matilda36

I survived. I had a good day at school. The relationship with the students was good and they absorbed things easily. At least I hope.

At work things went better than I thought. We worked nicely for a Monday,( notoriously a slow day ), I argued with only two people and neither argument was serious. I even got some change when I checked the till.

Now I am home, planning on relaxing. Tomorrow I am off and the plan is to clean and relax.

Today it was the second day of my stage as a teacher and I found myself teaching to a group unsupervised.  Probably not the soundest teaching (and teachers'teaching) practice, but after the first minutes of panic, we got into the swing of things and things went (I think ) quite well.

One of the students, a teacher in her native Ghana, asked me when I was going to be there next time, so she could come in my group.

Most of the students are at the very basic level,  One knows only how to write in arab, so I am having to teach her the alphabet. Some are highly educated in their own countries, but in Italy  their qualifications aren't recognised (and I can so sympathise with them )so they have to start all over again, starting from learning a new and quite difficult language.

I used to see the dark side of immigration in the North Africans that plague us at work. They are mostly clandestine, but with suspicious bundles of cash and the arrogance and attitude that comes with it. They try to be intimidating and, at least in my case, they partially succeed.

At Passaparola I see people wanting to learn and to find a place in their new country, humble, hard working individuals.

It's good for the soul and inspiring for me as a teacher.

Today I went and filled in my tax forms. I was a bit panicked because two of my colleagues found that their employers had messed up their payments and are now due to pay a lot of money. But things went well and I am due a tax rebate of 48€. What should I spend it on? I need sunglasses, but I still have some old car taxes to take care of.

Also I got back another assignments and it's another A. I am getting spoiled. Must not allow success to get to my head and keep focused.

Gloating aside I am really enjoying my studies.I love studying. Studying makes me feel happy and alive. I am probably a bit sad, but intellectual stimulation trumps emotions in my book anytime.
 
I can see a practical use for my studying. I know I am still a long way from being a good language teacher, but I can see myself as a teacher. I have taken at observing the not italian speakers at work and noticing the way they handle language. Arabs for example tend to be quite fluent and bold in speaking Italian, but they tend to hide it when they don't understand and they have big problems with reading out alphabet I have been thinking on how to use my observations to improve my interactions. Today I am going to try teacher's talk on my customers.

And last but not least, does anybody have any idea on how to make basil survive? Last year it was lavender eluding me, this year it's basil. I am going to have to get some more.

Can somebody points me to or even better explain to me the correct use of Do as an auxiliary verb?

I thought I knew it, but now i am a bit confused.

Thank you :)

...a teacher?

*headdesk*

I discovered this morning that I have time until June to apply for Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) for Secondary Schools for September entry.
The incentives are pretty good, I know I am enjoying teaching more and more and it would give me the chance to go back to a civilised country. All I need are good references.

And yet I am scared witless.

Please tell me in details why this is a bad idea?