H1N1 as a reason for cancelling classes
… or just an excuse?
You have to wonder. That is, you have to wonder if you are always paranoid about your last performance class. Sorry- sometimes my AmDram lovey side and my TEFL teacher side seem very close indeed, and I expect all observation feedback to be “You were wonderful, dahling” to shore up my self-confidence, even after 14 years on stage teaching. The system in Korea where students can cancel at any time, even with one class to go, and get a refund for the remaining lessons doesn’t really help with that at all…
Please comment on H1N1, cancelling students, self-confidence and observations, my new shoes, how shiny my hair looks, or in fact anything at all, or I’ll think that no one loves me and lock myself in my changing room for the loudest sulk you’ve ever heard in your life.
Tags: confidence
November 5th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Tricky one. The situation is constantly changing and one more fragment of bad news or someone in their circle catching H1N1 could tip the scales and have them cancelling their classes.
One thing (dahling) is not to take any of it personally. All (good) teachers are at least a bit sensitive and I am more sensitive than most – it seems. So it’s hard not to get upset when students don’t want to come to class any more.
But – it almost certainly has little or nothing to do with you.
Students are funny things. I have given up trying to understand them! How did that song ‘Rawhide’ go again??
November 7th, 2009 at 10:26 am
What?! They can cancel and get a full refund? Outrageous! Is abuse widespread? I mean, does anyone actually do the last lesson then, and if so, why on earth would they?
Apart from that, a good sulk is sometimes unavoidable, unfortunately. I had one yesterday myself. We are on a stage all the time, and the audience is everywhere, including inside our heads and online and when we’re not even there (and we’re always not somewhere we should be with a heavy work load, so nerves do frazzle. I’m not into professional therapy myself. I go round collecting hugs from friends. A glass of Jack Daniels did the trick last night, but that’s not my normal recipe.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Hi Alex!
Glad to see your site is still going strong and you haven’t been shut down by lawyers from disreputable London TEFL schools :-)
Just a quick note on H1N1, our university in HCMC was shut down for a week due to an ‘uncontrollable outbreak’ of swine flu, for that read sniffle and to bed for 3 days and you’ll be fine for christs sake. However, not too peturbed, it turned out a delightful mid-semester break, lovely weather, and I look quite good in a mask….
Whats your news? take it off line and drop me a mail
cheers
CB