Self Introduction Lesson

Be prepared to do a self introduction lesson. A lot. The kids have seen this before so don't be afraid to break out of the mold. Due to the fact that you'll be doing this quite a bit, you may want to take it into consideration when packing. Do you have a unique hobby? Is there a culturally important outfit to your country or background? Think about packing it. I know of a certain ALT who skateboarded into class for his self-introduction, making an unmatched impression.

What to Bring

 * Hobby Related Goods. Not only will these be good for your introduction lesson, you'll probably appreciate having it around for your own downtime and having a little piece of home.
 * Family photos. Your kids will go nuts for these. The goofier, the better. Don't forget about the furry members of your family. Also your car, house, or home town.
 * Sport equipment. This may be similar to hobby related goods but maybe not. Canadian-- why not bring a hockey puck? (Or a stick, if you have the room) From the common wealth? Why not a rugby or cricket ball?Several airlines allow a separate checked bag of sporting goods in addition to your luggage so bringing sporting goods with you may allow you to get away with bringing even more luggage! I mean, who is really going to say something about a few extra pair of underpants in your cricket bag along with your pads?

After You Get Here
When you arrive at your schools, you will have a few weeks of downtime. Using power point for your opening lesson is a great way to show photos and videos. However, some schools will not have the technology for this (i.e., no projector), so try to find out sooner, rather than later, if it is even possible to use power point. While it is easier than holding little photos in a class with 40 kids, you may not have a choice. Talk to your predecessor before you come over to see if Power Point is a feasible option at your schools. Try to make it interesting because you will have to do the same introduction many times. Show them pictures and tell them things about your country and yourself. The more fun and interesting it is, the more the kids will remember your name!