Keep at It!
Dear Marvin,
It’s good to see that you are going to live by the maxim of “picking yourself up and dusting yourself down” (I got that from a Peter Tosh song actually!)It really is quite normal for you to feel like this as this is a course that works on the principle of “trial and error”. The key to success in the practical component of this course will be the degree to which you are able to reflect on and adjust your planning and practice accordingly. Trust your own self evaluation and the feedback you get from your tutor and fellow students and bare these in mind when you plan your next session. Also be sure to consider and implement the practical ideas you get from your tutors during your input sessions or the lessons that you observe! Tutors like to see that you have been listening to their advice!!! It will also help to discuss your ideas (for your observed lessons and the essays) with your tutor and fellow students if that is at all possible. Most importantly of all: remember, there are no mistakes only learning opportunities in the classroom!!
I can see from your previous blog that you are very interested in what you are learning and your idea for the lesson about describing things is great (both fun and authentic!). Authenticity is, I would say another key concept for good language teaching. Bare this in mind too when planning your written and practical assignments.
Now, regarding definitions of “syllabus and curriculum”. I think confusions arise because of differences between American English and British English usage. British people use the word syllabus to refer to what is taught within an individual subject (say Mathematics). We use the word curriculum to talk about everything that is taught in a whole school or educational system. So the government in Britain talks about the National Curriculum because it is talking about everything that must be taught by all schools. However in America people use the word syllabus to mean the same as curriculum in the British sense of the word. Hope that helps!
Keep at it Marvin! There’s no gain without pain!
Oh, I forgot. Marvin, I have some very important homework for you: Arrange some time out from your studies and go to an Irish pub and drink some of that black stuff! Cheers!
Thanks to everyone for their comments and effort in completing the homework. Please check out Leila from Finland’s comment for her excellent corrections (though you don’t need to add off to Marvin’s correct use of far from.)By the way Leila, I noticed that you were previously a student blogger here and I read a couple of your blogs and guess what – I’m actually from Stratford On Avon! It’s my original hometown (like the Bard)!
Apologies to Fariba from Iran for our continuing with the topic of teaching!!! However it is at the forefront of Marvin and mine’s minds at the moment…
Bia it’s very difficult to give you tips as I don’t really know much about those exams but I do know that “practice makes perfect!”
Monica, thanks for sharing our similarities and no – we don’t get enough dough (teachers never will, perhaps it’s because we have ethics and they know we will remain teachers anyway!!!. I can’t believe there is a lack of English blokes over there – you’re not looking hard enough!
Vladimir – perhaps I will tell you about my time as a harbour master, perhaps I just will sir…
Ana Paula – don’t work too hard and don’t ever let it destroy your soul!
Take care everyone!
Your homework tonight is…
Discover from my blog what type of music it is that I like and then listen to some and dance with your friends or loved ones!
Some more pics! First one is the view from my window near the computer!
Comments
Simon you must like Reggae, I am very fond of that particular music genre also, one of my favorites is “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley. I was so pleased to hear you are Stratfordian man. I loved the town! Your daughter is darling.
Hi Simon! Thanks for your concerning. Sometimes is quite hard don´t let our souls being destroyed by our work. But we have to be strong in order to stand up and never ever give up the fight ;-). Well, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh always cheer me up :-). By the way Simon, Nehir is so cute! Besides that, the view from your window is really stunning. Good night and take care you too! Ana Paula.
Hi Simon, I loved the pictures. Yours is really a very beautiful city. It must be wonderful to live in a city like this. Thank you for your wonderful job as a teacher blogger. It's been a pleasure to read your posts. Bye for now. See you later.
Hi Simon, first of all, accept a huge laughter from this part of the world!!!! I really went back to study your blog to find out your favorite music. I thought you may have written it between the lines. Oh lala, it was so compelling to go through the text again, bearing in mind that there must be clue. I tried my best to read it like a detective and finally I got it. You like solo/instrumental music. I still wounder what musical instrument you like the most? Thanks for giving us such a lovely homework. Tonight would be a great fun. Nehir’s pictures really melted my heart. She is very pretty. You know, in Pakistan canal is called Nehir. Last but not the least your way of teaching is amazing. est
Hello Simon, Its nice that you've posted your pics this time. All of the pics are faboulous and your daughter looks so cute -:). By the way which place you're standing?. I've never heard about Peter Tosh before but i've just seen one of his songs video on youtube. Which is your favourite song of peter Tosh?. I like this statement from your blog 'picking yourself up and dusting yourself down”. Its true that one always learn through trial and error. But i'd like to ask how one can find his/her own mistakes?. Hope you will answer. Bye until your next entry-:). Mahjabeen.
Hi Simon, you mentioned Peter Tosh. Therefore your favorite music should be reggae... But I have a question as well. You use the expression "though" quite often. You use it sometimes at the end of a sentence. E.g. I wasn´t a bad student though... I am a bit confused about the using of these expressions. I learned to use although. Are there any differences? I use it very often at the beginning of a sentence. May you give a short advice for using of such expressions? I belive that these words among thus, however, furthermore a.s.o. could help to improve our spoken english as well. Although this could be a nice "teaching-task" for Marvin as well... : ) Bye René
It is good to see one´s own errors, my corrections: Your daughter is a darling and you are a Stratfordian man? Best to all...
hi,Simon Have you ever tried to teach your own daughter? I've tried to teache my son and everytime I feel like hopeless and useless.I always admire all teachers because teaching someone seems to demand tremendous patient and Even though you feel stressed out you can't take out on and you have to smile most of time.I think teachers are a saint. I think your daighter has gorgeous dark eyes and hair.she's very much adorable.have a great day!
Hi Simon! I got your last task immediately after reading the post by simple putting the name of the singer in to the searching tool. What clever I was and still how little I do know about using computer! However, you might be aware it wasn´t so until now and this is my ugly self-praise only. (The true is I am analfabet about music!) Moreover, I thought it would be enough to continue in reading my books. To read books in English makes me very satisfied being able to understand the plot in some way. At any rate I don´t use this language for speaking. Two weeks went by and very few pages I completed. What is bad especially this terrible language about? I forget to express in it easily and quickly without this little practice because of its different sentence constuction.(When one is reading thinks ˇoh I understand I don´t forget it´.) And who could resist to say enviously, Istambul decorated by that lovely doll is the prettiest city to live in!
Mmm…You live in such a wonderful place!!! You haven’t forgotten how to admire this beauty, have you? =) Is it your little daughter behind your back? – She is so lovely!
Hello Simon I think everybody loves your blog entries, they seem interesting for most of us. However, I wish if you can discuss other topics as well, describing Istanbul as an example! I wonder if you read some Turkish well-known works! There are two bright Turkish personalities that come to my mind right now: Said Nursi and Haroun Yahia. You have a cute girl! thanks for your comment on my question, it's ok! I only thought you might be familiar with such tests. Enjoy your time and all the best.
Hey Simon! Funny homework! Like when I was youg, after work, the reward(we were given small pictures at that time!) I didn't know Peter Tosh at all. I discovered him through YouTube and meanwhile I've improved my skills in computer(don't smile!). I had never searched there!My son is my teacher in this case. Great isn't it? Sure thing for me but also for him : before parents knew everything and said what to do...Now children can show sth to them!...I'm lucky, he's patient. Well, I listened to P Tosh's songs, watched videos and read lyrics. I like..even if I haven't danced, my husband was watching a TV report, it has been an enjoyable evening!! You launch a name on line and some people all over the world converge on it! That still and always astouds the rather old lady I am!!!Bye bye
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