So I finally got most of FotoBook and my affiliate site running on their own (so I thought), and began interviewing for teaching positions around where I live. My criteria was pretty simple: I wanted a school that took learning somewhat seriously, and I wanted to teach math.

I found a fair match pretty quickly, and after a few interviews and math tests, I got a job on a 6 month contract. After working for myself for so long, I have to admit that it was all quite strange to go through this whole process from the other side. They looked at all my company statements and asked (in so many words), "wtf are you doing here?" 

Of course immediately after I started, problems came up with my businesses. I actually ended up dropping True, which was a tough decision, but I think it will be a good one in the end. If my next idea doesn't work out, I still have 12 months to get back on the True horse if needed...I digress...

I came into this thinking that I would like teaching a whole lot more than I really did. My first few weeks I didn't have the passion that I thought I would have for it all. I was bogged down with figuring out little things about how the system worked (what building each class was in, how quickly/slowly to move through the books, daily/weekly routines, etc.) so much so that I forgot about actually teaching! I'd prepare for classes to the point where I didn't look like a moron in front of 20 kids, but I forgot about using all these teaching methods that I wanted to use.

A couple weeks later I got into more of a groove even though new things were being thrown at me left and right. I began to enjoy teaching more. For the most part I enjoy the other teachers as well. They actually do care about what they do. I can see why many English teachers are seen as "smug" people now. You deal with so many people everyday, that when you meet someone new you tend to brush them off in a smug sort of way...hard to explain, but I'll try to explain more of that later on. Most of them deserve much better pay than what they get, even though the salary is considered to be strong for the industry.

The kids are wonderful. Most of my students are either fluent or very close to fluent in English. I love coming to see them everyday, and I really feel as though I offer them something valuable (on most days). However, I can't say for sure how long I'll be doing this. My vision of teaching that I had before coming into this job is quite different than what it actually is. The school is, for the most part, a wonderful school, the kids are what makes my day bright, and my colleagues are great to work with. I just don't see teaching as what I had thought it to be. I constantly think about how I would run the school instead of how to teach within the school...

I only signed a 6 month contract in case I felt this way. Other people keep telling me to give it more time or to even try another school, to which I'm still open. We'll see how it goes...

teacher Rob

=)

teacher Bua...feeling better?

Hmmm JapAmeri School of hard Knocks? I am IN

teacher Bua is preparing paper for her class tomorrow now,,, tomorrow I will teach about Possessive Pronouns... !! ugh!

my health is feeling better soon but not yet

Teaching can be AMAZING, if you have the heart for it. I agree that A LOT of teachers seem "smug." Not to point the finger but I am well aware of the "smug" teachers around me and that I know at other schools. But as long as you love it nothing else matters. I personally can say that I love seeing my prathom 1 cuties running up to me in the hallway attacking me with hugs! Best of luck to you!

Thanks Jenny. I could see myself enjoying Prathom 3 a lot. I hold an English class with some of them once a week and it's A LOT of fun. We do the same thing in the hallways when we see eachother...but I worry about my patience level with kids that age, lol.

I'm always afraid of math teachers. They confused me., they speak Greek! "if a=b, then a+b doesn't equal b+c, at least not unless c=b=a."

I like it because it's a concrete science. English is just such a screwed up language with many answers being very flimsy.

"Teacher...if a person walks slowly, why don't they run fastly?"

"uhhh...that's just the way it is."

if you can make math fun, you' gots to be the most brillientest math teacher ever.

yeh i am smug but your no doubt noticing my perfect grammer, and useage, and spelling and wouldn't you be smug too if you were so perfect. obviesly i'm an english teacher.

i'd never taught kids before about 10 months ago. the administrations a shambles and the school is falling apart, but i find i do like corrupting young minds almost as much as corrupting old ones. personally though i see myself more as a gameshow host gone astray than a teacher per se.

i prefer high school to teaching the little ones (relatively rare tendency) because you can get them engaging relatively complex issues (especially in a reading and writing class)... but the little ones are a lot of fun. town-on-town is now infested with p2s running around going "high five" like Borat. no idea where they got that from of course...

lol...loved it Zeus.

I think the higher levels are better for me as well. Seriously though...the math is hard. I have to review to remember everything. I want to teach them probability via poker, but I don't see that going over to well with the administration...

I never read any English Journey here before.I like what you think and your view of life.I hope you enjoy your teaching.Cheers.

Good journal Rob - difficult to go from being boss to employee.

Cello classes next?

When are you starting the private tutoring sessions? That's where the real money's at...lolol.

I think the "hard knocks" classes would be more interesting.

Well done Rob.

My criteria WERE pretty simple.....

Nelis,

WERE should be in all lower case letters. Also, use one period instead of five.

Great, now Arisa and me have same daddy's career !

Wow..Those kids are very lucky. I wish I had a math teacher who teaches me poker..

Admin: I didn't know you were an English teacher also? Wow.

I could have told you all of this, but you had to experience it for yourself.

If you give a damn, you can't survive long in the biz of education. It will take all of your blood sweat and tears and leave you permanently scarred and skeptical and worried about the future.

The state of education around this globe is deplorable.

Unfortunately, when you turn this very needed service of educating children into a business for profit, it sinks quickly to the lowest common denominator.

meh.