“I’m going to be sick.”
As I’m sure most ESL teachers have done, I have taught students in both a classroom setting as well as one-on-one. Idea #3 is generally of more concern in the private tutoring sessions. By nature, the teaching and learning of a new language involves a great deal of speaking, probably more on the part of the teacher as he or she must lead the charge. My former students and I generally sat directly across from one another at a small table. Close enough, indeed, to catch a whiff of each other’s breath.
Now, lest I be misunderstood as attempting to be crass or funny (which, admittedly, I usually do), stop and think for a moment about how distracting and repulsive it is when you must be in close quarters with someone in desperate need of a breath mint. Such conditions are not conducive to listening and paying attention. Not at all.
Do your student a favor and remove every distraction possible. As I’m quite certain my students have thought this many times before, don’t put your students in the same boat. They’re too embarrassed to tell you: I’m going to be sick.
What other practical distractions do you usually avoid or remove from your classroom or private teaching sessions?
Go to the next:
What They’re Not Telling You (4 of 10)
