Comments on: 20 Questions

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:43:39 +0000

Thanks Samantha I still get those little faces staring up at me – I have more things up my sleeve nowadays.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:16:25 +0000

Hi! I remember when I first started teaching, nothing lasted the amount of time I wanted it to! All of a sudden I’d be done, there would be little faces staring up at me wondering what was next and I’d have no idea! Luckily I’ve progressed in ten years, and while I’m teaching online now and not in the classroom, I can pace my lessons better. But I boy do I know the emotions you went through! (I wanted to be a roadie for a band though!)
Also wanted you to know I use Breaking News every day with my many of my students. I love the site as do they! I’m putting the widget on the site today!

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:35:17 +0000

Hi Ashley

Thank you for your lovely comment. I hope your future teaching adventures are fun-filled – wherever you end up.

Best wishes,

Sean

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:33:54 +0000

Hi Alex – I think the same order as me – My first classroom was in Thailand in 1989, followed by Turkey in 1993.

All relevant enough

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:44:05 +0000

Hi, Sean..

I’ve recently stumbled across your amazing sites and decided to pick up the ’1000 ideas and activities’ book while I was at it. Truly inspirational stuff! I spent the last year teaching English in Korea which I found to be really rewarding at times. At other times, pure hell. A great experience none the less though! considering furthering this chapter of life and resuming the adventure in some other yet to be decided location. Keep up the great work!

By: Alex Case

Alex Case — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 03:51:30 +0000

Turkey and Thailand were my first two countries too, though in the other order. Also spent a long time in Japan.

This is where I add something relevant to the post. Can’t think of anything though…

By: ALiCe__M

ALiCe__M — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:35:22 +0000

Hello Sean,

I think I can answer question 18, if you’re speaking about Japanese people. One of them once explained to me that when I ask “do you understand”, unless everyone nods at the same time, I would get no reaction because a) if you are the only one to say you understood, you could appear very presomptuous to the other students, and b) if you say you don’t understand it could imply that the teacher (you) hasn’t explained well!! Hence the complete silence after such question. So, from then on, I never asked this question again.

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:30:33 +0000

Hello Anna,

Thank you for visiting I’m still pondering #8 myself. Could be the subject of a future post

I agree – teaching beats so many other jobs hands down – there are so many good things about it.

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:27:08 +0000

Hi Chris – Thanks for your comment and kind words. It’s an interesting profession – so much “in at the deep end” stuff starting from the very beginning, so much uncertainty. I love it

By: annabooklover

annabooklover — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:12:23 +0000

I know exactly what you mean Sean when you say “cowboy teaching”. So many of us started this job so naive and unprepared but stayed because we still find it exciting to play Simon says and sing at the top of our voices “head and shoulders, knees and toes…” And if it is any consolation I’m not sure I can answer question no 8!