Friday, September 5, 2008

Some frustrating news

This week I heard some very frustrating news.

My friends son learns English in a primary school, he is in the 7th grade (apx 14 years old). This week they asked if he could have some extra lesson swith me because he doesn't enjoy English in the school. His mum told me that he literally shakes with fear in the classroom in case he is picked on to speak. Apparently the teacher shouts at the students if they get it wrong.....I HATE THIS! NO, NO, NO AND NO!

Children should never ever be shouted at when trying to learn and making an effort. I really don't like this way of teaching and feel that it just inhibits the students. I always encourage the students and even if they get it wrong I always tell them nice job (unless of course they are doing it on purpose).

Am I wrong? What do you think? Personally I love to see a class full of students with hands in the air eager to answer the questions even if they get it wrong, because at least they are trying, rather than everyone sitting staring at he desk in the hope of not getting picked for fear of getting it wrong!

The first week

Well technically it's the second week back but this week was when the children started. Before that we had to go in and decorate the classrooms with new posters etc to mak them more welcoming and of course we had a lot of paperwork to fill in for the start of the school year.

We were even lucky (or should I say unlucky) enough to attend a seminar that covered different aspects of education. The first was, ummm, can't rememeber so obvioulsy it wasn'tthaht great! The second was very nteresting reminding us about how children learn and how e can help them to be better learners. The third was ok, I was getting a bit tired by now what with Hungarian being my second language (and I'm still learning it) so after a while of constant listening I sometimes just switch off. However it was about how to rela when faced with stressful times in the classroom. Some said she was very good but all I understood was about drawing a star with your body and it just seemed to make me streesed cause she had the ost annoying voice and spoke way to fast!

I always try to remind myself that when faced with naughty children (that can be the possible cause of stressful situations) that they are indeed only children. They often don't know how bad they are and are usually just doing it for some sort of attention, therefore I don't give them any. If it's really unbearable I ask them to stand outside the door. After 5 minutes I go out and they get one more chance to come backin, If they are naughty again they go out again and stand in the teachers corridor.

It is worth remembering that as teachers we are not paid to worry about them after the lesson, that our free time, so try not to let them bother you.

Maybe easier said than done but it just takes practice.

Apart from that the first week seemed to go quite well, I have a few new faces (students that have had to repeat a year) and I also got a lesson a week with the very first grade....yay. I hope to have a lot of fun with that class.