Just call me "Sir"


This is a little bit of info about the job Sam's doing here in France. His official title is: assistant de langue etranger, or in school terms, "assistant anglais", "prof d'anglais", "Sam", or "Maitre".

He is teaching English in three primary schools, to three year groups, in three towns, outside Aix. They're called Bouc Bel Air, La Salle, and Simiane Collongue.

On this map, where it says Bouc Bel Air, is actually La Salle, and the key-hole shape in the big green patch in the top left is Bouc Bel Air.

In total there are about 300 eleves, in 14 classes. They range from 7-11 years old, and the longest class is 1.5 hours long. He works two days, and really cool school hours: 8.30-11.30 (with 1/2 hour recreation period), then two hours lunch, then 1.30-4.30 (with 1/2 hour recreation). He eats in the school cafeteria, where he gets special attention (big portions) from the staff, with most of the students. About 1/5th go home for lunch, and some of the teachers. Here's a picture of the staff at one of the schools on lunch break in the staff room.























Every day he works he uses songs, and rhymes, and games to teach some unclearly defined targets. The teachers arwe happiest when the kids aren't bored or too excited by the end, but then complain a few weeks later if they haven't learned enough. It's hard to find a balance, when there are a fair few objectives and for 6 of my classes only half an hour a week. But, sometimes he even enjoys it.

Last of all, here's a photo of one of the rooms where he works his magic, with one of the teachers.
























I couldn't take lots of photos of cute French kids. Not allowed, so you'll just have to reread and try and imagine them.