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

Reflecting on live recording

I feel my recording of the 'first encounter' was quite sterile.

We talked briefly about plans for classes and any problems I had had.
 I feel there was mutual understanding, and we had talked beforehand about my plans etc.  I was quite satisfied with my interchange, but it was a bit impersonal.  I suppose this is the extent of my relationship with my responsable (Mme Pages).

I only work in <school name 1>  on a Monday and am not very often free to interact with the other teachers.  So at first contact was limited.  My relationship with Mme Pages is quite classroom based.  But I know if I have any kind of problem I could go to her.  My relationships with the other teachers (English or otherwise) have also developed as I interact with them in the staff room if I have a free hour.  

My tmoignage is very limited and not a good reflection!

I think I felt nervous and a little uncomfortable when recording, as I was not very sure of myself when speaking French.  I suppose it is odd the recording was done in French as we normally speak English. 

I think both the first encounter and my tmoignage could have been more expressive and reflective of my feelings and emotions.

My relationship with Mme Pages is good.  She prepared me for my arrival, prepared my timetable and prepares things for me to do in my lessons. We have never had any misunderstandings.  But, still, the relationship is 'work' based.  Perhaps this is because I am quite a quiet person, when not interacting with the pupils, so at first I found it difficult to be in the staff room atmosphere, and it was as if I didn't belong there.

This relationship is very much like that of 'student teacher' where I am told what to do.

In <school name> I only take 2 'cours de conversation' in my own right.  For the other hours I work with Mme Pages and Mme Tarrat within the class or taking groups, as their lesson plans allow.

I have a good relationship with Mme Tarrat.  It is different to the one with Mme Pages.  She asks me more questions about my life outside college, my plans for the future and offers advice.

Ironically, I think if I had had problems when I arrived in France my relationship could have been different in that I would have been more reliant on my responsables to help me and thus forced more encounters.  But because I have had no problems, I don't demand anything of my responsables.  I am happy in school and have not had any bad moments.  But probably could have made more of an effort to forge a personal relationship instead of waiting for it to happen.

Reflecting on relationship with responsable

Critical turning points - school trip?

Initial experience:
Mme Pages, Mme Collomb - very helpful.  Emails answering questions.  Very organised.  Sorted out timetable so it suited me and I could have Fridays off.  Very positive from the outset as they seemed to understand that I would have a life outside school!

Also get on well straight away with Mme Tarrat as when she was a student she lived near my town in Wales, so something in common.

The fact that I went on a relationship with <school name> helped my initial relationship.  

My relationship with my responsables hasn't developed greatly.  We talk, but interaction is confined to school hours.  Perhaps this is because my schools are in Rueil Malmaison and I live in Paris, about 40 mins by train.

Also probably because the main part of my year abroad experience happens outside school, and I am quite independent.

I like my responsables, we converse but it's not a close relationship.  However, I know if I had a problem I could talk to them.  

I feel my log book is probably a bit incomplete, but I was not sure about writing down all interactions as they are a bit something and nothing.  I don't actively seek out my responsables when I arrive at school.  We greet, talk, etc but it's never a major exchange where I have to sort out any problems.

I don't think my involvement with the PIC project has changed my relationship with my responsables.  I made my initial recording with Mme Pages, but apart from that we don't talk about the project.  Mme Collomb is not too concerned with the project either.  But this has not changed our relationship.

I haven't had any major understanding difficulties.  Perhaps just minor vocabulary blips, but they patiently explain any difficulties to me.





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