Inspired by a prompt…

Describe something you learned in high school.

The prompt is asking me to describe something I learnt at high school so here it goes... 

I learnt 

a) how not to teach tedious teacher-fronted lessons in which there was no student-student or student-teachrr interaction;

b) not to talk at but to students:

c) to observe, and listen to, peers (whether I liked them or not) and students so as to support them in times of need;

d) that teachers are allowed to be imperfect. They are, after all is said and done, people.

Hoping to be more regular with my posts (just have a couple of more deadlines to meet), I wish you all a gratifying week.

Gemma

Can you be bothered?

Article by Ben Newark… I’d say that it’s spot on!

“David Beckham is one of the best free-kick taker ever and it not because of a talent sent by god. It’s because he trained with a tireless dedication that the vast majority of less gifted players would not even imagine.” Sir Alex Ferguson on right—sided midfielder David Beckham. “I don’t care. I was listening. It’s […]

Can you be bothered?

Covid-19 and I…

…so far COVID and I have not developed a relationship. Yes, many a times I have either been sent by my GP to be tested or, like today, gone of my own volition.

During the last four days I have presented all the typical symptoms: slight temperature (never higher than 38°), a constant cough (a memento from the bronchitis I had over my long weekend in Spain? Even my Doc thought it was C19 then), constant weariness – yesterday all I did was make the bed!- this morning, well, I dared get up only to find myself falling asleep on the settee for another fout hours!!!

Did a home test as Saturday I spent time with someone who had just recovered from it, I’m not wearing my mask as often as I should in crowded places, and also because I’m seeing Dad next week, I wanted to make sure I’d done it right so I went to chemist. The pharmacist agreed the symptoms were there, after spending €25 she confirmed… I’m negative. So… I have the flu again for the third time since mid-June! On meds for the third time.

Not that I particularly want covid-19 in any form (specially next week) but I do wonder why it’s avoiding me. It has now become endemic so sooner or later I’m likely to catch it. Had coffee three years ago sitting opposite to a colleague who, unbeknownst to us, had caught it from a colleague in another school, I have also been in close proximity of students and other colleagues who ended up catching it.

Could the medication I take for my migraines (Triptan and Topiramate) and anxiety have an impact on the virus along with the different ‘flu medications I have been taking over the months? I have obviously had my three jabs and also a ‘flu jab this year (Doc’s orders- getting old?)

Well, back at school in 19 days. I guess we will soon find out how many students won’t make their exams because they’re ill. Thank goodness the mask mandate on publi transport is until September 30th, I may carry on wearing it at school too.

Hope those of you who are ill are coping and I wish you a very quick recovery.

Covid-19 and I…

…so far COVID and I have not developed a relationship. Yes, many a times I have either been sent by my GP to be tested or, like today, gone of my own volition.

During the last four days I have presented all the typical symptoms: slight temperature (never higher than 38°), a constant cough (a memento from the bronchitis I had over my long weekend in Spain? Even my Doc thought it was C19 then), constant weariness – yesterday all I did was make the bed!- this morning, well, I dared get up only to find myself falling asleep on the settee for another fout hours!!!

Did a home test as Saturday I spent time with someone who had just recovered from it, I’m not wearing my mask as often as I should in crowded places, and also because I’m seeing Dad next week, I wanted to make sure I’d done it right so I went to chemist. The pharmacist agreed the symptoms were there, after spending €25 she confirmed… I’m negative. So… I have the flu again for the third time since mid-June! On meds for the third time.

Not that I particularly want covid-19 in any form (specially next week) but I do wonder why it’s avoiding me. It has now become endemic so sooner or later I’m likely to catch it. Had coffee three years ago sitting opposite a colleague who, unbeknownst to us, had caught it from a colleague in another school, I have also been in close proximity of students and other colleagues who ended up catching it.

Could the medication I take for my migraines (Triptan and Topiramate) and anxiety have an impact on the virus along with the different ‘flu medications I have been taking over the months? I have obviously had my three jabs and also a ‘flu jab this year (Doc’s orders- getting old?)

Well, back at school in 19 days. I guess we will soon find out how many students won’t make their exams because they’re ill. Thank goodness the mask mandate on publi transport is until September 30th, I may carry on wearing it at school too.

Hope those of you who are ill are coping and I wish you a very quick recovery.

My First Italian Passport

Appointment made on 6th January for the 25th. Handed in documentation. 10 days later (today) passport ready.

It’s burgundy (but not shiny). I’m European again!

