From the pens of my students...
03.01.07 (1:50 am) [edit]
Part of my students' final exam is for them to write a reflection on the positive and negative experiences they've had in their classes. Here's a select sample of what my own students said about me and my teaching. (Just ignore the spelling and grammatical errors - I often have to, hahaha.) Oh, and by the way, I'll refrain as best I can from making editorial cracks, in order not to take away from the flow of this post, but please believe when I say there are definitely two sides to this story.
"[T[here are somethings I did not like about this subject. I was kind of bored about some of the class activities, not an influence for me to get involved."
"[T[here are somethings I did not like about this subject. I was kind of bored about some of the class activities, not an influence for me to get involved."
"Homeworks checked were not fair."
"This subject sometimes give too much freedom to do work, the student do not understand what the teacher need to teach."
"In fact I have no chance to study with foriegner teacher so I don't practise my English with real one."
"Some works I think I do it very well but I got a little points."
"The teacher always spoke English which I am not used to and become cause of headache." (And can you believe, a student in another class complained because his teacher didn't speak enough English? You can't please anyone!)
And my personal favorite:
"Moreover, my teacher speaks very quick. I know, I must listen her but it hard to understand what she said."
Final thought: Makes you almost wanna change occupations, doesn't it?
posted by: joseparis (reply)
post date: 02.28.07 (8:24 am)
I think you need a lot of patience, it may grant you something in return. Try to understand your students. Teaching is a wonderful profession. Good luck! :D
posted by: LadyG (reply)
post date: 02.28.07 (9:44 am)
LOL, It's hard being a teacher.
posted by: SupremeAnna (reply)
post date: 02.28.07 (7:03 pm)
Reply to: joseparis
LOL, I need oodles of it and plenty of red pens :) Thanks for advice and yes, Daughtry definitely deserved an award, his songs are fantast!
posted by: SupremeAnna (reply)
post date: 02.28.07 (7:04 pm)
Reply to: LadyG
Absolutely! :)
posted by: lostin2007 (reply)
post date: 02.28.07 (11:14 pm)
You are doing a great job! I'm sure it has to be hard at times. Do you love it overall? Just curious. *hugs*
posted by: sebastianjoshua (reply)
post date: 03.01.07 (1:38 am)
u are definately a teacher... lol
posted by: SupremeAnna (reply)
post date: 03.01.07 (7:49 am)
Reply to: lostin2007
Thank you! That really lifts my spirits :) And yeah, overall, it's not a bad first official gig. Take care. :)
posted by: SupremeAnna (reply)
post date: 03.01.07 (7:50 am)
Reply to: sebastianjoshua
LOL, I seem to be :)
posted by: tabootenente (reply)
post date: 03.01.07 (7:54 am)
i'd be curious to hear what your students felt were the positive aspects of the class experience.
in my grad program, students are offered a Teaching Freshman Composition course. After completing the course, grad students may apply for part-time faculty positions to teach--you guessed it--composition to first-years in the undergraduate program.
there is a rumor that the worst part isn't the student complaints, but the parent complaints. it seems almost impossible to believe that parents would call up college faculty to complain about course work. but, so it goes, i guess.
do you get parents calling you to complain?
taboo
posted by: SupremeAnna (reply)
post date: 03.01.07 (8:11 am)
Reply to: tabootenente
Well, they did have positive things to say too, like that I taught them how to write better and I checked their essays quite thoroughly. They also liked some parts of the course, but those aren't decided by me :( And God, I thought Thailand was the only place with a parental problem in college! I mean, you'd think they'd be over it by then, but no. Crazy, isn't it? I haven't personally gotten any calls, but I've heard stories...Still, it is a pretty rewarding profession. I get a little thrill when I see my students doing something I taught them. Makes me smile.
posted by: tabootenente (reply)
post date: 03.01.07 (8:36 am)
Reply to: SupremeAnna
yeah, i expect that no other profession provides that sort of warm, fuzzy satisfaction from a job well done. most professions help other people in one way or another; but teaching someone something new...that's one of the most startling miracles anyone is likely to witness.
taboo