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.”