Job Discussion Forums

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Greetings Forum:


There are days when I think I have the best job in the world.

I teach English to the staff of some of Bangkok's most famous 5 star hotels.

Classes are always held during the normal working day, so my students arrive in their uniforms.

It's a visual treat, with men & women in tall white chefs hats sitting next to bar hostesses in their long silky gowns,

seated beside the concierge in his pristine white 'tux'; accountants in their conservative grey business suits,

and the bell-hops with their funny looking 'monkey' hats !

Well anyway - last week one of my long term students walked into class and I did a double take.

In fact, I didn't recognize her at first. Something was different.

hmmmm. New haircut ?

Nope.

It was her new uniform !

I said matter-of-factly in a half-kidding sort of way, "So, you're wearing a new uniform. Did you get a promotion?"

She looked me straight in the eye and said,

"Yes, my English has improved so much, I've just been promoted to Banquet Manager."

"I got a pay raise too", she said. "Because of you."

I was speechless. Damn near brought a tear to my eye.

I thought to myself, "That's why we do it."

It's not the money. Sure, the traveling, boozing & cheap hookers are great, but ...

the ultimate reward is that feeling in your gutt when you walk out of the classroom

that you've had a positive impact on someone's life,

that you've made a real difference.

[dmb]

I know where you are coming from Kent. A couple of years ago I returned to a village where i had taught 10 years previously. I bumped into an old student and discovered he was an English teacher. He chose to go to uni and become an English teacher because of me. When he said this it was just one of those moments where I cant describe how I felt.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi dmb!

Will somebody pass me a box of Kleenex please.

[SillySally]

Job well done. Congratulations! You are right - that is what it is all about!!!!!!

Cry all you want, you earned it!!!!

[dmb]

Thanks Kent, I think you have helped me make up my mind. I have a long weekend coming up at the end of August, I was wondering what to do. I think I'll return to the village, it's only an 8 hour bus journey from Istanbul.

[expatben]

Well done guys, thats why we become teachers, thats our brass ring. I remember I had a 5 year old student once-first day he spoke to no one and cried. The rest of the week he would come to school but would not talk to anyone especially me and not come to class. Well, he improved....so much infact that he once saw me on the street and ran up to talk to me and gave me a water baloon as a gift. Not saying I did anything to help but the fact he gave me that present really made me feel good

[dmb]

In Turkey, there is actually a teachers' day(end of January) where students give gifts to their teacher. Do any other countries have teachers' day?

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ It's the 16th of January in Thailand.

I'm placing my gift orders early this year.

http://www.thailandlife.com/teachersday.html

[ZIA!]

Kent.... Wai Kru Day!

Now you bring a tear to my eye. Nothing like a lap of flowers from classes of 5 year olds.....

Funny thing was teachers in the higher grades were told that the fancy flowers they received were to be given back...(seems the vases and such cost money) but with the little ones...we got to keep all the grubby handed flowers and incense.

Not the same as the cakes and Cross pens I recieved in Taiwan, but I think overall the sense of ritual in Thailand touched my heart more deeply.

Cheers

[Boy Wonder]

I am currently teaching English comm skills to 250 primary school students.

During the first week i was informed by one class upon asking one student his name that said student can't speak English.....at all!!!

With a lesson focus on spoken class presentation in the last few weeks this boy ( with a bit of encouragement and patience ) has progressed from virtually having panic attacks when asked to speak and vigorously shaking his head and refusing to speak at all.... to being able to stand up , microphone in hand and tell 24 other boys and myself all about his home..without a panic attack or stammer to be heard!

Forget about guiding students thru CPE and CFE....i got more joy and job satisfaction from this little 10 yr old realising and proving his self worth than anything else before.

[Will.]

It hits you right there doesn't it?

A 12 year-old girl hanging around at the end of class to give you your 'special' teacher's day Chocolate bar. going home from uni with a bunch of red roses, one from each student, and people at the bus stop and on the tram smiling at you and shaking your hand, congratulating you for a job well done. They only know you are a teacher because your students have demonstrated their appreciation with flowers and ordinary people in the street value this addition to society even if you are from abroad... that entails even more back slapping handshaking and congratulating.

We don't have this in my own country, which is probably why we are so surprised by it in others.

[JDYoung]

There's a teacher's day in China, sometime in October around Moon Festival. Roses all around and usually a dinner paid for by the school. It's great being introduced proudly as "My teacher" by a person who isn't really your student but likes going to your English Corner's.