Pie

It's sunny and dry
Like in Bali and Hawaii
Time to eat a pie
Without putting on any tie

Daily Teaching Journal #9

Seems that some students don't really see me as a teacher, more of a friend. I didn't mind it at first. However, it gets worse, some kept chatting while I was explaining some concepts to them. It could have been because they have understood the materials. However, for some reasons, I'm getting sure about my improper positioning in the class, whether I am their teacher. I am desiring not my students become quiet and give no response to me. I prefer a class that is dynamic yet controlled. What should I do?

Daily Teaching Journal #7

Today's focus is learning vocabulary. I taught XII graders this morning in the language lab. As they came in, I bombarded students 15 vocabularies describing personalities; conceited, tactful, etc. FYI, I needed to look up the dictionary for some words. A set of comprehension questions were given and then I provided them with a listening exercise in which the vocabularies were used. Questions that I keep in mind; Will they use the words? Or a simpler question, Would they remember the vocabularies by the time the class ended?

Daily Teaching Journal #6

I was supervising XII science students in math. test when writing this note down. I could feel it, the competition among students was tough. As soon as they received the question sheet, they focused on it without needing so much pushes. My conclusion is, the more mature they are, the better their awareness of self-control and self-direction become. What about the under-privileged students who have no sense of competition at all to strive for the best?

Teaching Journal #5

Decision made. Now daily! If Facebook character limit permits, I write anything I think it important. I love Monday, really, the day where freedom comes. However, today was English mid-term test. It was around P. Continuous, P. Simple, & the use of when / while to combine clauses. It took less than a half of an hour for students to do the work. Is the test's standard lower than the students'? Or otherwise? How do I know? ~ Yos

Teaching Journal #4: I don't quit writing the journal (ever)!

It's been a while after my last entry. I'm not quitting the journal. The reason of the short break is I was looking for a better format. Something practical to write and read, regularly updated, and in bite size. The new concept is slightly different to the current. Let's see what I can come up with on Monday (19 September).

This week onward, I teach 10 graders, more students, more demanding. It costs me freedom. I have less freedom, in terms of time, than I used to. I had spent my time teaching at the language lab before where classes are more relaxed and manageable. That's why, I need to make some adjustments.

Anyway, following are learning points I have collected this week.

• “You can't please everyone. You can always find those cynical to what you are doing.”
  I could heard some students saying 'Ngapain sih. Gak jelas!' commenting on my game of combining sentences using while/when. I was about to give up and leave the class right away.
  
• “Your students are much smarter than what you think they were.”

• “Different class, different characteristics and thus requiring different treatments.”
  One of five classes I teach has negative reputation of being non cooperative and difficult to handle. However, I sense beyond that, there are two 'Gangs' in the class. They seem to not like each other. It might be the core of the problem.

• “Teaching grammar is not teaching the right and the wrong, but telling them what is possible.”

• “I need to refine and put my English skills into a new level.”

Hei! (Warning; Adult Content)

Hei!

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tuk sabar menunggu

tapi kau tak mau

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dan selalu cemburu

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sebatas hasratmu

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Apa yang kau tau

hanyalah mau...mu

yang tak berma...lu

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seperti kutu

yang kan berlalu!

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aku pun tak mau

tak kan pernah mau

bila kau mencumbu ku

hanya tuk dirimu

sebatas hasratmu

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harusnya kau malu!