Job Discussion Forums

[englishgibson]

We all on and off get into situations in our classrooms that put us in rather awkward positions.

I taught a class of a few 25 to 40 years “young” students/women. During one exercise one 40 years “young” student was asked two simultaneous questions: “Does your mother live in Guangzhou?” and “What does your mother look like?” Those questions came simultaneously for that was the purpose of the exercise to boost their speaking/listening skills. The student began weeping instead of responding to the mentioned questions asked by the other two students, because her mother had died (don’t think recently-though did not want to ask). It took me a few minutes to have her contain her feelings and to bring the class back on track. I felt guilty for having prepared those questions by myself.

Had I anticipated that hiccup, I would have rephrased that questions and used other family member in the questions instead.

Have any of you experienced such hiccups in your classrooms recently?

Cheers and beers

[brsmith15]

e.g.,

Consider this little story:

In a US army unit, the lieutenant calls the first sergeant into his office and tells him that Jones' mother has died. The NCO is to convey the sad news.

Sergeant Harris calls the second platoon to attention on the company street and hollers, "Jones! Your mother is dead. All dismissed!"

The lieutentant sees this and calls the sergeant forward. "Sergeant, that wasn't the right way to deliver such sad news. Now, there's the army way to do something like this. Please study it."

Next month, Smith's mother dies and again the lieutenant asks the sergeant to pass on the bad news...........but in the army way.

The sergeant calls the platoon to attention once more:

"All those whose mother is living take one step forward.....Smith, where are you going?"

[Chris_Crossley]

[englishgibson]

Yes, we should never assume anything Chris. Thanks, I shall be more more aware in the future. Have you never had any hiccups of your own?
Cheers and beers

[tw]

The biggest hiccups I made were mistaking students' gender.

[cimarch]

I've done that a few times...

[Chris_Crossley]

[englishgibson]