@ALEXANDRA GALES
@DATA TYPE: RETROSPECTIVE
@LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
@COUNTRY: FRANCE
@PARTICIPANTS: S 
@SETTING: PRIVATE
@TIME: LATE
@SCHOOL: SECONDARY

Reflecting on live recording

* We discussed the fact that at the start I only had ten hours, not twelve as contract states.  Responsable said that it was not a problem and may increase - in fact I still only have ten and from the outset, they struggled to give me that many so didn't feel that needed!
* We discussed clubs but it never led to anything.  She said I could set one up but I had no desire to get that involved with school life - at the beginning I wanted to make a good impression, seem keen etc and was looking for time fillers.
* We discussed orals but as my responsable said, it is for Bac students, ie those in Terminale and I only have one of these classes.
* It was nice of her to check if I understood the word trajet !
* French deteriorated as questions continued:
J'ai visit elle?!?!
Je voyager?!?!
Vraiment vrai?!?!
Je n'ai voulu pas?!?!
* Do the questions never end?
* Finally the questions end!  She was quite sweet really, but the questions went on too long - became unnatural.

Extra
Observation: didn't really have that.
Meeting: She drove me to school every Friday so any problems I had, I could talk then.
Social: we didn't go out socially.
Discipline: never really came up (thankfully had no problems)
Organisation:  they aren't very organised - took like a month to get a timetable and it seemed like a challenge to give me that many hours.  I think in general they appreciate having an assistant but they don't need one.
Advice:  I just got on with things - I like it that way; less pressure.

Reflecting on relationship with responsable 

* What I wrote originally still holds true.  My relationship with my responsable is far from exciting.  I don't have any classes with her of hers.
* She has always been available which is good and I still think she is a nice person but not really someone I think I'll keep in touch with.

* The logbook tells it pretty much how it was, with the exception of really irrelevant passing conversations.
* The PIC project forced us to have a long conversation.  That first recording is the most in depth conversation we have had to date.
* No difficulties - thankfully.

Reflecting on assistantship experience

* I worked over the summer before the assistantship in France so wasn't at home to prepare much before the placement began.  However, I did write letters to both my responsable and the proviseur with general questions about the lyce and to see if they wanted any info from the UK but I didn't receive replies to my letters.  The British Council provided adequate info though.
* The process seemed a bit long, ie you fill in your application form in November and only get confirmation in June but I suppose there are a lot of applications so it takes as long as it needs to.  Furthermore I don't feel that I can complain as I requested Toulouse as my acadmie and I actually got a town just outside Toulouse and live in the city centre.
* Contacting the school wasn't difficult but getting a reply was trickier.
* The lack of a timetable was annoying at the start and made integrating into school life hard but once I had a fixed timetable, things moved much quicker.


