Experiences of a teacher of English

  Now I’m presenting what could be a first lesson, now that we are starting a new school year. I hope something from all this may help you out, whatever foreign or second language level you teach. In my case I teach English to adults from some false beginner to upper intermediate levels, namely from some A2 to C1.  All this may be even something beautiful, because we treat people, persons, and each and every one is unique, and we teachers may be influencing much on their lives: what a responsibility we have!  Something basic from this start lesson: we may address each student by looking into their eyes so they may feel they are and they are going to be treated like singular persons. That is something that has helped me a lot along my career as an English teacher, both kids and adults.  First I may introduce myself – on the running first days I will get to know their names; all this may vary in your case, obviously, depending on whom you teach; anyway I hope all this ...

  So we may be about to start a new school year. Today I wanted to tell you something that might help you out, not complicate your already heavy workload. Think of what I’m telling you today. Just think of it.  And this concerns second language teachers or whatever school subject you teach. Are you ready?  The point is each lesson you conduct in class should mean one step forward for your dear students’ learning and acquiring that foreign language. No step forward, no good, perhaps you’ve got to set out again what you’re doing in class.  Well, there may be other problems in your classes, but if you’ve read so far you may be trying to improve your lessons.  Thus it may result for your students to advance quite much or a bit much about using one language skill, like speaking. Or progressing regarding the four language skills in a string of well planned activities – in no way do I intend to complicate your daily lesson planning.  And that’s one of the things I...

  We may be about to start a new school year, at least at the north earth hemisphere. And you may be a hectic teacher. And you have to plan that school year by following the premises given by the school plus the points perhaps the school does not demand from you but you think they are important for your daily teaching.  That is what I’m doing. And maybe you’re a committed teacher who wants to get hold of every problem that might turn up in your pathway and your students’ one. Ok, great.  All the same I would tell you not to specify every mishap which could pop up during that school year. Even more if you tend to be a perfectionist teacher.  You will face any trouble when it occurs. Even you may have some transcendent view of life and may trust in God and his loving providence. Do not get everything tied and super tied up. Also because we may not know the students we’ll have soon.  Each and every one of them is unique and can provide their richness to the lessons...

  I think that in nearly all classes of students we can find like three groups: high-achievers, average students, and low-achievers. And I believe we teachers have to help all those three groups.  When teaching kids quite many years ago I was said by the assistant principal or headmaster deputy I ought to give material and opportunities to high-achievers, so they would not feel bored.  I taught and teach English. Also low-achievers have to be aided. I as a teacher cannot confine to hand out their graded tests or exams to the kids in class, and then also give out a low-achiever’s sheet with a super low grade, and there you are! Something else must be carried out with those kids.  The superintendent or gamekeeper of the place where I live was a bad student, and his dad told me to please help him. Eventually he stopped and gave up studying, and, well, he is a great professional now as a gamekeeper.  Ok, let’s turn back to the topic. Those kids may present several d...