Back in the classroom

Well, I've achieved one of the goals I set out to do this autumn.
It was with some intrepidation that I took on a 'Very Young Learners' English class, advertising to the mums I know at yochien (I didn't know how blatant I should be, recruiting via another educational establishment, so I quietly e-mailed the mums in chibbi-chan's class and gave hand-outs about the class to other mums I know). Didn't know if I'd have any takers - I made it clear that I had zero experience of teaching this age group before - but I've ended up with 7 kids - mostly 3-4 yr olds with a 5 yr old and 9-yr old thrown in to make things interesting. Chibbi-chan comes with me.
I found a suitable room at a local community centre (there's no way our apartment could host that many kids without someone ending up crying) and we're now in Week 7 of an 8-week course. No-one's dropped out and I'm still sane. Not that preparing for and teaching a one-hour class per week is so very difficult, but teaching young kids has certainly had its moments.
Like the time I asked kids to work in pairs. Or the time I asked them to draw what they'd seen on the tray (now covered up).
But I was pleasantly surprised by the undivided attention they are able to give a story, despite the fact that it's all in English. Doubtless, because of the transcending power of great illustrations.
Games, of course, they love, and I've been revisiting all the oldies but goodies I enjoyed as a child - musical bumps, musical statues, pin the tail on the donkey, skittles.
I hadn't expected they'd move so fast through the activities, but I'm coming round to the idea that they need plenty of repetition, so it doesn't all have to be new for the whole lesson period. Rather than recycling the following week, I've learnt that we can recycle in the lesson itself.
And it's nice to have fun in the English class - something which I've realized has been missing from my teaching for quite a while. Teaching for exams and teaching students who don't want to be in class can sap the energy of even the most enthusiastic teacher over time.
Of course, I'd love to observe a professional pre-school English teacher in the classroom. That way I could avoid some of the pitfalls of what doesn't work. Then again, with 3-yr-olds, you find out soon enough.
At the end of each class, I always ask chibbi-chan the same question.
'Do you think the kids enjoyed English class today?'
Her reply is always the same.
'No,' she says, witheringly.
Nevertheless, within a day or two she's asking me 'When is it English class?'