"How do you stop yourself from laughing?
This is one of the common questions I get from people I encounter when they find out that I teach the English language or ESL (English As A Second Language). People wonder how I keep myself from laughing at students' faulty grammar.
The answer?
I don't. Because I don't think it's fair for a teacher to do so nor am I even inclined to laugh when the student makes mistakes as they give it their best shot in class. I have very high regard for all my students because they are mature enough to acknowledge their imperfection and brave enough to make time and actually do something about it (assuming that they came to class voluntarily). However, if someone purporting to be an English teacher bungles it up constantly and significantly, then that's a totally different story.
This is one of the common questions I get from people I encounter when they find out that I teach the English language or ESL (English As A Second Language). People wonder how I keep myself from laughing at students' faulty grammar.
The answer?
I don't. Because I don't think it's fair for a teacher to do so nor am I even inclined to laugh when the student makes mistakes as they give it their best shot in class. I have very high regard for all my students because they are mature enough to acknowledge their imperfection and brave enough to make time and actually do something about it (assuming that they came to class voluntarily). However, if someone purporting to be an English teacher bungles it up constantly and significantly, then that's a totally different story.
Note: Awkward or confusing signs/statements are used in this blog for purposes of illustrating a point and using real examples. Fyi. :-)
When a clip of a beauty contestant made its way to my inbox over a year ago, I was shocked. Not at the person insisting on sticking to a fragmented language, but at the audience who snickered and guffawed while she continuously flashed her pearly whites. I guess it is exactly this very mentality that pushes people in our society to recoil into their comfort zones.
I believe there is no point in being in the field of education if it is considered a threat that the student can one day surpass me in all capacity. Frankly, I consider my job done when students exceed expectations --- mine and theirs.
When a clip of a beauty contestant made its way to my inbox over a year ago, I was shocked. Not at the person insisting on sticking to a fragmented language, but at the audience who snickered and guffawed while she continuously flashed her pearly whites. I guess it is exactly this very mentality that pushes people in our society to recoil into their comfort zones.
I believe there is no point in being in the field of education if it is considered a threat that the student can one day surpass me in all capacity. Frankly, I consider my job done when students exceed expectations --- mine and theirs.
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