tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post5079368034245390230..comments2023-10-21T11:44:45.588+01:00Comments on ResidentAlien: Not One Of Those DaysMary Witzlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-9269554253992502822009-03-31T03:29:00.000+01:002009-03-31T03:29:00.000+01:00I blame bad days on the full moon (even if it's wa...I blame bad days on the full moon (even if it's waxing or waning). That way nothing is my fault!laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17174697892947430149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-85017668997800974042009-03-30T05:59:00.000+01:002009-03-30T05:59:00.000+01:00Kanani -- Except we've already done the e-mail, an...Kanani -- Except we've already done the e-mail, and it would have been, "Teacher, what is proper?" And believe me, only the smarter kids would have gotten that much. On a brighter note, I went back to that letter lesson the other day and they all got it!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-40235908375171843172009-03-29T20:46:00.000+01:002009-03-29T20:46:00.000+01:00Arghh!!I guess you could have said, "Today we're g...Arghh!!<BR/>I guess you could have said, "Today we're going to learn how to write a proper e-mail. Perhaps that would have gotten them. or show them and epistolary? Or show them the movie "Love Letters?"<BR/>Who knows?Kananihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317494343177263398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-32949688178043333092009-03-29T11:30:00.000+01:002009-03-29T11:30:00.000+01:00They're nowhere near that level yet; these are kid...They're nowhere near that level yet; these are kids who have to ask me what 'probably' and 'almost' mean. But the other day we had a thunder storm and lightning almost hit our school. We all jumped a foot. And I accidentally managed to teach everyone a very useful, if not very nice, word.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-56638645812547774062009-03-28T11:58:00.000+00:002009-03-28T11:58:00.000+00:00Maybe you need to do a class on slang...Maybe you need to do a class on slang...Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-13421436508365346892009-03-27T20:07:00.000+00:002009-03-27T20:07:00.000+00:00Kappa -- That's happened to me too: a student will...Kappa -- That's happened to me too: a student will find a more succinct and up-to-date way of saying something than what I've told them and lightly toss it out all nonchalantly, making you look silly. But what the heck: 'Dutch treat' and 'going Dutch' sound so much more interesting than 'separate checks'. Next time, tell them that you wanted to teach them something more charming and culturally interesting.<BR/><BR/>Bish -- I keep finding these little quirks of speech, that's my problem. Some of my students have insisted that listening to me rattle on has helped their listening comprehension, but I worry that I only succeed in confusing the others.<BR/><BR/>Adrienne -- Oh, if only I had students who were capable of understanding idioms and metaphors!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-70502097048302236202009-03-27T18:05:00.000+00:002009-03-27T18:05:00.000+00:00Next time tell them it's a piece of cake ;)Maybe t...Next time tell them it's a piece of cake ;)<BR/>Maybe that'll hold their attention, anyway.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05583029102450754497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-5009945105673178442009-03-27T16:14:00.000+00:002009-03-27T16:14:00.000+00:00What a great blog. You really crack me up.What a great blog. You really crack me up.Piloting The Ship Of Foolshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07354339693058739192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-39524538882310781012009-03-27T10:39:00.000+00:002009-03-27T10:39:00.000+00:00English is hard enough as it is for "native" speak...English is hard enough as it is for "native" speakers...teaching it as a second language...I know is a challenge. There are so many little quirks of the tongue we use without even thinking about it.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-5861073918534792009-03-27T07:34:00.000+00:002009-03-27T07:34:00.000+00:00I agree with Angela...laugh or cry. The other day ...I agree with Angela...laugh or cry. <BR/><BR/>The other day I taught my class Dutch Treat. I was proud of myself. Then someone raised his hand and said, Don't people nowadays say separate checks? I felt 100-years old. <BR/><BR/>Here's to tomorrow being a great teaching day!