Entries this day: AM Grrrr Images

AM

8:35am JST Wednesday 2 April 2003

I'm thankful to have not required using an alarm in the morning. I've finished my homework (second day of OJT); now I'm going in search of a post office to snail to Colleen and snail a postage paid thing to get the hookup on my calling card. This will let me recharge it at Lawson's and give me 5 minutes of free calling.

Grrrr

9:51pm JST Wednesday 2 April 2003

ARG

Today was a bit fucked up at work because the lesson that felt the best where the students had the most fun and talked most with one another, I got negative feedback on because I hadn't followed the Nova approved method.

Fuck that fucked up bullshit. Are these motherfuckers trying to learn English and become comfortable speaking it or do they care about making sure they hit steps 1, 2, 3, 4?

This was the class after which they thanked me most profusely, where they spoke the most English.. Grrrrrrrr

But just *one* more day of OJT and then I won't be watched by hawks, or by the jolly good Steve from England who, bless his heart, really likes working at Nova.

comments

Name: g

Email: g

Quickly: Why did you climb that?

Subject: I've had that kind of experience before

Comment:
G -

I know what you mean about doing what you call a good job teaching--based
on the smiles and success of your students--and then have your superiors
turn around and give you a poor review because you didn't do it Their Way.
When she said that she didn't like what I did, I was so furious I could
hardly see straight. When I got back to my office, it was all I could do
not to rant about her, and loudly, in the most colorful terms possible;
I would have, too, but two of my students were waiting for me there.
I had to excuse myself for about ten minutes while I calmed the fuck down.
They knew I was pissed, though, and they knew exactly why.

My recommendation to you first and foremost is that you lean heavily on
those teachers who you trust for advice. Second, try to remember that
while you are in fact being paid to teach Their Way, there is always
flexibility, since people are different.

I have to say that here in the beginning, you should try your very best to
evolve a teaching method that is within the Nova Way, but has a style you
find natural and are proud of. After a while, if you're not satisfied,
begin to favor your own style at the expense of the Nova Way. Keep the
letter of the Nova Way as much as possible, though.

At that point, if someone official comes to you and says they don't like
something you did, you have good grounds for defense:
(i) they like you,
(ii) they've seen you do it Their Way,
(iii) you utilize the letter of Their Way--*which is all they can require*,
(iv) you are doing the best you can.
Also, in the particular case of whatever it was you "did", you can talk
about the specific details of the situation, and no one will be able to fault
you for your decisions, because you make good decisions, and you're doing the
best you can.

In my own situation, I basically told the person to fuck off, because I knew
I couldn't be fired, I knew I would never be working in that program again,
I knew the person reviewing me wasn't very important, and I knew that spending
the hour spoon-feeding that one student (neglecting everyone else) was more
important than the official method of "force them to swim".

Good luck, G, and as Dad told me once, you have to give a new job at least a
week before giving up.

-g

Name: g

Email: g

Quickly: Why did you climb that?

Subject: I've had that kind of experience before

Comment:
Oh, and forward that back to me so I can have it for posterity.

PPS: The button to send this form says, "Submit Query".
I think it should say "Submit Comment" or something like that.

Name: tina

Email: orbandprincess@ *redacted*

Quickly: Where can I send you money?

Subject: you can send me money

Comment:
mom i need money. not really. i love my job with cirque du solis. its great!!!!

i MAY even be going to austin for 3 weeks with them if all works out.

just thought i would say HEY MOM!!!

i have class so i will talk to you later gater
-tinap-

Name: chez

Subject: happy famiry

Comment:
fuck that fucked up bullshit!!! and fuck being shy. permalink

Images

10:22pm JST Wednesday 2 April 2003

I've got images of my first week online now. First few days actually.

www.robnugen.com/images/travel/japan2003-2004/001_first_week