Job Discussion Forums

kakapo · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 20 Location: China

I teach at a university. Before one class last week a student handed me a note written by a classmate. It read:

"Dear Mr. Martin,

Sorry for no coming to your lesson at first.

Yesterday [Sunday] I was forced to walk on the Department street and purchase things with my girlfriend. We walked all day and my feet are acing now. Also, I get a bad headace for having taken a shower in the last midnight with carelessness.

So I ask for a leave now. Hope for your permmitment.

13rd. September

[student's name]"

I don't keep attendance so he needn't have bothered writing a note. However I'm glad he did. Have you been given such an entertaining excuse?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Did you notice this guy's absence during that lesson - ? Question

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

In Japan I had a girl take me aside and tell me she couldn't do her homework because her made her pour drinks and serve his business clients the night previous.

In Korea I had countless I forgot's and in China I get many it's too much

Yu · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 1219 Location: Shanghai

In the US,
my students (Korean) would tell my they had bad diahrrea (sp?) or that they had too much to drink the night before.

Also an incredibly large number of students missed class to pick someone up for the airport. I told them it was a lame excuse. That was the hardest one for me to beleive them. I mean it isn't always easy to get a visa, and many of the students going to the airport did not even have a car.

Lee_Odden · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 172

One of the things I love about my university students is their childlike innocence and honesty when providing me with absentee excuses, e.g., "I was too sleepy to come to class," "I didn't sleep - I have a bad headache," "My stomach hurts" and, my all time favorite, "I have to study for Japanese class" (spelling and gramatical errors have been corrected). I don't keep attendance either so the notes are completely gratuitous but they do make for fun reading and, actually, I appreciate the gesture.

kakapo · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 20 Location: China

Roger

Like a good shepherd tending his flock of 400 I know all my students by sight (if not by name). So when the absentee hobbled into class this week I solicitously inquired about his health. He replied, somewhat sheepishly, that his head was alright but that his feet were still "acing". He said that he had resolved next time he ovinely followed his girlfriend on a shopping expedition he would wear sensible shoes.