Lapses in the English Profession

@Shavkat (137212)
Philippines
December 8, 2023 6:38pm CST
I started my day with a retired English teacher in Japan. She was overconfident that grammar flaws would come out of her voice. I tried to be polite and composed when teaching her. I am glad that I learned how to be patient in the field of teaching online. Along the course of the class, she dropped the call and did not let me summarize her performance. Well, the ugly truth cannot be concealed. If I do, I am not doing my job efficiently and effectively. Thus, rudeness will still prevail if we do not accept the ugly truth. Do you sometimes feel bad when you tell the ugly truth to others? Image Credit: mary-marshall.com
9 people like this
10 responses
@florelway (23157)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
9 Dec
It's hard to criticise people especially if they are engulfed with power. Some people believe they are right because they are powerful.
4 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
I can understand where it is coming from for those people who cannot provide constructive criticism. This is one of my reasons for resigning from a local government agency in my city. I cannot bear to work with an incompetent project manager.
2 people like this
@florelway (23157)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
14 Dec
@Shavkat It's very disgusting that local government hires incompetent people because the basis of hiring is always political in nature. Civil service is. not effective in dealing with this issue.
@LadyDuck (458461)
• Switzerland
9 Dec
I avoid to criticize people, particularly those who are no more young, they cannot accept to be criticized by younger people.
3 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
I also observe students to determine if they have onion skin. I stopped giving constructive criticism to them. Sometimes I cannot be their clown when teaching online.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
12 Dec
@LadyDuck You are so right. I pity them instead. If I can only filter my students online, I will do it without any second thought.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458461)
• Switzerland
10 Dec
@Shavkat Some people are a waste of time, they will never learn.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
9 Dec
If that is needed then I will.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
I agree. I need to do it because it is my job. I am sorry if she does not want to be corrected.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
11 Dec
@Shavkat If you are doing it politely she should take it
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
12 Dec
@allknowing I hope she will. I always do it in a professional way.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (48445)
• Mojave, California
9 Dec
People have a hard time with constructive criticism, especially with so called professionals. You are doing your job right but maybe let them know up front how you are going to teach them and what you are doing is for their benefit. If not they can walk though life not understanding why they did not get that job and everything that comes after that.
3 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
9 Dec
You can tell how denial the student is during the class. I do not mind at all. At least, she was able to check her ability to use the second language, which is English. I hope she will take time to ponder what makes her incur such flaws in grammar.
3 people like this
• Mojave, California
9 Dec
@Shavkat A lot of people will pause or just need a break to truly think about things and then come back, you are right, but your job as a teacher is also not to push so hard and go lets give it a break and if you feel the same, here is a teacher that may work for you better. It works most of the times, because people know deep down what they need to do, they just need someone that kind of understands where they are coming from.
3 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
9 Dec
@crossbones27 I hope she can have all the ample time to realize this matter. It seems like she will not book my class next time. But, I do not mind if she didn't.
3 people like this
@aninditasen (15741)
• Raurkela, India
9 Dec
I have usually taught people who wanted to learn English grammar and they did make mistakes which I corrected but I haven't taught elderly people.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
I am not generalizing the idea of teaching senior citizens to avoid being in this situation. Some of them are so open to being corrected. Young learners are better than them, if I must say.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
12 Dec
@aninditasen I agree. Recently, I had an old lady have a class with me. She asked so many questions and tried to meet all her demands. In the end, she is still not satisfied.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15741)
• Raurkela, India
11 Dec
@Shavkat Elderly people are usually difficult to convince and therefore they take time to learn.
1 person likes this
• China
12 Dec
English is too difficult for me, I gave up early. When I was in high school, my English exam score was 26 points, of course, the maximum score was 120 points
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
13 Dec
I think you do not need to give up. You can still learn the second language day-by-day. Being in here is also a good way to enhance it.
@RebeccasFarm (86768)
• United States
9 Dec
No I do not feel bad. I feel relieved.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
I am open to constructive criticism, but not too personal. I still remember that it is hard to tell terminal patients the ugly truth. That is why I stopped working at the hospital.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95319)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Dec
I do feel bad. But It is your job
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
I am glad that she did not say anything that much. However, I can see her face not agreeing. I just did my job.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 Dec
I met a rude student recently during our f2f class she got mad why the door was closed. She was 1 hour late and her classmate locked the door. She barked at me and lost my patience. She said sorry but I didn't answer. I shared it with it with my co teachers and they reported the student to OFFICE OF THE STUDENT AFFAIRS for investigation.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
I think she deserves it. I cannot tolerate this kind of situation. I had experienced this with a Chinese student. I kept silent and muted her audio.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (21028)
• Australia
10 Dec
The ugly truth can be given with a bunch of flowers preceding it. I usually try to find something to praise in someone first, and then I point out the areas where improvements are needed.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
10 Dec
Don't get me wrong. I usually give the good points first before correcting her. However, she was so not into it. At least, I did my job.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
12 Dec
@innertalks I agree. Well, I cannot do anything about it. Let her have the moments. Regardless, I am not expecting her to book my classes.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (21028)
• Australia
10 Dec
@Shavkat No, I was just stating my own way of doing things, as we all must come to our own best way of operating, while remaining open to possible changes, and improvements, from time to time too. I believe that you did your best there, and the ball was in her court, but she just didn't want to play ball anymore, which is more her loss here.