Respect my Authoritaaaay!!!
I'm realizing that I really love teaching Proficiency, because the range of material you can use in the classroom is so wide. We've already read a Gabriel Garcia Marquez short story, which the students LOVED. For our listening practice, we're listening to the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of 'The 39 Steps,' which is also quite cool. I was able to revise/teach them not just one but four grammar points simultaneously, which is quite a feat and a testament to their ability, not mine. I need to do some more work on their pronunciation, but other than that, we are having a great time.
Except for one student, who is just doing my head in. And I know I should let it go. BUT...
His English is excellent. His accent is the best in the class. He thinks he 'knows everything' about English. I am sensing after teaching this class for a few weeks, that the previous teacher, who was a little weaker in terms of classroom management and knowledge than I am (speaking of arrogant! But trust me, it's true), let this guy be the authority on all things grammar in class. I don't play that game! *I* am in charge!
Anyway, had a word with him outside after class. Was very nice, and he was very nice, I guess. But he said to me: 'You know, I went through a phase where I was very enthusiastic like you. I just think that you're wasting your energy with a lot of those students.'
AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The more I thought about this statement, the more angry it made me. Well, fuck you, jack! That's my personality!! Sorry I am not as jaded and cynical as you!!
Anyway, since then I've sort of been designing all of my activities - well, not ALL of my activities but many of them - to demonstrate that he does not know everything. You see, I have discovered his weaknesses: idioms, phrasal verbs and other colloquial expressions. Still though, it's turning into a battle of wills, let me tell you. Take this conversation from the other day..
HE: "So when you use the 3rd conditional, the form is if + past perfect, would + present perfect."
ME: "It's not present perfect."
HE: "Yes it is. 'If I had been in another train, I would have been killed.' Would + have been. It's the present perfect.' (Looks satisfied)
ME: "OK. Do you say, 'If he had been in another train, he might has been killed'"?
HE: "No."
ME: "You see? It's not the present perfect. It's would/might/could + have + past participle." (Looks smug)
HE: (Arms crossed) "Oh."
20 Minutes Later
MR. PEDANTIC WHO NOTICES EVERY FUCKING MISTAKE OR TYPO I EVER MAKE IN CLASS SAYS TO FRIEND: 'Oh well you know it's not present perfect, it's would + have + past participle ' (Rolls eyes as if to say, how pedantic can she be?)
And so it continues with this guy. A real battle of wills. I don't know who will win - we both seem to be equally stubborn and equally arrogant about our English knowledge. In a movie, we would obviously be destined to get together. But I wouldn't want to ever touch him. The thought makes me squeeze my legs tightly together actually- eww!!! I would much much rather him switch to another Proficiency class and dominate that teacher so I can HAVE ALL THE CONTROL!!!! BWAHAHA!!!
Except for one student, who is just doing my head in. And I know I should let it go. BUT...
His English is excellent. His accent is the best in the class. He thinks he 'knows everything' about English. I am sensing after teaching this class for a few weeks, that the previous teacher, who was a little weaker in terms of classroom management and knowledge than I am (speaking of arrogant! But trust me, it's true), let this guy be the authority on all things grammar in class. I don't play that game! *I* am in charge!
Anyway, had a word with him outside after class. Was very nice, and he was very nice, I guess. But he said to me: 'You know, I went through a phase where I was very enthusiastic like you. I just think that you're wasting your energy with a lot of those students.'
AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The more I thought about this statement, the more angry it made me. Well, fuck you, jack! That's my personality!! Sorry I am not as jaded and cynical as you!!
Anyway, since then I've sort of been designing all of my activities - well, not ALL of my activities but many of them - to demonstrate that he does not know everything. You see, I have discovered his weaknesses: idioms, phrasal verbs and other colloquial expressions. Still though, it's turning into a battle of wills, let me tell you. Take this conversation from the other day..
HE: "So when you use the 3rd conditional, the form is if + past perfect, would + present perfect."
ME: "It's not present perfect."
HE: "Yes it is. 'If I had been in another train, I would have been killed.' Would + have been. It's the present perfect.' (Looks satisfied)
ME: "OK. Do you say, 'If he had been in another train, he might has been killed'"?
HE: "No."
ME: "You see? It's not the present perfect. It's would/might/could + have + past participle." (Looks smug)
HE: (Arms crossed) "Oh."
20 Minutes Later
MR. PEDANTIC WHO NOTICES EVERY FUCKING MISTAKE OR TYPO I EVER MAKE IN CLASS SAYS TO FRIEND: 'Oh well you know it's not present perfect, it's would + have + past participle ' (Rolls eyes as if to say, how pedantic can she be?)
And so it continues with this guy. A real battle of wills. I don't know who will win - we both seem to be equally stubborn and equally arrogant about our English knowledge. In a movie, we would obviously be destined to get together. But I wouldn't want to ever touch him. The thought makes me squeeze my legs tightly together actually- eww!!! I would much much rather him switch to another Proficiency class and dominate that teacher so I can HAVE ALL THE CONTROL!!!! BWAHAHA!!!