Teacher of...

... American Sign Language.

Can you imagine me teaching ASL??

Part of me cringes at the idea of this, as ASL is not my mother tongue. However, the interpreter coordinator (consultant?) at Cossato also works as a professor of LIS linguistics in a university in Firenze. After my request of possible job opportunities, he made an inquiry in his linguistics department in adding a new position for an ASL instructor! Or possibly not instructor but an "outside reader." I'm still learning all the terminology regarding jobs stranieri (foreigners) can hold within the education system, and an "outside reader" is someone who uses a language as a mother tongue (well in my case, 2nd language) who models the language for students and acts as "tutor" within the class.

The professor has a good idea... I would be providing a model for a different sign language system other than LIS for the LIS students, to demonstrate that sign languages vary in different countries. I did that with Simone 2 weeks ago - I went with him to the liceo in Cossato (a high school in which students prepare for entry into university) for the weekly LIS lesson. Since he was asked to start teaching LIS late into the year, he decided to start off with "theory" of LIS (providing a more academic/linguistic approach to LIS for the high school students). He asked me to join him and we stood side by side, him signing one phrase in LIS, and I would sign the same phrase in ASL. Students would compare what was different, and why words were signed a specific way. It was VERY interesting and I enjoyed myself immensely.

Right now I'm in the classroom teaching 4 hours a week - 3 hours of ASL and 1 hour of PowerPoint instruction - all with middle school students. I truly and deeply miss being in the classroom teaching kids. At the same time, though, I'm terrified of teaching again. I like to think that at NMSD I was a good teacher who worked hard and presented information well to the students... but I had a hard time my last year at NMSD, discipline-wise, and I ended my job at NMSD with deep resentment towards myself at this person/teacher I had become - quick-tempered and depressed. You know the kind - the teachers that are close to retirement who snap at everything and do "good enough" work. I just don't want it to happen again and I know it's easy to slip into old "survival" habits when the going gets tough. It's hard... this struggle within me with my demons and my heart's desire to teach.

What can I do? Right now I know I want to stay in Italy next year, so it's like the Aries Kate inside of me is physically behind the recalcitrant Kate, PUSHING at every step of the way. It doesn't always work though. The Aries Kate gets tired and restless fast.

I got my letter to the director of Cossato translated, so it will be printed and presented to him tomorrow (hands shaking). The professor in Firenze made a request for me at the university there, he's also got connections with a university in Lugano (Switzerland) but quite possibly only for 2008-09, not 2007-08... next is Milano and Torino... whew.

When I applied to grad school, I only applied at NTID. When I applied for work, I applied for jobs one at a time - Fremont first (no), PS 47 in NYC (no), then NMSD (yes). I am not the kind of person to apply to different things all at the same time. So this is a new experience for me. If I get more than one position, it is quite possible I might have to make a few positions work with my schedule so that I can make enough money for living expenses _and_ continue with my student loan payments (fun fun), same as what I'd been doing in NM, only in the span of different cities throughout northern Italy!! ;-) I know I don't want to compare,, but I have to say that the USA is a debt-driven society, and I HATE it. No way will I allow my children to take out loans for school if it cannot be paid for in other ways. There's no need for young people to graduate from school and start a new life already with a financial burden.

Anyway... back to work on finishing reports to be translated. I need to get my ass into gear and keep moving! It's hard for a procrastinator like me (sorry Dad!).

Hope all is well and thinking of you from "Italia bella."