Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Your challenge, should you chose to accept it....

T.A.G. for today - Pineapple. I've got some work to do!

Ok kids... tomorrow will be my last practice teaching lesson... my last chance to shine on the CELTA course. It's been an intense experience on a personal level, and academically I've just been told that I'm right on the edge between a Pass & a Pass B. All through the course I have said that I didn't need to be perfect, but I just needed to pass so I could get a job. And ultimately all I want to do is learn to be a good teacher.


But today I found out that someone who's been doing really bottom of the barrel work, and who should probably fail the course, will probably also receive a Pass. So suddenly, with one lesson to go, I actually care about my grade. I don't want potential employers thinking the two of us are in the same league when I actually care about being a good teacher.


So... I am going to sign off for the night, and I'm going to work my little brains off on coming up with a Reading Skills lesson that will knock my students socks off. I've already got the stages written out, and a few ideas about what to do with the text... but I could use all the good vibes I could get.


Send me good vibes for my instructions to be clear, my tasks to be appropriate, my students to be engaged with the material. Basically, send me as many 'don't screw up' vibes as you can, and I will do my part to work really hard tonight to make the best lesson plan possible. It's my plan to go to bed by midnight so I'll actually be fresh and ready to go tomorrow.


I'll be teaching at around 3pm Thai time tomorrow (Wednesday for me)... so send me some good thoughts before you go to bed on Tuesday night. =)

7 comments:

Bridget said...

hey there! I never did say congratulations on making it to Thailand - and here's wishing you the very best of luck in the whole teaching gig - I've got a lot of back entries to catch up on! (PS - when I was in Thailand, Chiang Mai was my favorite place . . . )

Lady Miss Violet said...

I'm sending loads of good luck wishes your way. Is this the last week of the course? How time flies!

IamSusie said...

I was absolutely the same way in school. I'd tell myself that I only need to pass, but then I'd get really mad at myself if I wasn't getting top grades.

I am sending out prayers that you will really connect with your material and your students in your final lesson tomorrow. Good luck!

Bezzie said...

As long as you don't go on any cooking shows, you should ace it!!!

marissa said...

actually you'll want "kick butt" vibes instead of "don't screw up" vibes. it's like saying "drive safe" as opposed to "don't get into a car wreck." the former points to something positive happening (safety, excellent lesson) and the latter points out what could go wrong...
good luck and good teaching!

gl. said...

go, rebel, go!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with that, although if you don't get it it isn't the end of the world as you can use your tutors as a job reference or mention in the interview that you were borderline B (which is rare and proof of a good teacher).