My new British Passport

So… Here I am, in the middle of a global pandemic, with just about 6 months left on my UK passport. I do the natural thing and apply online to get it renewed- just in case there’s an emergency.

Little did I know that 1) I could have a digital photo taken on any random smartphone and, once uploaded, an algorithm would tell me whether it was OK; 2) all I needed as proof of address was a statement from my employer; 3) it would take longer for the requested documents to get through Customs via the Italian and British Postal Services than it would to a) get it approved; b) printed; c) returned.

I have now forsaken my lovely burgundy European Union British Passport for a Black (?) British one with no illustrations of places of interest on the inside pages.

Brexiters… Don’t you dare say it’s blue… It’s the same colour as the one I had as a kid – you know, the cardboard one with the blue pages inside (?) – and that was black.

Update: Apparently the new passport renewal service – or so I have read, please let me know if I’m wrong- had given jobs to just 70 Brits! The tender for the production of the passport was won by a Franco-Dutch company and is printed in Poland… How European is that?!?!?! 😂😂😂

It’s been a while…

… since I last posted and a lot has happened, a lot has changed.

I believe I have changed, as a person, a woman, a teacher, a student, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a cat mum. I no longer have time for those who have proved to have no time for me, that has enabled me to make more time those whom I care for and are there for me in times of need (that meaning a coffee too while stacking out the girls’ loos!)

Today has been particularly illuminating as I was able to talk about a past event without getting emotional (apart from the bit about taking Cinders to the vet’s!) and making a point without exactly accusing someone of malpractice… Just hinting at it. I managed to laugh at an email from some parents who informed me I cannot unilaterally decide to write to them in English – even though I am their daughter’s English speaking Geography teacher- I must use Italian, the national language. They do seem to misunderstand what I write, though, so it’s non-sensical.

I have also understood that I will never win the lotto, I play every week, as my Sis played 2 Euros today and won over 400!

I think my rambling is back. Maybe to stay.

Goodnight x

Time for a change!

As you may already know ( I’ve tweeted about it!), I have resigned from my position as Language Course Leader at the academy I have been working in for the last five years. I started as a freelance language teacher and slowly made my way up the career ladder and have been in this position since March 1st.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have been able to have such an opportunity with the academy but, after 20-odd years of teaching ‘third person s’ and ‘present perfect’, I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘no‘ to CLIL Geography and Art.

It’s going to be a mega learning curve for me, I know, as I’m no expert in either. I’m studying, re-reading books which I had put aside a very long time ago as well as reading new ones. I’m eager to learn.

The other thing that made me say ‘yes‘ were, are, the working hours. I may well need to spend time prepping but I won’t have to sit in an office from 9 to 6 and get home at 8pm. Hopefully I will have a decent work-life balance, mental health, time to study for my MA and, maybe, who knows, to blog about my LPs!

Just a little German

Tonight was the night. I got out the German self-study course for beginners I bought over a year ago and I started. Finally.

I must admit that it’s really hard without a teacher and extremely hard not to turn to technology, the only tech I have is the CD for the listening although I think I may convert the audio files into MP3 files to play on my phone.

Why German you may ask, well, I really want to learn Nederlands and it’s so much easier if you already know some German.

The last time I was a beginner in a language was over 20 years ago so this is going to be an interesting learning curve for me. All I’ve kept saying to myself this evening when looking at the keys is ‘OK, but I don’t understand why! I’ll have to take a picture and ask Val (my friend) tomorrow’.

Off to bed now. Guten Nacht!

Adventures and armrests

Right… Not exactly one of my best days!

Lovely evening spent with @JanersELT last night. All OK this morning until…security control. There I’m told that my ticket to Barcelona (to get to #iELT19) was actually for (roll of drums) YESTERDAY!!! Shock! HORROR!

I just leave Jane standing there and rush off to the ticket office to see if I can get a seat on the 6:30am flight with her – I mean, we’d been up since 3am! I just HAD to get on that plane.

No tickets.

Next flight: 12:40. Only a few tickets left. Let’s not even mention the cost and the fact I’m going to miss my workshop.

Buy ticket.

Rush back.

Go through security.

Find Jane. She buys me breakfast.

I see her off. There were a number of hen and stag dos. To put it in her words, she was probably the only normal person on the plane.

I wait. And wait. And wait.

Plane delayed.

Finally, we board. I doze off. Hadn’t even realised.

Silly woman on my left has a go at me for dozing off and slowly leaning over into her space. Apologised. Explained it wasn’t intentional. Apologies basically not accepted.

I’ve now taken over the armrest. It’s mine.