Experiences of a teacher of English

One day teacher of English A said to teacher of English B, “With regard to what we were talking last week in the cafeteria, I would tell you something. Let me think. You know, your daily work, which one you love, is part of the work God entrusted us to carry out - in ample lenses. All right. Each person is inherently someone that communicates and lives together with other people, right? As well you told me that in this way you serve and help out others. So your work is trascendent, not only something for yourself, somewhere in your innerhood. Also it’d be trascendent because it connects you with the Other, God. You said we also live and work together with God, so He is right there, among the persons you live with. My conclusion? We would work not only for this world here but for this world here plus taking into account our father God is here, not only, so to speak, ‘in the stars’. Every day I think we, many of us, people from Western world need solid and firm values to build our lives;...

Hi teachers, these days are being great, because of my treating people, parents, teachers and kids. Besides I’m keeping and collecting so many possible posts – I hope relevant ones, some of them –, which I might love they were of any use for you. Best wishes, guys. Keep on doing your best. It’s worthy. / Photo from: blog reddrivingschool com. car covered in snow Mark and Andrea Busse

Today I’ve translated the email I sent to Javi’s mom, about this kid’s progress in learning English and in studying for a test he once had within a couple of days. The original Spanish version is on post # 753. / Photo from: logosoftwear com. running baker Dear Luisi, Kind greetings. Here you have some rules – better said, suggestions – that might help Javi to prepare for the next test. I do mean suggestions, for evidently it’s him who is learning how to study, with my help, but ultimately he is the one who is finding his unique, and efficient way how to learn English. I’d appreciate if you passed this email over to him. 1. Javi, read, and read, over and over what you have in the pages of your coursebooks. This is what you’ll face up in the test. Be aware of the ways you learn grammar, vocabulary, idioms; ponder about your own way of learning. In this way you’re going to find your unique learning style, which will take you to pass the upcoming test. Within 2 or 3 years, 5 at the most,...

Here is an email I sent to Javi’s mom one time, for her to send it over to Javi, before a near test of English at school. I taught Javi private classes. He was 14 or 15. He HAD to pass this exam. This exam, if he actually passed it, that would imply a significant step to pass a substantial part of the subject. I have changed these people’s names. Sorry for the likely format bugs. / Photo from: katarina-nocchie blogspot com. rainy day Estimada Luisi, Aprovecho para saludarte. Escribo a continuación unas normas, o mejor, sugerencias que pueden ayudar a Javi en el próximo examen. Sugerencias porque lógicamente él está aprendiendo a estudiar, con mi ayuda, pero tiene que encontrar su manera, eficaz, de aprender inglés, él mismo. Si fueras tan amable de hacerle llegar el contenido de este email, o el propio email. 1. Javi, dale vueltas a lo que aparece en las páginas del libro, que será la materia del examen. Lee, relee, fíjate en cómo vas aprendiendo el vocabulario, la gramática, etc. Así...

One day teacher of English B said to teacher of English A, “A couple years ago I taught English to a small group: they were three. The youngest kid was 9 and the others were 13 and 12. At those ages that difference of years, as you know, is very big. The youngest one was smart, though had little English. I started to give him instructions, sometimes, at every class. Like ‘Go to the green door and open it... now close it,’ etc. I made gestures related to the actions, with my arms and hands. If I spoke to him in English he would understand little – actually some words were unknown to him - but he began to understand me, and other instructions given by his classmates. This young kid began to relate, to connect ‘that language’ – he knew it was English – with actions and the physical surroundings. Moreover I had got to have this kid move and stand up often: it was necessary for him to do that, at his age, and also because he had been doing homework and studying for rather a long while befor...

Here is a thread post that was published in the web-site of British Council – BBC, www.teachingenglish.org.uk , and a reply by me. If you want, obviously you can provide some contribution. Sorry for the possible format settings on this post. A qualified English language teacher...so now what? Submitted by nbotfield_elt on 18 November, 2011 - 20:50 Hello Everybody! Hope you're all well. I'm a newly qualified teacher with a BA in English language, an MA in English Language Teaching, a TESOL, bags of enthusiasm, heaps of theoretical knowledge and...no job. I understand the job situation is pretty dire in the UK for everyone at the moment so I accept the lack of interest in hiring an NQT. I'm going abroad to teach in about 9 months time, however, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of what to do to keep me fresh and in the game for the time being? I've applied to volunteer once a week at a refugee centre but other than that, I can't afford to give up too much o...

One day teacher of English A said to teacher of English B, “In order to manage the class, or in other words, to efficiently teach and create an atmosphere of work, I think it’s essential to continuously observe your students: if they are following you, following another classmate that is responding or explaining about his or her experience, if that student over there is lately more absent-minded..., if there is some furtive-looking sort of plotting between two students - smiling cunningly, with furtive and shifty looks at each other... View all this not as something negative and invigilating-like. I see you’re trying to manage the class so as to make their real and serene learning English easier. You’ve got to intervene as soon as possible to cut off possible disruption and misbehavior problems. I’ve seen you also take into account the average students and the high-achievers, who are trying to listen to the teacher and the conversation between two or more students in English. Now I can...