<BR/><BR/>terrieKappa no Hehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00909580462578058631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-35082064693260257302009-03-26T17:24:00.000+00:002009-03-26T17:24:00.000+00:00Lily -- Thank you: I am glad that my appalling tea...Lily -- Thank you: I am glad that my appalling teaching experiences have some use! Writing about them after the fact always cheers me up, so this is a win-win deal for me. (Ooh, I just used the word 'deal' again! Shiver.)<BR/><BR/>I dearly love Eddie Izzard, so the fact that you are even remotely reminded of him while reading my blog gives me a real rush.<BR/><BR/>Charles -- So you've noticed this too? Teaching has some very strange chemistry: on the days I've written a good lesson plan, have loads of interesting material and am sure I'll have a fantastic, dynamic class, it all goes over like a lead balloon. But once in a while I stumble into class ill-prepared, after a bad night -- and everybody responds with energy and enthusiasm. Go figure.<BR/><BR/>Charlie -- You use English a lot better than most native speakers -- not a tense out of place. And as for my shoes, I got away with murder today: I wore my nasty old black pumps with the worn-down heels. But I'll take the compliment all the same, and maybe I'll even wear them again tomorrow!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-58833410765228614192009-03-26T17:18:00.000+00:002009-03-26T17:18:00.000+00:00. . . learning about the difference between the p...<I>. . . learning about the difference between the present perfect and the simple past.</I><BR/><BR/>Huh? I have trouble learning English as a first language.<BR/><BR/>To reiterate other commenters, I just don't know how you do it.<BR/><BR/>And even though it was a bad day, I liked your shoes.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722567671925063706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-89499984186176092322009-03-26T15:57:00.000+00:002009-03-26T15:57:00.000+00:00It is definitely weird how this dynamic develops. ...It is definitely weird how this dynamic develops. My writing class on Tuesday was a dead zone. Today it was lively and bouncing. I don't know what the difference was.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-51442856490321626832009-03-26T14:20:00.000+00:002009-03-26T14:20:00.000+00:00Mary, I love reading your blog! This story reminde...Mary, I love reading your blog! <BR/>This story reminded me of an Eddie Izzard bit where he tries to explain British slang to an American audience. Even when you speak the same language, you don't neccessarily communicate, huh? <BR/><BR/>At least you can look back on days like this and say "Well, it wasn't boring!"Lily Catehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17732112345439595471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-81124071009406331402009-03-26T12:40:00.000+00:002009-03-26T12:40:00.000+00:00They sure did, Anne. In fact, they struck me as no...They sure did, Anne. In fact, they struck me as no-brainers -- completely effortless activities that any idiot could do. All this stuff that's happening now is divine karma, pure and simple. As I sowed, so do I reap.<BR/><BR/>And you are right: the trick is in trying to be the best possible teacher and parent. Frankly, I think even half-hearted teaching can be a hard slog, and even slapdash parenting is no picnic.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-75350947185739371642009-03-26T12:27:00.000+00:002009-03-26T12:27:00.000+00:00Teaching and parenting are the two hardest things ...Teaching and parenting are the two hardest things I've ever done in my life -- because I try to do them well and I care about the result. I think you are the same in that regard, Mary.<BR/><BR/>And didn't they both look easier when you were younger and being taught and parented?Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-17635103824148898282009-03-26T06:07:00.000+00:002009-03-26T06:07:00.000+00:00Angela -- The good thing about the crying days is ...Angela -- The good thing about the crying days is that I can usually laugh at them later, and then they become laughing days. But I wouldn't mind having more of the pure laughing days anyway.<BR/><BR/>Travis -- I'm amazed I've lasted longer than a month here, actually. One of these bad teaching days, my students may rise up in revolt.<BR/><BR/>Eryl -- I think Merry's explanation (a few comments down) makes sense. The stupid thing was that I eschewed 'You don't need to make such a fuss over it' as an explanation for 'It's not very important', knowing that the former would be trickier for my students to process. It's like I need to stick to a very tight script and once I wander off course, I'm doomed: these are students that still can't understand 'probably'.