Job Discussion Forums

[kiracle]

Ugh! I have a gallon of snot in my head and I still have to make english fun and accessible to a hundred students a week!

I have taught for many years mostly in pre-school where I was always warned at the beginning of the year that I would be sick as a dog from all those kiddy germs. It never happened. Now, it has. For the first time in five years I had a fever a couple weeks ago along with a nasty chest cold. After I recovered from that I got the word's worst cold that seems to be turning into flu. I mean it is interesting to teach with no voice but after the novelty wears off it's not so much fun.

I have to keep teaching, taking time off is not really an option. So just wondering, any advice on how to make it through the days without seriously reducing the quality of my students' lessons or maybe even better, how to advoid all these foreign kiddy germs??

Cheers,

Kiracle

[Celeste]

Days when you are sick are good for quiet games. I like to give them silent relay games.

Put the kids in teams of 6 or so.

Line them up facing the back of the room.

Have the first kid from each team come to the front of the room and show them a flashcard.

They will go back to their line, tap the next kid on the shoulder and mime the flashcard to them.

Each kid will mime in turn and the last kid in line comes to the front of the room and whispers the word of phrase to the teacher.

You can also get them to do a drawing on backs version of this game with letters, numbers, or basic shapes. (instead of miming the word, they will draw the figure on the next person's back using a finger)

I also like to do alphabet practice and crafts projects with the little guys when I am sick. That way I can speak in a low voice and deal with them more one on one rather than the big genki group leading thing.

To prevent getting sick in the first place, wash your hands like crazy, and don't let yourself get too run down or too chilled. The schools are very cold at this time of year, and if your body is spending all of its energy preventing hypothermia, you will have little strength left for fighting kid-germs.

[chinagirl]

I sooooooooooo have been there. Look, I know this doesn't seem feasable, but can you take a couple of days off? You don't want to end up with complete laryngitis morphing into walking pneumonia. Tell your boss very politely that they can lose you for a day or two, or lose you for a week or two. I was in the same exact position and I was able to recover with a 4 day weekend of total and complete rest and NO talking.

Tea with honey, hot bath, bed. There. I've said it.
Ganbatte.

[PAULH]

A medical certificate (shindansho) from your doctor explaining your 40 degree temperature should be able to seal the deal. Is it really worth ending up hospitalised and totally wasted over teaching a few little brats?

Japanese salarimen may be on deaths door but still have to turn up for work but it doesnt mean we have to, as well.

[M.]

1. throw-up on students
2. Divide class in two.
3. Hand out towels.
4. pre-teach...vomit, tossing cookies, projectile vomiting, clean-up, rub.
5. Use the force

[shmooj]

M! You beat me to it.