See you all at the most prominent Teacher’s convention in Greece. Register for free at flforum.gr
Plenary Speaker Schedule – Foreign Language Forum
Stale Teachers and Victimized Students Realities and Repercussions
by Katherine Reilly for ELT NEWS
It was the beginning of a new school year and the annual preparations had commenced. It was high time I visited my local bookstore and found solace in the vast, albeit comforting variety of colorful stationery I deemed necessary to carry out my duties. A colorful pencil here, a rubber there… Oh! Here’s something for my junior students! Shiny sticker sheets adorned with the latest of characters that have been popping up on their screens. It takes a lot of effort to keep up with all the latest trends; a rewarding one nonetheless.
As I was waiting patiently in line before the cashier, a shop assistant walked by and wished me a happy and productive school year. Suddenly, the woman in front of me turned and politely asked if I were a teacher. I affirmed her suspicions – we teachers do stand out in crowds, don’t we? After some small talk and introductions, ‘Mary’ as I will be referring to her, shared that she is an English teacher and focuses solely on private tutoring. I myself prefer teaching at schools for personal convictions which I will get into detail below.
Continue reading “Stale Teachers and Victimized Students Realities and Repercussions”My Teenage Students Are Ignoring Me! What Am I Doing Wrong?
by Katherine Reilly, originally published in ELT NEWS
A Heart to Heart about an Educator’s Role Today
“Doesn’t anyone know the answer to my question?” you gently sigh, as half your class simply ignores your presence. You desperately direct the question to a specific student – a last attempt at rectifying the uncomfortable predicament you find yourself in – receiving an answer which will only add salt to injury. “I don’t care if I learn English or not. So, stop insisting.”
Does this sound all too familiar? No, this is not an 80s teen movie, featuring disgruntled, directionless teenagers who are in desperate need of a leader who will motivate them and, in the end, will bond as a family unit. This is a harsh reality most of us are dealing with. You might be scratching your heads wondering if this was always the case or not. Admittedly, teenagers have through the years consistently exhibited a rebellious nature, rendering it a constant challenge to keep them motivated and focused on their obligations, inspiring them to set goals to pursue in life. However, society has fundamentally changed and although our teenage students do remind us of our own adolescent years, there are many acute differences which have led to their dismissal behavior.
Continue reading “My Teenage Students Are Ignoring Me! What Am I Doing Wrong?”
Katherine Reilly 