I went away to boarding school just before my ninth birthday. I absolutely loved my prep school: we climbed trees, rode ponies and had midnight feasts, all in the beautiful surroundings of a Jacobean house in the Dorset countryside. It … Continue reading
(image by Lucian Teo on Flickr) In a change from teaching, today is a day of learning. Sadly, it’s a Saturday, and none of us are best pleased to have to be in school for 9am for a day of … Continue reading
(image by Hryck on Flickr) Songs are a fabulous teaching tool. The repetition of language is great for making words stick in students’ heads, and the fact that they’re listening to music makes them feel like they’re not learning. When I … Continue reading
(image by mcfarlandmo on Flickr) I teach a class of 5-year olds. Well, I say teach: it’s glorified babysitting. They tear around the room causing havoc while I hold up flashcards, which they sometimes deign to acknowledge. When they do … Continue reading
(image by Kate Bailward) Dictionaries are wonderful things. I love them. My Collins English dictionary has served me very well over the years, although it’s pretty battered now. Unfortunately I don’t have it with me in Italy, as it was … Continue reading
(image by vk-red on flickr) From the ages of 11-14 I went to a girls’ boarding school near Bristol. As part of our slightly old-fashioned ladylike education, we received both needlework and cookery lessons. To counteract the girliness, we were … Continue reading
(image by Carbon_NYC on Flickr) In an ideal world, every teacher would write their own materials, tailored precisely to each class’ needs. This is what I was trained to do at college, and I look back fondly on some of … Continue reading
(image by Kate Bailward) My day-to-day teaching takes place in a private language school. The students that come to my classes come from families who presumably have a reasonable amount of cash to splash, and who have big ambitions for … Continue reading
… that my 5 year olds are utterly scandalised by my shirt coming untucked or me taking my heels off to play football, but think nothing of slapping my arse or grabbing my boobs? Where’s the line, kids?!No time to … Continue reading
Well, the final lessons of the year have all been taught. I have sung the 12 Days of Christmas (with actions) far too many times to be good for me (while loving every moment), eaten too many chocolates, and grown … Continue reading
