This morning’s IELTS class was great though we only had two speakers for the day. The brainstorming was great and the students shared each others’ ideas about their topics and gave tips on how to handle different questions. I only facilitated them on how to say their answers properly and grammatically. For the most part, they did the talking and I only gave feedback and suggestions at the end of each task. Tomorrow’s their mock testing to further help them prepare for their real test in two weeks. Two of my Chinese students are taking the exam here in Cebu before they go home this month end.As part of our program we are giving them weekly mock testing for them to be fully equipped during the real exam. This way they’d build more confidence in themselves to conquer their nervousness most especially during the Speaking task. 
Category Archives: educational experiences
Few Key Thoughts for the Day
Being just at home enjoying silent moments with myself allows me to relax even more compared to my life in ME. There is total relaxation here at the comfort of our home. I can fully express myself without restrictions for I know my family understands me more than any other. It’s been a month since I arrived and I have been working again with that same Korean ESL school I’ve left almost five years ago and I can say I’m having a great time working with all the employees both new and old. It’s really self-assuring to know that everything’s gonna be alright despite all challenges coming our way for we know that we’re working as one team and one company geared for further developments. I may not express everything into words but here’s what’s clear to me now – I’ve finally found my niche and I’m happy with my decisions in life. These are just a few key thoughts to think about before dozing off to bed tonight which brings me smiles for tomorrow’s exciting challenges. Good night folks. 
Why Do Goodbyes Hurt?
I’ve been teaching abroad for many years now but I guess this time it’s gonna be sadder than sad when I’d finally leave. I have been living and working with people who I considered as a third family. My second family is in China, where I also work for two years. I don’t know but even if I’d coax myself not to think of goodbyes still the thought of never seeing them again personally brings me more sadness. Now, even if I haven’t been feeling great since the past three weeks, I always try to feel I’m great so I can see all my kids and friends at school. I need to see them every day as much as I can for I know they are leaving sooner than I think. 
I wish I can stay here but I also have to consider my longer term goals for me and my family.
Been Having Tough Days Here
I just couldn’t imagine myself sacrificing hard time for over 10 weeks until the end of this school year due to unruly and uninterested students. Sometimes I question myself for being incapable or is it just because of the nature and culture of the place where I’m at right now. I always pray every day that He will give me more strength to carry on for without His guidance and love I’d be totally nothing. I’m dead. I’m hopeless. But with him I can reach to the highest mountains even breaking them into pieces. I know my God is bigger than them but it’s just that sometimes with my human nature I do get angry and I scorn every single mistake I see in my kids. I just want them to realize how important proper training is and how good manners can turn into healthy habits which in turn can make them very good citizens in the future. I just hope so they’d realize that…
Parent-Teachers’ Meeting 2011
People came very early tonight and as far as I’ve thought to be the very taxing day for me, it turned out not to be for I believe tonight’s the best night of my life here in SA. My kids’ parents were very supportive and thankful to me. They really thanked me for doing such a great job with their kids liking every day to come to school excited and happy. I hope we’d have more of great days in the classroom and that my kids won’t stop being enthusiastic of studying especially the English language as their second language. They need to learn and master it for their future. That’s my goal as the world is becoming more conscious of speaking English. I mean correct English.
Confusing Schedule
Today’s a great day though I’m quite confused with the schedule at first for I was assigned to be with another one when in fact I need to be with my own class, urgh! This is the downside of this organization here; we don’t know who’s who to listen and follow. Sometimes I ask myself why am I here in the first place but it all boils down to my decision to come here. If only I had stayed in China back then, I would have greatly enjoyed my days there til now. Well, there isn’t any point of crying over spilled milk as I am now here. I don’t have any choice so as to say but actually I have my power to decide for myself and the future. I am the captain of my ship no matter what they say. I have to make a tough decision sooner or later this school year or before it ends as I don’t really have the enthusiasm to work for this company. Honestly, this is so far the most stressful and worst experience in my career abroad. Sighs.
Sad but True
Today’s pretty great with my classes and this morning’s class was just so awesome. As always expected, Wayne’s really outstanding and we are happy to see him improving a lot in class as the course is about to finish. We were so tired today and we didn’t have really great time this morning. I don’t know I just woke up tired and didn’t want to work at all. Huh! This is my downside of being left alone by so many important people in my life. Yesterday was just so taxing for me and I left last night so heavy hearted and I just cried coz of a dear friend’s leaving too soon at school. Huh! I am really sad coz of it. Oh well could be because of the fact that she is my monitor of most of my classes this term. I would surely miss her when I leave soon. There are so many ways to connect though but personal communication is really preferable for there a lot more than a thousand word to express one’s feelings clearly and effectively. 
Still right now while I am writing this I’m still sad and I hope to carry on this feeling while it fades away soonest.
A Very Lax Day at Work
I’ve finished my EL3B class last Saturday and I’m so happy tonight that I’ve got only one class to handle. I decided to observe for other classes of my colleagues and enjoyed some activities. I love to just watch the real class on-going while being observed for I know my nerves just can’t be controlled at time I feel nervous. So to speak, my class tonight was fantastic and we somehow enjoyed the activities together we did all the ones written in my plan for the day. After I observed I decided to just stay in the teacher’s office and read a book when my colleague came in for a break. We just chatted for a while. I just like this man for he is full of energy and positive thoughts. He is just the right person to talk now for I am clouded with pessimism these past few weeks. Whew what a life after all! I don’t mind the hurtful things anymore except the things that make me happier and fulfilled as a teacher.
I Don’t Know
This is a short story about a workplace humour. One fine Friday afternoon, my colleague who’s just a few weeks at work in the school asked each on of us what ‘wo bu zi dao’ means. All of us answered with ‘I don’t know’. He was restless for a while thinking that we really don’t know. And kept on saying, ‘uhmmm’ after each of us answered, ‘I don’t know’. Then, a Chinese staff came in the adjacent photocopy room and he finally asked without any hesitation as to what does ‘wo bu zi dao’ really means. Nancy answered with full explanation and said, ‘It means, I don’t know’. We burst into laughter for we know that he really wasn’t satisfied or he didn’t get what we meant. That became his byline since then and everytime we played each other’s jokes at work we’d always end up with ‘wo bu zi dao’ story.
Nelson Cried
This evening’s classes has been great and we had some fun with the kids. They were just so attuned and focused on the lesson. They were so happy as they went home tonight. In my first class I really saw improvements with Lizzy and that she actually spoke on the second half of the lesson. Ther rest were just so receptive with all the activities most especially when we were watching the video sketch about ‘The Little Seed’. On my second class a boy cried in my class for I really showed them some discipline. I confiscated a play money for not listening after I told them that I would really get their paper money if they won’t listen to me. So as the story went, one boy didn’t listen thus I got his paper money and he cried after a few moments. He was so pitiful for he just shed tears head down the table. What a pity! On the other side of this, at least they learned something about discipline. Oh well, above all these mushy story, a funny and impressive thing happened in class for Robyn, the one who’s the spoiled brat slowly explained to Nelson what happened and why I got his paper money. Never had I seen her acted that way and that really impressed me for her great improvement. I am so happy today. Indeed, after my second class I and my class assistant talked with Nelson’s mom about what happened in class tonigt. I am so happy that we somehow met halfways and she showed her understanding and willingness to cooperate for her son’s English learning.