Mafeythful Journey » educational experiences

Confusing Schedule

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:57:55 +0000

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

admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 05:09:04 +0000

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

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:20:27 +0000

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

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:35:50 +0000

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

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:01:05 +0000

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.

Happy!

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:01:44 +0000

Tonight’s classes really went very well and it just occurred to me that patience is a virtue which I have been cultivating since I came here. After I reviewed with Dora who is my early learner student, her mom was talking to me in Chinese and I understood what she said but I can’t answer in Chinese so I called my class monitor to translate for me. She thanked me and said that she has never seen such a patient teacher but me. For me what I did was just be with her child and reviewed some picture cards and showed her how to do it with her daughter. I am so glad to know that she really appreciated my efforts in teaching her daughter and the rest of the class. Indeed a simple thank you brightens my day and makes it even more meaningful. It’s one of the many reasons why I am up and about until this time of day,

Funny Alice

admin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:59:55 +0000

Today’s classes has been really awesome and my kids were in the right mood to learn. Much more when I had Alice as my assistant for those two classes with early learners. I’m always glad to have her in my classes because she’s just so flexible and apt to get whatever I want for my kids to do. She is so friendly and we are close to each other at school. I believe she’s my best friend at school. More than anybody else, I love Alice.:)

This afternoon’s first class was so wacky because we had actions and one card says standing on the head. She got the turn while we were playing charades and she then didn’t know how to act it out and one smart gilr in class told her to do it and immediately raised her hand and said, ‘Alice is standing on her head’. We had so much laugh when she finally did it and the kids just bursted into laughter. Until the time we went home that kid – Venus kept on saying and giggling about funny Alice today. Though I can’t understand her in her native language but I can read in her eyes how amused she was at Alice.

Indeed a fun-filled class with them today aside from their receptiveness to our target language. As an overall, I am wholly impressed!:) Whew!

Very Verry Verrrryyyyy Tired

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:16:46 +0000

This summer term has brought me so much stress and I am so tired by now thinking of what to do next while adjusting my schedules. This term I have been handling four classes in a row and I got only a day break. That is on Sundays. Just imagine that! Whew and I’ve got to go to school as early as I can to catch up with preparing my materials for all my classes otherwise, I won’t have everything. We have so many classes alike and it’s why I have to prepare early most especially the flashcards and photocopy for my own whenever possible. Since the onset of the summer term, I have been expecting these kinds of busy days here at school and I know I would give up health and wellness. I hope I can carry it on and make it there. It seems that tiredness is eating me up and I want to give up. Huh! This is really a summer freak. Now, I know how it feels to be working like a horse and as tired as a dog after a whole day’s work.

A Sense of Fulfilment

admin — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:02:02 +0000

I thought today would be another hell day with my classes. However, contrary to what I thought upon waking up this morning, I had a fantastic discussion with my high flyers and trailblazers today. Whew! Upon dismissal, one parent just came up to me and said in Chinese so many thank yous for making her son love to learn English. I could really feel her heartfelt thanks and that made my day today. After all, a simple and heartfelt thank you is what matters most. It could really uplift a weary and tired soul.