The following 10 things happen (at least for me that is)
1. You automatically age 10+ years
2. Students assume you don’t have a life outside of teaching
3. You notice EVERYTHING
4. You find out what really happens in the teacher lounge
5. You realize that teacher’s pet does exist
6. You have students you don’t like
7. You have students who don’t like you
8. You feel like you're a student again
9. You make a name for yourself
and last but not least….
10. You want to thank every teacher you have ever had in your life, both good and bad
Okay, as you all know, technically my role through this program is a “language assistant,” but the school I was placed in gives me total control of the class. I have to prepare lessons for every class and lead it the whole time so I definitely feel like I'm more than just an assistant. While some may hate it and only use this program as a way to live abroad, I absolutely love it. Although my title is not “teacher”, I stand by the following 10 facts! Allow me to explain myself...
1. You automatically age 10+ years
I don’t think my students believe me when I tell them I’m only 22 years old. There are seriously 15 year olds that look older than me. I guess it stems from the fact that I have authority over them. One of my older students who is 18 years old did ask me once in class what I liked to do when I was young like them, to which I responded, probably similar to some of the things you all like to do.
2. Students assume you don’t have a life outside of teaching
Students only see you in the teaching realm that it’s hard to believe teachers do have lives outside of school! It’s kind of like the same thing with your parents—you know they had lives before you were born, but you don’t really think about that. Vigo is a small city so I have run into my students everywhere, and they are always surprised to see me.
3. You notice EVERYTHING
Student A, turn that piece of paper over because this is not time to study for the test you have in the next class. Student B, stop whispering to Student L. Students C and D, I see every exchange you guys make at each other. Student E, WAKE THE EFF UP! Student F, this isn’t art class. Student G, thank you for paying attention or at least looking like you are! Student H, seriously sit properly or you might crack your head tilting your chair like that. Student I, I’m sorry but you’re going to have to stop tapping your pen on the desk. Student J, at least act like you are enjoying. Student K, thank you for answering my question. Student L, stop whispering to Student B. The list goes on and on. I’ll be real with y’all-- I have been every single student example I have mentioned above. I honestly thought I got away with everything, but I suppose the teacher always just let it slide with me. And to thinking I was so sly…
4. You find out what really happens in the teacher lounge
I have always wondered if teachers talk to each other about students. I assumed yes--I remember when I used to waitress, we would talk about all our tables. I’m sure doctors talk about difficult patients as do retailers talk about difficult customers. Of course this is a totally different scenario here, but I think it’s a natural thing to do… although we should really try our best not to. But to answer my own question and perhaps some of yours, yes students are mentioned, some good and some bad.
5. You realize that teacher’s pet does exist
I really do care about each and every student on an individual basis and want to see him or her progress, learn, and grow, but I do believe teacher’s pet exists. For one, I was one growing up (uhhh..GAY -Community reference for those who don’t know the show). Secondly, there are some that just stand apart from the rest of the crowd –it can be a number of reasons—their humor, hard work, good grades, love for sports, etc.
6. You become a student again
I´ll set the hallway scene for you--Student A is rushing to class while Student B has just dropped his books all over the place. Students C and D look at Student E funny because she is wearing that weird shirt she always wears. Students F, G, and H are all gushing over One Direction and singing the lyrics to ¨Steal my Girl¨(which I do actually love). Students I and J are whispering so quietly you can’t catch a word of what they are saying; I suppose we can call this gossiping. Students K, L, M, N, O, and P are all laughing obnoxiously on the way to class, you almost want to hop in the conversation just to get a good laugh. Professor X tells Student A to stop running. Professor Y tells at Students K, L, M, N, O, and P to quiet down. And then there is me, weaving my way in and out of a herd of students while the ¨shy ones¨ half-smile at me, the ¨loud ones¨ continually yell my name, the ¨cool ones¨ walk right by as if they have no idea who I was, and the “fashionistas” are probably judging my horrendous outfit. Yup, I definitely feel like I´m a student all over again. But this time, it´s different. I don´t have that “School sucks...only 5 minutes have gone by?! class is boring” type of attitude anymore. I have found that being a teacher, you learn an incredible amount about yourself and from your own students. It’s a profession where you are constantly learning, and it's a beautiful thing.
7. You have students you don’t like
8. You have students that don’t like you
There are just some of those students you don’t get along with. In Spanish, the teachers call it “Tener mania a [name of student].” Not everyone is going to like you, and you are not going to like everyone. Obviously I treat everyone with the same amount of respect, but there are some of those students where you just want to scream.
9. You make a name for yourself
You become known as the teacher that ___________. Example, in my school there is one teacher who is known for her flabby arms (obviously she doesn’t know students talk about that behind her back). There is another one who is known for being incredibly hott (and yes, I would agree with them). I remember in high school we also had teachers who were known for something—the cool one, the weird one, the incredibly old one, etc. And because I am an American, I’m going to assume that’s what I’m known for, but who really knows what they call me behind my back…
10. You want to thank every teacher you have ever had in your life, both good and bad.
They say that the impact a teacher can make on a student might not come right away. And for me, it took being on the other end to realize how much teachers really do for us. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all the teachers out there who are changing children’s lives for the better and molding them for the future.
