Good Kind of Stress

I think I have said this before but I will say it again. If you like what you do it's not work. I am sure some people agree with me on this. I am currently working on something that makes me want to pull all my hair out. BUT I am having fun with it. For once my being a writer actually helps me out at work. I just know that I am not a big fan of deadlines. But when it's work-related, there is always a need to work on someone else's time. Ergo, deadlines must be followed. Otherwise, you're dead in the metaphorical sense of the word. (I hope!)

I was told that the current genre I am on is a dead-end and that I have to focus my creative juices on something else. I think this is it. I hope it is. Because if it is then I am up for another reading. (Since everything has already happened. Now that I think about it, it's pretty cool. So A, if you are reading this, how and when can I get another reading?)

I need to go to work earlier tomorrow so I can get more things done. I can't for the life of me, write serious stuff at home. That and I do not have internet connection at my place which I need for all the Googling that my brain requires nowadays. (What happened to those good ol' days when I had to reach for an encyclopedia to get information, huh? Gone, I tell you!)

But all in all I am having crazy stressful FUN doing what I am currently doing. I just wish for more time to develop what needs to be made. Because I can't get my OCD to kick in since there is not enough time to get things done. Surely in the future we can "revise" or "update" what we will come up with. And it's all a matter of re-sending the data to the people who would be using it.

There are a lot of things that needs to be done. I need to learn how to do a lot of things. And I hope the result would not be too ordinary.

Write. Read. Revise.

I can actually smell blood inside my nose. It's a good indication that my brain is overheating. I can come up with ideas for scenarios but I can't write coherently right now. Anything that would be written from here on out will be garbage. So I just need to rest and wake up tomorrow so I can make the rest of it.

Friday is after all just a few hours or so away. *nail bite*

How to Teach Words = K.I.S.S. it

Keep It Short and Simple.

This is something that we loose touch on because of all the things we tend to complicate. I personally have a little bit of a problem doing this. And it's a challenge that I am looking forward to re-learning. Then I had a conversation today that reminded me of the root of the issue.

She tested me "How would you teach the word ATTENTION to a kid?" I said "Look at me. Focus on me." She pretended to be a beginner student so she asked, "What is FOCUS?" I was stumped.

*

I get this a lot from my new kid. And she is eleven. We got caught up with the words Flattery, praise and compliments. I told her "It's to say something nice to someone."

The tester told me the golden rule about teaching children. "There are only a few words that they know." So to teach Attention I can say "Look at me, Focus on me." And to teach focus, I can say "ONLY ME" to teach what focus means. But obviously, I need to just go straight to "Look at me. Only me." to teach attention.

Learning to repeat yourself is something vital in what we do as teachers for beginners. Because if we loose patience, then the child would have more questions than learnings.

It applies to adult learners as well. Since there are also adult learners who are in a beginner or middle level who sign up to learn English online. They are just a little bit more shy to ask about the meaning of some words. But asking them if they have any questions or if there are any words they need clarifications on would help. So allotting time for these kind of questions are necessary in a class.

Never assume that the student would get it all at once. Keep explanations simple. Use common words, if at all possible, use the words they already learned in a previous class. As their teacher, you know what level of words you can use for explaining things to them. Never get tired of answering questions and be aware of the time that it takes you to answer said questions. Answer as soon as they ask and do so in a precise manner. Do not let your explanation or definition lead to more questions. Say it in a clear voice. Be confident of what you know. The student would have a feeling of doubt if you sound unsure of your answer to them. You are supposed to be the expert. Saying something that you are not sure of might lead to a student getting even more confused.

In these cases, Google and other online tools would come in handy to help support your stock knowledge. Do not say something that you are not sure of because your student might end up learning the wrong thing. Or worse, have an odd understanding of a word and end up using it in a conversation and get embarrassed. That would not sit well with them. Since studying with you is actually the sole chance they have to get it right and practice it so that when they need it in a real life situation they would not make such obvious mistakes.

A more complex understanding of something always starts with small comprehensible definitions.
So when defining things, be a dear and K.I.S.S. it.  

*image taken from internet

Hi, I'm Teacher Sam!

So I am back to my bohemian life. I tried the job that has a great HMO and better pay. But all I got from it is GERD and whole lot of maladies. And a few great friends to keep for life. You know who you are. NO need to name drop.

But this is my second day of having classes and guess what? My stress level is about 2% and it's because I only have three students. It's bound to get busy in the next few days and months but I am just glad to be doing something I know I am great at. And reports and tech issues aside, I am loving it. I am sure I will eat those words on hectic days but I am glad to be back.

And as long as this industry is around, I plan to stay.

I am currently back to the night shift and have to travel to Ortigas by jeep, MRT and foot just to get to work on time but I wouldn't exchange it for dragging my feet to work every day.

It's challenging to keep tabs on students' schedule and progress. And talking to someone who is trying to ask you what PEACE means even if you already said it means "No fighting" can be a challenge. But it's more like riding a bicycle and you never really unlearn in.

I miss my old students and their antics. Most of them are on my Facebook now and would probably see this. And I am hoping that I can re-learn how to teach kids and teens again. As for adults, that was always easier.

The challenge is time management once there are one class after the other. And that my current keyboard is like an old Nokia phone, the kind that requires me to press it heavily since the keys are a bit hard.

There are a lot of things to look forward to. And improvements to help with but I am glad to be back.

Sometimes I think, why did I ever leave?

Money?

Benefits?

It's nothing compared to waking up and saying, "Yey, work!"

I'm weird. I know.

Note to self : Welcome back, Sam. ^^