<BR/><BR/>Jacqui -- 'Point of you' -- That is a great interpretation! My current crop of students spends so much of their time looking utterly perplexed. It is so hard to distill classroom language into understandable English when there are a lot of students who don't understand the most basic words. On our first lesson, I wasted 20 minutes explaining that "What's it like?" didn't mean "What does it like?" Nobody seemed to mind that there wasn't a referent for 'it'...<BR/><BR/>Robin -- Me too: I love my colloquialisms! Not being able to use them in tense situations is like being in a roomful of chocolate and only permitted to take discreet little nibbles.<BR/><BR/>Martha -- I hear it in my head too, but not in a good way! I've got this same bunch to teach in less than 30minutes' time and I feel a little sick with anxiety...<BR/><BR/>Merry -- Your card explanation makes good sense, but the students would only be able to understand this if I 1) spent one hour slaving away at it (and only the brighter ones would get it, too) or 2) suddenly learned how to speak Turkish.<BR/><BR/>Understanding a language well means zip all in terms of teaching it. This is where I think non-native teachers have a huge advantage: they remember learning English themselves and they remember the nuts and bolts of grammar acquisition, plus what they understood and what things they struggled with. They're far better at explaining grammar and knowing what their students will find baffling.<BR/><BR/>Wish I could tell them to wait until they were more advanced. But I'd have to explain 'advanced' first.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-65343797523165166312009-03-26T03:53:00.000+00:002009-03-26T03:53:00.000+00:00Come to think of it, what does 'it's not that big ...<I>Come to think of it, what does 'it's not that big a deal' actually mean? I use it all the time, and now you've got me wondering what I mean when I do.</I><BR/><BR/>It was a reference to playing a hand of cards. A 'big deal' would be a hand you had a large amount of money riding on. Not a big deal meant it didn't matter much if you lost.<BR/><BR/>Okay, I'm making it up as I go - but it sounds plausible.<BR/><BR/>Mary,<BR/><BR/>You astound me. I'd have hidden in a corner before trying to teach a whole class English as a second language... well, I don't understand any other language well enough to communicate on that level, so I'd be no good at it anyway... <BR/><BR/>Next time something like that comes up, just tell them, "Oh, that's a lesson for next year when you're a little more advanced..." They'll forget what words you used by then :-)Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-65435980254236980672009-03-26T03:09:00.000+00:002009-03-26T03:09:00.000+00:00:):) I could hear this whole conversation in my h...:):) I could hear this whole conversation in my head! Frustrating for you, I know - but still funny for me!Martha Flynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07577165520610942727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-13348437742901230512009-03-26T02:57:00.000+00:002009-03-26T02:57:00.000+00:00Oh, dear. Sometimes I just want to strangle your ...Oh, dear. Sometimes I just want to strangle your students. I can't imagine how you feel! <BR/><BR/>They wouldn't even be able to understand me for a second. I only speak in colloquialisms.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12396540555696283171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-54100984841812800792009-03-26T01:03:00.000+00:002009-03-26T01:03:00.000+00:00Ugh. Bad for you; funny for us. I once had a sim...Ugh. Bad for you; funny for us. <BR/><BR/>I once had a similar problem with "point of view." Turned out the student thought I was saying "point of you."Jacquihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08277260387578439327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-15821958780672832652009-03-26T00:10:00.000+00:002009-03-26T00:10:00.000+00:00Come to think of it, what does 'it's not that big ...Come to think of it, what does 'it's not that big a deal' actually mean? I use it all the time, and now you've got me wondering what I mean when I do.<BR/><BR/>I feel for you, I really do, it must difficult enough to explain standard English to them, let alone the subtleties of the colloquial.Erylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06008344023000459577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-35539530769782141732009-03-25T20:39:00.000+00:002009-03-25T20:39:00.000+00:00I admire anyone who teaches. I never could last a ...I admire anyone who teaches. I never could last a day.Travis Erwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09420879160702098979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-69225685818275954392009-03-25T20:29:00.000+00:002009-03-25T20:29:00.000+00:00Oh Mary. It's laugh or cry some days, isn't it?Oh Mary. It's laugh or cry some days, isn't it?Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.com