So once things settled down in September after having visitors, trips, and time at home, I went back to work of course! We moved back from the sea to the city, school started up again, and another chapter of my Italian life began. I started teaching some different students- some new, some the same from the last school year- and began another job more similar to babysitting like I do with Giuseppe. So now, in the mornings for 4 days a week, I watch a 2 year old named Alfredo. He is just adorable and is always making me laugh and smile! On the right is a picture around Christmas time...which is definitely Alfredo's favorite holiday. We still to this day in March read Christmas/Natale books! I really like having time with a baby now as well because they are one of my favorite ages of children to work with. Its a nice break from large amount of 6-10 year olds I have. So now I have been working with him for about 5 months, and he really is learning some English! It really is great to start children while they are young and still learning even their first language. Their brains absorb so much information and knowledge at that time, so its great! It helps a lot that I know Italian and I now know Italian baby-talk thanks to Alfredo (haha) so that I can understand him when he speaks or needs something. He is pretty much at the stage right now of repeating English..although he has started to say some words to me in English without me saying them first! Before I started babysitting him, he had no experience with English, and now, he knows some numbers, colors, and some random words! He now only says the word moon...even when he's speaking Italian, he will say moon, not the italian word, luna. :) Also, the parents of Alfredo are wonderful. They are a fun, young couple that are great to me and are very kind and friendly. I have gotten to know them well and consider them another host family for me here in Palermo. When I first started with them, Alfredo was a bit shy of me..not only for the normal kid reasons of meeting a stranger, but also because, as A
lfredo says when his parents ask him 'How does Brittany talk?!', "Bitty (how Alfredo pronounces my name) parla (speaks) blah blah blah blah bah." haha So not only for typical kid reasons for being shy around a new person, but he also didn't understand when I was speaking! Poor kid! But the parents helped him to become comfortable around me by saying to him always, "Brittany e bella! (Brittany is beautiful/good/nice!)" So shortly after I started working with him, my name soon became "Bitty Bella"!! I swear for the longest time, and possibly still, he thinks my first name is Bitty and my last name is Bella. haha He even introduces me to people that come to the house while I'm there as Bitty Bella! :) That is just one of the many sweet, cute things this child has said or done...I could go on forever about him!I also started teaching English to a girl named Federica (age 6). She is a ball of fire and so cute. From when she started lessons until now in February, she has improved her English tremendously. I'm so proud! I also have kept my previous students Gloria (age 7), and the brother and sister Ginevra (age 12) and Mainaldo (age 18). They have been great students and continue to make my job fun and easy. I enjoy the age differences. Even though it makes more work for me to plan more lessons for the different skill levels, it mixes things up so I don't become bored with the same thing over and over 5 times a week. Mainaldo is fun because we basically have conversation in order to learn new advanced English. While doing this, I've also learned a lot from him about Italian culture when we compare the English/American/Italian cultures!
I also have started with a new student, Federica.
She is an adorable 6 year old that Angheli, my host mom, referred to me. Like all 6 year olds that I have had experience with, they can either be angels that are so much fun to teach and play with, or they can just plain not want to learn that day and be slightly difficult. :) I have definitely learned a lot about children ages 6-7 while I have been in Italy because most of my work experience has been with that age.... what can I say.... all I want to know is why do people say the terrible age is 2!?! :) Again, I love working with children and each child I have worked with here in Italy has been a great experience in its' own!
