SAT's

I'm spending three days a week tutoring two or three high school girls on taking the SAT's so they can go to college in America or Europe. It's a nice change to teach something that actually stimulates my brain a little bit. It was kind of crazy how I got the job. A Thai woman who works in the English Department with me (though I hadn't met her yet at that point) called my cell phone and just started talking away and I said "yes" like I knew what she was saying, but she was really asking me if I can commit to this job. (I would have said yes anyway, she didn't con me into anything). So on my first day I show up to the international tutoring school right after teaching a full day at the university. I spent the day speaking slow and charading everything out to help the beginner English students understand what the hell is going on in class. I had to yank myself out of that mode with these students. I walk in the little classroom and they are sitting there waiting for me to start. I have no idea what their skill level is, so I talk slowly and clearly and ask them to tell me about themselves. They started talking and they are nearly fluent! I was so happy! Like a breath of fresh air. I felt like they were my instant friends. It's really funny how a language barrier can put such a distance between people.

I started the class, but here's the catch. I took the SAT's about 8 years ago. The test is different now. They've added extra sections and the scoring system is different. When the coordinator woman called me she said that one of the students got a 1500 the last time she took the test and wanted a better score. I about pissed myself until I realized that the test is out of 2400 now, not 1600. Am I qualified to be teaching them this? Not sure, but I do enjoy putting the extra time in to learn the teaching material and doing the endless practice questions on my own. My Thai nickname should be Nerd.

After the two hour class, the coordinator woman who called me and gave me the job was there in the office and she asked me how things went, paid me, and had me work on some paperwork. As I was leaving, this coordinator woman was talking with one of my students and her mom. I politely interrupted and asked if there was anything else she needed. She said, "No, I'm just going to ask this student here what she thought of you and your teaching and then I will call you and let you know." Yep. I looked back at her and then at the student and her mom and smiled and said, "Ok, then. Have a nice night!"

Very blunt = Very Thai = Very awkward for me