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

 Reflecting on live recording

It's actually the first time I've listened to the whole tape.  It's not very clear, so having the transcription helps - thanks team!
* I think I gave a fair impression of myself.  I must have grown in confidence as I moved on from "Oh"s and "OK"s as time went on.  I spoke quite confidently and seemed to know more or less what I was on about.
* At the time I thought that Mme Dupont just wanted to waffle on about her school, but in hindsight what she said is perfectly valid and an acceptable way to introduce me to the collge.  So there was an understanding of what needed to be said.  As for the courant between us, from her point of view, I guess so.  At the time I've said that we didn't quite get each other, but now I'd say we did more than I thought.  We were laughing after all and we said all we needed to.
* I was quite satisfied with the outcome.  I definitely knew my 'mission' and all I needed to know about her attitude towards my job.
* I think that in the tmoignage I was a little harsh on Mme Dupont.  Perhaps I was still bitter about her telling me that I wasn't from the European Union the week before!  It was a fair account for the most part; the tape cannot capture her sometimes overbearing character and serious expression.  The only difference now is that I don't resent her so much for it.

2  Reflecting on relationship with responsable

* Initial impression of Mme Bertier: on the phone she seemed friendly but frank about the situation I was going to find myself in when I arrived.  On meeting her, I found her not exactly intimate, but friendly enough.
* Did this change over time?  We never grew closer.  Perhaps a pinpoint would be the day I was late to my lesson by about ten minutes on the last day of the Xmas term.  Mme Bertier was a bit bemused when I showed up in the rain, clutching a TV (very heavy, partially hence my lateness) and in disorder.  She gave me my two classes (half hour each) and I muddled through.  Unfortunately the Christmas party was the same afternoon and she didn't speak to me at all.  Once.  To make it worse, she spoke to my German housemate for a good half hour (OK, maybe fifteen minutes) animatedly.  Since then we've just had a 'talk if we need to' relationship but I don't get the feeling she really holds something against me.  We sometimes have a bit of a conversation; just normally she doesn't take an interest in me.  For example, on the first day back after my holidays to Runion Island, Gabi (another teacher) immediately asked "So how was it?"  Ayala Bertier has said nothing.
* I wouldn't say that our relationship has changed, more that it hasn't really evolved and is kind of a stalemate but not necessarily a negative one.  I think we both have an understanding.
* I feel like I accept the relationship I have with my responsable.  I'm not afraid to ask her a question if I need to and there is no bitterness between us.
* I feel that my logbook is an accurate reflection on the whole.
* Perhaps taking part in the project affected my relationships with the head teacher and responsable.  With the responsable, it made her less willing to be involved with me perhaps.  She voiced the fact that she was definitely not too keen on the idea of being recorded nor that she was too impressed by the project as a whole.  I can see where she is coming from as it was unrealistic for her to get to Paris for the stage they invited her to.  And she wasn't very well informed about it.  When I explained about how my choice of town/acadmie hadn't worked out, she also saw the direct link to PIC.  With the head teacher the project was probably to my benefit as she had to be nice to me on tape and those are the main instances when we see each other.

NB  With other members of staff, three out of five had been assistants in the UK before and I found that these were for the most part the teachers most sympathetic and close to me (two in particular).

I had the same experience as Sonya from day one (teachers saw her as disrupting their teaching schedule).  Quite a welcome!  "Surplus to requirements".

A couple of thoughts re checklist for responsables

* To meet with assistant at least once a month to discuss progress, problems, etc.  This interval should be heavily suggested!
* To be the person primarily responsible for welcoming assistant on their first day (tour of school, introduction to staff etc)
* Very difficult to specify: be prepared to (try to) help in finding accommodation for assistant on arrival.
* Be the person the assistant consults over general problems (not specific issues over other teachers' lessons, for example) or inquiries at the school.






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