tefl november 2009 1

TEFL November 2009TEFL November 2009

Chiang Mai UniversityChiang Mai University

All I wanted to do was All I wanted to do was learn to teach English……learn to teach English……

At first, the teachers seemed At first, the teachers seemed friendly enough…..friendly enough…..

……and then the homework began.and then the homework began.

Hours of planning, discussing, Hours of planning, discussing, and making materials.and making materials.

Week in, week out the Week in, week out the madness continues…….madness continues…….

andand continues.continues. (Pres perfect-continuous (Pres perfect-continuous action into the future until eternity and action into the future until eternity and

beyond!!)beyond!!)

Then came the practical portion..Then came the practical portion..

……with last minute changes…with last minute changes…

……rehearsals with classmates…rehearsals with classmates…

……awaiting our fate in the “bullpen.”awaiting our fate in the “bullpen.”

The gladiators assemble.The gladiators assemble.

““We who are about to die, We who are about to die, salute you.”salute you.”

““Hey do you think they have any idea Hey do you think they have any idea what’s about to happen to them?”what’s about to happen to them?”

Next came the schools….sure Next came the schools….sure they look cute but watch out, they look cute but watch out,

you’re entering the you’re entering the “ teacher zone.”“ teacher zone.”

A place of sights and sounds, A place of sights and sounds, dogs wandering into class, dogs wandering into class,

squirrels exploding squirrels exploding transformers, and lighters transformers, and lighters

in the classroom.in the classroom.

Although we were not Although we were not allowed to carry bamboo allowed to carry bamboo canes and bullhorns, canes and bullhorns,

there were no known there were no known casualties.casualties.

Amazingly, some learning Amazingly, some learning did occur……did occur……

……for all of us.for all of us.

Third week psychosis Third week psychosis begins…begins…

““I have to do WHAT??”I have to do WHAT??”

……two days of teaching,two days of teaching,writing a lesson plan, writing a lesson plan, test review, and then...test review, and then...

SUCCESS!!!!SUCCESS!!!!The entire class passes the The entire class passes the written test on the first try!written test on the first try!

A celebration was had by allA celebration was had by all

with beverages, singing, with beverages, singing, and music.and music.

After that, it was smoother sailing.After that, it was smoother sailing.

Nov 27Nov 27thth Thursday ThursdayThanksgiving Day Holiday Thanksgiving Day Holiday

in America and the in America and the last day of school and last day of school and

the last teaching practice…the last teaching practice…

……boy, are we thankful to be done!boy, are we thankful to be done!

From nations all over From nations all over the world…the world…

……we came, some by modest we came, some by modest transportation…transportation…

……from all walks of life….from all walks of life….

ArchitectArchitect Sales EMTEMT ChiropractorChiropractor Musician Musician

Personal TrainerPersonal Trainer IT TrainerIT Trainer Teacher Teacher Business ExecBusiness Exec

Casino DealerCasino Dealer College GradCollege Grad

Business OwnerBusiness Owner CarpenterCarpenter

Merchant Seaman Merchant Seaman MBA

… … with one common goal,with one common goal,

to learn to be ESL teachersto learn to be ESL teachers

Friendships were formed.Friendships were formed.

And hopefully we will all help And hopefully we will all help to change someone’s life, through to change someone’s life, through

the knowledge of language.the knowledge of language.