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your worst classroom tics...
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dreadnought



Joined: 10 Oct 2003
Posts: 82
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:13 pm    Post subject: your worst classroom tics... Reply with quote

Having watched myself teaching on tape a few times, I always knew I had an annoying habit of saying 'ok' almost every other word, putting a rising intonation on almost every sentence (regardless of whether it was a question or not) and repeating sentences for absolutely no reason; however, I've recently become aware of a really irritating habit of bouncing my legs up and down when sat at the front of the class. I'm aware that I must come across as some kind of moronic baboon to my students...

So, what weird verbal and physical tics do you have when teaching?
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danielita



Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 281
Location: SLP

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I seem to finish many sentences with "so..." usually with a falling intonation...not sure why, but one of my students asked me why I do this and I had no real answer....
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hlamb



Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Posts: 431
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When changing from one activity to another, I often say "so" or "ok" randomly before introducing the new activity. I don't know if it bothers my students, but now that I'm aware of it, I'm bothered by it! I used to be a radio journalist and to break myself of saying "um" on the air, I substituted words such as "ok" and "so". Guess it has stuck with me!
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Will.



Joined: 02 May 2003
Posts: 783
Location: London Uk

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

right, ok.
Now then,
where was I?
Are you all ready?
what page were we on?
I know we did this before
Are you sure we didn't do this?
Yes! This was set for your homework

Apart from that.
favourite tic, stopping mid-sentence to follow another thought for the follow on. It leaves them completely baffled.
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acwilliams



Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 68
Location: Now in China, soon moving on

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

hlamb wrote:
Quote:
When changing from one activity to another, I often say "so" or "ok" randomly before introducing the new activity.


I do the 'so' thing at transition points, too. I only realised I was doing it the other day. I went to stand behind my desk, clapped my hands twice to stop the activity, and my teenage students all yelled 'So!' and fell about laughing. God, I hate being so predictable.

Also, I often carry a board marker or piece of chalk around the classroom while monitoring. It's not like I'm going to use it fifteen feet from the board, so goodness knows why I do it.
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Calories



Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 361
Location: Chinese Food Hell

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

haha, I say okay all the time and some classes think it's soooooooo funny. All the little boys (teenagers to be more specific)love saying OOOKAAY!

Since I can't be bothered to learn or pronounce any of my Chinese students names when I need one of them to talk or have a go at a game I say "you?" but I almost always make it sound like a question. Little boys do love saying "yoooooooooooooooooooou?"

I lean on the chalk board and get chalk all over me at the end of every class.

I walk around too much because I get bored and I'm hyperactive.
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expatben



Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 214
Location: UK...soon Canada though

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think we all have are things students and teachers. My thing is before we move on to something new I clap my hands as if to say we are done.

I also say OK a lot.
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younggeorge



Joined: 15 Apr 2005
Posts: 350
Location: UAE

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

expatben wrote:
I think we all have are things students and teachers. My thing is before we move on to something new I clap my hands as if to say we are done.

I also say OK a lot.

And how many of us have a compulsion to correct our colleagues' English? Laughing
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angrysoba



Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 446
Location: Kansai, Japan

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:29 am    Post subject: