Job Discussion Forums

[Sweetsee]

Thank you Guest of Japan. Why is it that few others have the same sense they were born with?

And thank you Stillnosheep for putting G-S in it's place.

And Gordon, well there is nothing to say for you that your posting doesn't allready say.

Glenski and Mulder: read Guest's post, and a little surprised at you.

I now understand that I am nearly the only one here willing to say that I am not it,
and I came here for 2 reasons:


1) to become a more effective teacher

2) to help others



That said, have a wonderful Sunday everyone!

[stillnosheep]

The weekend starts here!

[Sweetsee]

Ah, it's good to be alive!

Let's all step outside and give a primal scream. Maybe we will hear someone.

After that, let us all forget and forgive past transgressions and go forward with helping hands.



Can you hear me?

[guest of Japan]

Sweetsee, it doesn't help when you rake the coals.

[Sweetsee]

You are absolutely right and I apologize, no harm intended.

And I want to go on record as saying again, "You dah man!".

[Gordon]

There is absolutely no point in giving Sweetsee advice because if you say something that does not praise her, then she bites of your nose and says "Who asked you?" You did obviously, you started the post. If you praise Sweetsee, she acts like she is your best friend.

Every couple of months you ask the same classroom management question and many of us are tired of telling you the same things. I am glad that you ask us for advice, but please take the advice. It seems that the ever-patient Glenski is even tired of teliing you this.

[Sweetsee]

Advice taken. Thank you. Thank you everyone.

I now have a better idea of how I want to manage my classes.


FWIW, the new guy asked if he can observe my lessons and I now feel more confident that I can show him a good example.

And, I feel, had I not started this thread, I might not have been able to see some of the mistakes I had been making.



Remember: there is a reason for everything.

[AgentMulderUK]

[Sweetsee]

AgentMulderUK,


Hey, I'm sorry about that. Having reread your post I have made a mistake. You simply said Glenski had a point and I misread you.

Was that rude, "I am surprised"? I suppose that wasn't but it was rude of me to dismiss your other questions. I know you want to help so I hope that you will forgive me.

In all honesty, I was at the end of a 7 day work week and a bit frazzled when I wrote that yesterday. Also, I was put off by both Glenski's and Gordon's comments and overreactted. They didn't really say anything wrong, just that if they don't have anything productive to post than why post at all?

Yes, asked class management questions before but for whatever reasons I wanted to again. Fair enough?
In response to your questions, I have been teaching for 10 plus years as a public SHS ALT and at a small Eikaiwa.

I am now working full-time and share a homeroom with a JTE. I am more serious about teaching these days and trying hard to find my pace. Teaching the same classes day in and day out, it does not suffice to try to apply the same methods I did before. Mainly, to pop in and out of the school, have fun with the students and in general feel like I am on the outside looking in.

Also, unlike others on this forum, I am willing to air the difficulties I experience and unafraid to admit that I don't know how best to conduct my lessons. In fact, somebody pm'd me and told me they have similar difficulties but would never air them in public.

Mulder, I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts and value your advice and comments. I hope that you will see your way clear to forgiving me and I do apologize for my perceived rudeness. Sorry.

As for asking similar questions down the road, if I feel the need to do so I will not hesitate. I am not a trained teacher and if I have the chance to pick the brains of the experts I won't pass it up.

I tell you about my difficulties but for every challenging student I have plenty more successes. Like everything else, there's a whole lot of good and a whole lot of bad.



Sincerely,
s

[AgentMulderUK]

Don't worry about it Sweetsee. We all have bad days - and it sounds like you are having more bad days than the rest of us put together!

[Gordon]

I will try to have more patience with you, Sweetsee. Sorry for being so harsh.


You do bring up a good point about not being afraid to admit your own faults. That is a good quality to have.

[Sweetsee]

Wow, I thought this thread was dead. I know. It's not?

Thank you AgentMulderUK. Your kind words made my day.

You too, Gordon. Thanks a lot. When I first posted here you harshed me out and later apologized. Then, you let me have it again and now you have apologized again.

We all don't have all the answers. We all are in this together. Pity we sometimes get down on one another. Yet, the true measure of any person is that person's ability to say sorry, to admit their mistakes and to give kind words for others.

Thanks you guys. Your comments will go a long way to restore my faith in our cause.

[Glenski]

From Sweetsee's previous threads...

[Sweetsee]

Ahh Glenski,

You read me like a book, a very bad one at that. Yes, it's true. I am a bumbling idiot that has not managed to learn any of the skills needed to teach English in 12 plus years as an ALT/language school employee.

I believe I did mention that I was an ALT(American Language Tape-recorder), something you have conveniently overlooked in your assault.

And having said that it would be understood that the responsibilities of lesson planning, discipline, class management and evaluation fell squarely on the shoulders of the Japanese teacher, hence all but non-existant. Considering the non-subject status of English in this country, this comes as no surprise.

That is not to say that I didn't work my tail off trying to motivate the masses of disinterested, unmotivated, lazy young people in my classes to speak English. I was often appalled at the lack of effort and discipline in my classes but felt powerless to do anything about it. Not that I didn't want to.

I also worked full-time the whole time at a small language school near my place, little chance of learning the skills I need now there.

In short, I am in my second year as a full-time private high school English conversation teacher. I am experiencing severe behavioral problems on a daily basis and want to learn the skills to create an effective learning environment.

I repeat: you are either part of the problem or the solution.

Which is it?



Respectfully yours,
sweetsee

P.S. I brought the issue up again because I have no one to discuss it with and enjoy hearing from others.

P.P.S. One of the leaders in the gang-o-nine has fallen out with yet another member who has subsequently not been coming to school. JTE gave the entire class a mouthful the other day and after took 2 girls aside. The one told him what has happened in the past is old news and what is happening now is she hates the two of us, and that's it.

[Glenski]