Yours truly,
TLT
1. You automatically age 10+ years
2. Students assume you don’t have a life outside of teaching
3. You notice EVERYTHING
4. You find out what really happens in the teacher lounge
5. You realize that teacher’s pet does exist
6. You have students you don’t like
7. You have students who don’t like you
8. You feel like you're a student again
9. You make a name for yourself
and last but not least….
10. You want to thank every teacher you have ever had in your life, both good and bad
Okay, as you all know, technically my role through this program is a “language assistant,” but the school I was placed in gives me total control of the class. I have to prepare lessons for every class and lead it the whole time so I definitely feel like I'm more than just an assistant. While some may hate it and only use this program as a way to live abroad, I absolutely love it. Although my title is not “teacher”, I stand by the following 10 facts! Allow me to explain myself...
1. You automatically age 10+ years
I don’t think my students believe me when I tell them I’m only 22 years old. There are seriously 15 year olds that look older than me. I guess it stems from the fact that I have authority over them. One of my older students who is 18 years old did ask me once in class what I liked to do when I was young like them, to which I responded, probably similar to some of the things you all like to do.
2. Students assume you don’t have a life outside of teaching
Students only see you in the teaching realm that it’s hard to believe teachers do have lives outside of school! It’s kind of like the same thing with your parents—you know they had lives before you were born, but you don’t really think about that. Vigo is a small city so I have run into my students everywhere, and they are always surprised to see me.
3. You notice EVERYTHING
Student A, turn that piece of paper over because this is not time to study for the test you have in the next class. Student B, stop whispering to Student L. Students C and D, I see every exchange you guys make at each other. Student E, WAKE THE EFF UP! Student F, this isn’t art class. Student G, thank you for paying attention or at least looking like you are! Student H, seriously sit properly or you might crack your head tilting your chair like that. Student I, I’m sorry but you’re going to have to stop tapping your pen on the desk. Student J, at least act like you are enjoying. Student K, thank you for answering my question. Student L, stop whispering to Student B. The list goes on and on. I’ll be real with y’all-- I have been every single student example I have mentioned above. I honestly thought I got away with everything, but I suppose the teacher always just let it slide with me. And to thinking I was so sly…
4. You find out what really happens in the teacher lounge
I have always wondered if teachers talk to each other about students. I assumed yes--I remember when I used to waitress, we would talk about all our tables. I’m sure doctors talk about difficult patients as do retailers talk about difficult customers. Of course this is a totally different scenario here, but I think it’s a natural thing to do… although we should really try our best not to. But to answer my own question and perhaps some of yours, yes students are mentioned, some good and some bad.
5. You realize that teacher’s pet does exist
I really do care about each and every student on an individual basis and want to see him or her progress, learn, and grow, but I do believe teacher’s pet exists. For one, I was one growing up (uhhh..GAY -Community reference for those who don’t know the show). Secondly, there are some that just stand apart from the rest of the crowd –it can be a number of reasons—their humor, hard work, good grades, love for sports, etc.
6. You become a student again
I´ll set the hallway scene for you--Student A is rushing to class while Student B has just dropped his books all over the place. Students C and D look at Student E funny because she is wearing that weird shirt she always wears. Students F, G, and H are all gushing over One Direction and singing the lyrics to ¨Steal my Girl¨(which I do actually love). Students I and J are whispering so quietly you can’t catch a word of what they are saying; I suppose we can call this gossiping. Students K, L, M, N, O, and P are all laughing obnoxiously on the way to class, you almost want to hop in the conversation just to get a good laugh. Professor X tells Student A to stop running. Professor Y tells at Students K, L, M, N, O, and P to quiet down. And then there is me, weaving my way in and out of a herd of students while the ¨shy ones¨ half-smile at me, the ¨loud ones¨ continually yell my name, the ¨cool ones¨ walk right by as if they have no idea who I was, and the “fashionistas” are probably judging my horrendous outfit. Yup, I definitely feel like I´m a student all over again. But this time, it´s different. I don´t have that “School sucks...only 5 minutes have gone by?! class is boring” type of attitude anymore. I have found that being a teacher, you learn an incredible amount about yourself and from your own students. It’s a profession where you are constantly learning, and it's a beautiful thing.
7. You have students you don’t like
8. You have students that don’t like you
There are just some of those students you don’t get along with. In Spanish, the teachers call it “Tener mania a [name of student].” Not everyone is going to like you, and you are not going to like everyone. Obviously I treat everyone with the same amount of respect, but there are some of those students where you just want to scream.
9. You make a name for yourself
You become known as the teacher that ___________. Example, in my school there is one teacher who is known for her flabby arms (obviously she doesn’t know students talk about that behind her back). There is another one who is known for being incredibly hott (and yes, I would agree with them). I remember in high school we also had teachers who were known for something—the cool one, the weird one, the incredibly old one, etc. And because I am an American, I’m going to assume that’s what I’m known for, but who really knows what they call me behind my back…
10. You want to thank every teacher you have ever had in your life, both good and bad.
They say that the impact a teacher can make on a student might not come right away. And for me, it took being on the other end to realize how much teachers really do for us. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all the teachers out there who are changing children’s lives for the better and molding them for the future.
Yours truly,
TLT