kept an eye of them. Ok. If they can brave the rain and cold, I should be able to as well.
I pulled the hood of my waterproof jacket over my head and headed out with Pete. The walk to the school was brisk. The rain was heavy but it wasn't that bad. It did soak a bit of my socks but I wasn't as wet as I thought I was going to be. Once in the school building, we went to the reception counter and someone was there to lead us to the classroom.
When we got there, a class was already in session. There were about 12 people in the class doing work and discussing with one another. When we went into the room, I could feel all of their eyes on me. The teacher was called Jenny and she told us to wait for another person who was going to discuss my SFI classes with me.
When the administrator came, we were led to a room next to the class and there, I filled out a seven-page form about my personal details such as address, contact number, educational background and future plans in Sweden. As I did that, we asked the lady some questions such as where and how long I will be studying. We were happy to know that I will be studying there and my teacher is Jenny, the one I met earlier. I was also going to be in that class too. I guess the people in the classroom would be my classmates. I'm not sure how that's going to be. I didn't really get a good look at everyone but they generally look smiley and welcoming. I hope.
The admin lady told us that they have just started SFI classes a few months ago since the school Lindangeskolan, has allowed them to use their classrooms. How lucky is that? The school is only a few minutes walk away. And I would pass the supermarket so I could buy groceries on my way home too. Very, very convenient.
Tuesday & Wednesday : 12.30 - 14.00
14.10 - 15.45
15.50 - 16.30
Thursday & Friday : 8.00 - 9.30
9.40 - 11.15
11.20 - 12.00
I start next Tuesday where I will also be given books to study. All free. There are some breaks in between lessons and beverages such as coffee and tea will be provided. I can already foresee that I would be bringing some baked goods to share with the class in future.
I am kind of excited. Not nervous yet, but I am sure I will be on Tuesday morning. Although I am joining an existing class, I will be taught at my own pace. The admin lady said that classes are tailored to suit each individual and all of us will proceed at our ability level. It will be interesting to see how that would be like. Being a former teacher, I usually get a class of kids of the same level. Their abilities may be different but they are all learning the same things.
I can't imagine or figure out how the lessons will go. Would the teacher teach everyone the same thing at first and then she would approach me and give me one to one lessons? Would I need to do group work or presentations? Would I be assigned a buddy? Most of all, do they all speak English? It would be hard if they speak in other languages and we would not be able to communicate. Well, no point worrying about any of that right now. Maybe I could revise my notes from the very short three-day Swedish 101 lessons that I attended back home. If I could find those notes, that is.
Once we finish the orientation and meeting the teacher and such, we headed out while the rest of the class got back to work. It had only taken us about 40 minutes. By the time we got outdoors, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. It was a beautiful day. We headed to a newly opened mall. I felt like I was cutting class as I walked out of the school compound. I guess I better treasure the time I get to spend out of school. Soon, I'll have to back to the classroom which means reading, memorising and oh homework!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Pre-test
I got a letter yesterday regarding my SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) application. It was from the school that is close by. I thought I got a place there. I was excited! But it turns out that this is for the first session only. There, I will be tested on the level of Swedish I have acquired. Then based on the results, I will be placed in a class with others of the similar level.
The classes could be held in three other venues. Two other venues are quite easy to get to since I can take buses from here. The other one is not too familiar to me. And of course, this one is just a five minute walk away. I really hope I get placed here. It's much better to walk than to have to commute there.
Anyway, the test will be held this Thursday at 11am. I'm not sure how long it will take and what kind of test it will be. I know, though, that I'll start right at the bottom. I do know a few words but I don't think it's enough. I'm more comfortable starting from the beginning too. Well, let's see how it goes on Thursday.
The funny thing about the letter from the school is that it's written in Swedish. All of it. So ironic, isn't it? To write in Swedish to someone who is applying to learn Swedish? The Swedes have a sense of humour, don't they?
The classes could be held in three other venues. Two other venues are quite easy to get to since I can take buses from here. The other one is not too familiar to me. And of course, this one is just a five minute walk away. I really hope I get placed here. It's much better to walk than to have to commute there.
Anyway, the test will be held this Thursday at 11am. I'm not sure how long it will take and what kind of test it will be. I know, though, that I'll start right at the bottom. I do know a few words but I don't think it's enough. I'm more comfortable starting from the beginning too. Well, let's see how it goes on Thursday.
The funny thing about the letter from the school is that it's written in Swedish. All of it. So ironic, isn't it? To write in Swedish to someone who is applying to learn Swedish? The Swedes have a sense of humour, don't they?
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