3rd Day into the new semester

I've dayre-ed it but I still like to occasionally type something in my blog. I try to keep it alive ok? I try.

Anyway I've been feeling rather tired since last night and it's just day 3 of week 1. I have 13 weeks and 2 days to go. I taught 10 hrs the past 3 days so I have another 6 to go for this week. I think part of the reason of me being this tired is that I've personally interacted with over 240 people in these few days and it is draining me out.

I love teaching because it is always something new and you learn and you have fun each time. My students always make me laugh. Now the problem is also that you have to be excited or energetic most of the time in the class. Otherwise it will be boring for the students. This week is the first week so a lot of introductions, remembering names and laughing. I hope as the week goes by I will adapt to it and maybe not have to use so much energy.

But I'm like so tired and lethargic before class but the moment I enter I kind of feed on others' energy and then be energised. At the end though I leave feeling slightly exhausted.

Next week I will also have an interview so....I don't like interviews if you do not know already.

Besides those, these 3 days were made better with few incidences.

#1. The guard mistook me as a student and stopped me from parking at the lecturer's slot. Which is fun at my age now. I was mistaken as student by lecturers and admin staffs when I first came.

#2. I bumped into many of my ex-students.

#3. Students always acted like their usual self without noticing me there. I kind of blend in with their friends since I have been early for each class and stood with them to wait for the previous lecturer to leave. For few times they were happily chattering away until they saw me and got shocked. Because they thought I was just another student in that room.

#4. I bumped into one ex-student and he greeted me. He was like "Hi Miss...Ch'ng Ping Ping." I smiled. His friend called him a liar cause his friend didn't believe I am a lecturer. He told me and I smiled to his friend. Then his friend looked at me and finally realised that I could be a lecturer since I did not say no and smiled sheepishly.

At 26 years old, you take all the "you look like a student" remarks as compliment and bask in them for as long as you can ok? I am already 7 or 8 years older than them. Soon I will be 10 years older than the students there. Must enjoy this while I still can.

My choice of weekends

Cancelled my Saturday class today and I am actually enjoying the day off. FINALLY!!!

Teaching makes me feel good and bad at the same time. I enjoy it when my students makes me laugh and treats me like one of them. But I still need them to respect me. I don't want them to be afraid of me. I just need respect.

Anyway, last week was slightly worse than the second as I actually scolded my students 3 times. Twice for one class and once for another. And I hate that feeling. It makes me feel like crap. I hate scolding them. I believe English should be fun and there should be no need for me to raise my voice since they are already old enough. But no, they have to prove me wrong.

I hope next week will be better though I dread entering the class I scolded twice cause....they are good kids, but sometimes...just sometimes...And I hate to have that feeling cause they are good kids. I need to pull myself together.


NO.SCREAMING.NEXT.WEEK.

I can use some Saturdays off you know? If my students one day decide not to continue with the tuition, I might just grab that offer. Until I get my own place and maybe work in USM (future plan). Going to students' house for tuition is time consuming and tiring.

Anyways, to a great weekend ahead. <3

Monday blues

ARE REAL! And they HIT HARD.

I was so down the whole day except when I was in class (thank God for mischievous who are just well..kids..). Now when I can go back, it is raining heavily. Don't think I am able to get out of here any time soon. =( Need to wait until the rain stops.

Monday, please go away.

Week 3

Entering week 3 in a few hours time and already dreading the lesson planning part.

No life I tell you. NO LIFE.

I don't care. I am going out on Tuesday nights or Wednesday nights. Just go shopping and buy something nice for myself. I need that!

I don't go out a lot but I would really love to sit down and not have to worry about my slides or exercises or lesson plans. T_T And they say it is normal for the 1st year. SAY WHAT??? Means I have another....11 months to go? And knowing myself full well, I will still edit and change my slides here and there even if I am repeating the same course next semester.

Need.to.FIND.a.HOBBY.to.KEEP.me.SANE.


God, I not very demanding one. I just ask for one thing la..after all these hard work, can you grant me weight loss? Ok ma hor my request?

Week 2

It's just the 2nd week working here. However, it feels like I've been working for years. It's not that I don't like my students or I don't know the things that I am doing or that I don't like doing what I do, it's just....it just feels long.

Worse is that I only have 15 hrs a week, which is much lesser than my friends. So I have lesser excuse to complain. My grandma said that I am a super woman. Cause I can go to work, come back, go for meetings and all. I can also go straight to the hairdresser and get my hair done after work. Maybe that's why. I've been running around and not resting after work.

I would wish to rest if I don't have to prepare my lessons after work. T_T It will get better. Pay day will come and it will get better. No wonder people pamper themselves after getting their pay. Can I take RM50 and pamper myself too? I need a new laptop, like NOW! Okay, maybe I can wait a few weeks more.

So back to work. Each class I enter, I must remind myself that it's for the future!

Interview?

Basically sent in my resume yesterday

Got a call today to go for 

Interview tomorrow!

Mad things happened in 3 days.

And I was like "Aiya, all my friends got the job already,

I am sure they have filled up all the positions.

But it's okay, I'm gonna send in my resume just in case they need people in the future."

And got 4-5 missed calls this morning!

I was driving so I didn't hear it ringing AT ALL.

Checked my phone once I got out of the car and 

ta-daaaaa so many missed calls

Called back and got greeted with the automatic call-operator.

Called back and asked for a few people and in the end got to the person who called me.

Tomorrow interview.

"God, You quite amazing hor?

I'm gonna believe this is from You cause I really gave up hope already.

But you gave me this. I was thinking, what else am I good at? 

I am relatively okay in teaching and I would love to try other things but for now, 

whenever I go to jobstreet, I will reluctantly scroll back to teaching cause that's what I know. 

And when I was typing the cover letter, I found back the reason why I wanted to teach in the first place. Whatever it is, I surrender it to You. You are so amazing You can do anything la!"

So off to prepare for my interview tomorrow.

 

Things my student ask

I have a student who is 13 years old and he is kind of the 'act cool' type of student. However, once in a while he will pop a question that either got me going -.-" or "errrr...I don't know".

Student: Teacher, when is end of the world?
Me: Er...Well, we won't know this kind of thing cause it is not ours to know.
Student: *pause* Is it this year?

(Dong, too much of movies perhaps?)

Student: Teacher, do you know why I always get stomachache? *starts pointing at parts of his stomach*
Me: Er, I am not sure.
Student: My mum says she wants to bring me to see doctor and do operation. I am scared.
Me: I don't think the doctor will do operation on you without checking first. Don't worry.
Student: Oh....But if operation, I don't have to go to school for one month.
Me: And you like that?
Student: Yea..But then again, not really. One week of holiday and I'm so bored already.

(He is probably having some indigestion due to his weird eating habits.)

Student: Teacher, do you know *insert show name*
Me: Erm, not really. Why? Is it nice?
Student: It is scary movie. I like. Today I am going to watch with my friends.
Me: Cool.
**Next week**
Student: I didn't watch the show, they don't believe I am 18 years old. I am the shortest among my friends.
Me: *insert sympathetic face*

And he tells me about his school teachers and friends like I know them all. As in he addresses them with their names and I will go O.o all the time.