Summer usually brings the worse students, along with those too busy to take classes the rest of the year and whose only chance is to come to school when the Parliament isn’t in session. I don’t mind those ones. They’re usually focused on their studies because they’re desperate to pass their French test, which will entitle them to a promotion or a pay rise. But the weirdoes…
Some students are sent to French training only because no one wants them around at the office. Mentally unstable. Bossy. Slackers. Those who don’t give a damn about French and made it clear from day one. Those who are used to praise and can’t take criticisms—let alone basic grammar corrections. These are the ones we teach during the summer.
My Monday morning started off fine. I didn’t miss the bus and arrived early enough to grab a Coke and a muffin. I made my way to the classroom and met the school principal on the way. “Who are you teaching today? Oh… him?” I sensed something was up with the student I haven’t met yet but didn’t have time to inquire further. Oh well, we’ll see.
Once in the classroom, he looked normal enough. We started off with a general conversation, covering basic topics. The week-end, work etc. Two hours later, after we took a small break, I figured it was time to ask about his expectations so that we could make a plan for his upcoming exam, in September. I shouldn’t have said anything. He withdrawn and stared at the window for a couple of minutes. Then turned back to me: “you’re really pissing me off right now. Get out.”
And so I was kicked out of my own classroom. That’s the first time that ever happened to me, but why not? I went downstairs to see the principal. Turned out his majesty doesn’t like to cooperate with teachers much and would rather talk about himself non-stop. A study plan? Out of question! Lucky me, my boss usually takes us, the teachers, pretty seriously. I won’t work with him anymore and they gave him one last chance to behave (he was apparently kicked out of two schools already). None of my business anymore.
Yet, this month, I had to work with:
- A hyperactive student: by the time I arrived in the classroom at 9am, he already had 3 cups of coffee on the table. He also had to go out at 10am, 11am and 12pm to… well, to get a refill, what else!
- An emotional lady: I say something, she cries. I comfort her, she cries more. I test her, she cries. Very repetitive classes ahead but at least, she’s consistent.
- A blackberry addict: 9:01, reply to an email. 9:02, started checking his emails. 9:03, answer the phone because one employee didn’t reply to his 9:01 email. When asked to put his crackberry away said it had to keep it because he didn’t have a watch and he needed to know the time.
- The depressed: failed his exam 15 times, about to fail another 16th time. Not that he’s going to question himself anyway. It’s the teacher’s fault, the government’s fault and the FBI’s fault. I want to believe…
- The dysfunctional class: 50% male and 50% female. 50% employees and 50% executives & directors. 50% making more than 100 000$/ year, 50% on short term contract and belonging to a staffing agency. Good luck, heated work arguments ahead.
In September, the usual students will be back. Sure, they will complain non-stop about the fact learning French is useless, that the exam isn’t fair and the examiners are biased. I can deal with that.
Meanwhile, I’m a psychologist with a teacher’s salary and without the Dr. benefits.
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Kicked out of your own classroom? Teaching is always full of surprises 🙂
I like your comment on “Those who are used to praise and can’t take criticisms…”
This is becoming increasingly common. Lots of people seem unable to handle the slightest criticism, however “constructively” it is given.
I think it’s often an unfortunate consequence of years of being told how “awesome” they are by people who should know better: parents, other teachers, family members etc.
Just can’t handle brick walls of reality.
I actually like French though. It’s a nice, loving language. The sound is cool. And French movie is funny and comical.
Learned some basics from Alliance Francaise. Can’t finish it, no time.
Would really want to complete the whole course.
Ya, im a new blogger in the blogging world. My first blog is about poker, do drop by if you can.
What a challenge Zhu and it saddens me coz they are adults here to learn but so disrespectf not just to you but to others as well.
The guy who says that you pissed him off ought to go back to the ‘basic’ – mind his manner before he is out in circulation in this society.
Sorry you have to deal with all these craps Zhu, wishing you well and be strong my dear friend!
Hugzzz….:D
Pobre cita. I hate that you have to deal with that crap! Especially you Zhu..such a fine lady. Adults acting like that is just ridiculous. Unless you find some students with the urning to learn, you will probably be miserable with those bunch of ingrates. I hope you find happiness with your job one day. We only have 1 life to live so we may as well enjoy it right?
Holy smokes, do I have R-E-S-P-E-C-T for educators, I really do! It’s probably best that you left a classroom that contained only yourself and an unstable person; who knows how fast someone like that can turn on you? Bonne chance in the coming weeks…
So the hyperactive student is hyperactive because of the coffee or is the coffee just extra?
For your sake I hope the answer is the former! 🙂
John : oh, you juts wouldn’t believe how self-confident students are. Which is good in one way, but their assertiveness gets on my nerve when it comes to question their way of learning (or lack of thereof).
I don’t enjoy putting people down but reality check are sometimes needed…
Jaklang : welcome here ! That’s cool to learned some French ! It takes quite a lot willpower at first cause it’s not easy. 😉
Shionge : that’s exactly what amaze me the most : they are adult, they have a good job, they come to me, I don’t force them to learn.
If some students are really awful, I always tell myself “well, at least, I don’t have to be in the office with them, they’re not my managers”. 😉
cowboytf : nah, I like my job, it’s just the summer trend… it was the same last summer. We’ll get the normal people back in Sept. – hopefully ! :$
Paper Fan Club : I don’t think I’d have stayed in the classroom with him anyway, but I just didn’t want to play along and make a scene. Just didn’t worth it. The guy scared me anyway, I wouldn’t have worked with him. But I’d have finished the class ! 😀
Dan : to be honest, the guy probably made the coffee hyperactive. I had never seen that before ! 😀
LOL @coffee-drinking student!
Keshi.
Sounds like a real fun bunch of people!
Sounds like your people are harder to deal with than my guests sometimes! But I don’t have to see them everyday. This was fun, keep up the good work! I used to take french, but now I forget it all.
oh my – what a rude kid – is he a rich brat or what!
I can’t imagine how an adult can be so disrespectful to a teacher, he wasn’t fit to be your student, Zhu. He must had spoilt your Monday morning that started of pretty well.
As I read your post, my mind started to imagine a nursery teacher cracking her head to teach some “grown up” children 🙂
I guess being a nursery teacher is much more easier than taking care of those weirdos, and where ever you work and what ever job you do, you would find these kind of people, they are everywhere. Anyway, Good Luck for your summer classes, hope you’ll get through this fine.
Keshi: this is your brain on coffee… Just say “no” !
Diesel : Just normal gov’ workers, I’m afraid…
joen05 : French seems to be an easy language to forget, according to my vict… uh, students.
la bellina mammina : nope, not even a kid but a full grown up gov’ worker. 50 years old can behave life kids sometimes…
zunnur : eh, you’re right, the school does look like a nursery sometimes ! You should see them… they need to go to the bathroom in middle of test, they need to eat at 10 am etc. !
Aww, the crackberry guy is funny! He is definitely obsessed with his berry 🙂
Ahahaha! That was absolutely delightful read Zhu! You outlined your experiences very, very well. You should try doing a course in writing!
Quite depressing from the looks huh… But I think you secretly love it despite all the cynicism and negativity you try to display hahaha.
It really sounds like fun what you’re doing. I have always wanted to learn French but never got a chance to. I learnt Indo in high school but big use that was. They say, a person who can speak French, English and Chinese is extremely useful.
Have more fun. You’ll get there one day 🙂
Hope you’re doing well otherwise!
Shan.