Here I sit with a ton of work to do, yet I cannot seem to buckle down and do it. I always feel bad when I can't get students' assignments corrected really quickly, as I remember what that was like when I was a student 92875984279 years ago. Still, sometimes there's just no intrinsic motivation to get it done. Therefore, here I am, posting here. Pointlessly (or perhaps not?) productive.
Today had its ups and downs. First of all, I have one class that is half filled with very motivated students who want to learn, while the other half remains the utter opposite. If I were the type of person who could disconnect herself from the slackers, I would be happier; I think this is why I shouldn't follow this career path - teaching ESL, if you're wondering exactly what I teach - forever. Regardless, I had them do an assignment and the results were fantastic from the go-getters and a complete disappointment from the others, namely due to the fact that they didn't even prepare their presentations. I put so much energy and effort into making my class the best it can be, and all they do is complain and not do anything I ask of them...it is really disheartening. This hasn't been the norm for me since I started teaching in Canada, however, so I need to learn to let it go. I'm working on just noticing emotions and then letting them go.
Still, one of my motivated students, a lawyer from Colombia, approached me after class and told me that their attitudes are absolutely terrible and was really kind to me. That is what I need to focus on -- that and the fact that most of the students I have are generally great!
However, the highlight of my day came when I decided to invite some of my adorable little Chinese students from my morning class to a costume shop to find Halloween costumes. The girls all tried on sexy costumes, which I advised them against (it's for a school function) until I actually saw them - the costumes were far too long and big to even be considered sexy. This amused me. They were adorable. They bought the costumes, too. I'll try to get photos.
I'm going as the grammar police. I think I'm going to put punctuation marks and grammar "tickets" on my belt. What's that, you say? I'm a nerd? Yep, sure am; a nerd of a dying breed, an appreciater of something that is now looked upon in the same light as art or poetry - a fantastic, useful vehicle for human expression that is of absolutely no interest to the majority. Sigh.
Comedic teacher moment of the day:
*Korean student presenting the recipe for a traditional Korean dish*
Saudi student: "Do you usually eat that with rice?"
Korean student: "Of course! Korean people always eat lice with everything. We think it's really delicious!"
Today had its ups and downs. First of all, I have one class that is half filled with very motivated students who want to learn, while the other half remains the utter opposite. If I were the type of person who could disconnect herself from the slackers, I would be happier; I think this is why I shouldn't follow this career path - teaching ESL, if you're wondering exactly what I teach - forever. Regardless, I had them do an assignment and the results were fantastic from the go-getters and a complete disappointment from the others, namely due to the fact that they didn't even prepare their presentations. I put so much energy and effort into making my class the best it can be, and all they do is complain and not do anything I ask of them...it is really disheartening. This hasn't been the norm for me since I started teaching in Canada, however, so I need to learn to let it go. I'm working on just noticing emotions and then letting them go.
Still, one of my motivated students, a lawyer from Colombia, approached me after class and told me that their attitudes are absolutely terrible and was really kind to me. That is what I need to focus on -- that and the fact that most of the students I have are generally great!
However, the highlight of my day came when I decided to invite some of my adorable little Chinese students from my morning class to a costume shop to find Halloween costumes. The girls all tried on sexy costumes, which I advised them against (it's for a school function) until I actually saw them - the costumes were far too long and big to even be considered sexy. This amused me. They were adorable. They bought the costumes, too. I'll try to get photos.
I'm going as the grammar police. I think I'm going to put punctuation marks and grammar "tickets" on my belt. What's that, you say? I'm a nerd? Yep, sure am; a nerd of a dying breed, an appreciater of something that is now looked upon in the same light as art or poetry - a fantastic, useful vehicle for human expression that is of absolutely no interest to the majority. Sigh.
Comedic teacher moment of the day:
*Korean student presenting the recipe for a traditional Korean dish*
Saudi student: "Do you usually eat that with rice?"
Korean student: "Of course! Korean people always eat lice with everything. We think it's really delicious!"
