What Teaching Has Taught Me

I have now been an English assistant in a primary school for 6 weeks in Malaga on the south coast of Spain. With a fairly heavy schedule that involves teaching a total of about 450 children in a working week, it’s safe to say that I have dived head first into the enigmatic world of Spanish education. 

As can be expected, Spanish schools reflect relaxed Spanish culture. There is a large list of differences between their education and the memories I have from childhood in the UK. This includes the fact that it doesn’t seem to matter if the teacher is 10 minutes late, that lunchtime doesn’t come around until 2pm and there doesn’t seem to be any strict system for homework (or any punishments if half the class decide not to do it). However, the lenient schooling works to my advantage; a laid-back syllabus in the English lessons means that I can teach what I want in the way that I want to teach it.

No time for nervousness or lack of confidence, on my first day I was handed a piece of chalk and told to take a class of 10 year olds for 45 minutes. With 20 seconds to rack my brain for any piece of knowledge that might be interesting to them, I decided to talk about London. Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge (which fascinates 10 year olds because it opens and closes for boats) were all on the menu, and the kids loved it. I even suggested they do some written work on the subject, and 2 days later I was handed 30 projects to mark and a red pen.

Some of the many projects!

Since my first week, my patriotism has only grown stronger. We have now covered English food (“it’s very unhealthy”, commented one 8 year old), English schools, English uniforms and the Royal Family (which amusingly gets translated into Spanish; our Queen is now called Isabel, and her son is Carlos). The kids think I’m incredibly exotic, and I have even persuaded the younger ones that Harry Styles is my best friend.    

In terms of teaching as a career enhancer, I would argue that standing up in front of 30 children is a fantastic experience for creativity, quick thinking, managing relationships and public speaking. The phrase, ‘transferable skills’ is thrown around university campuses regularly, but teaching foreign children for 6 weeks, having to constantly adapt to their level of enthusiasm and ability has taught me a huge amount.

Hand me that piece of chalk and put me in front of 30 men in suits any day- at least they won’t ask why the cars don’t fall off the bridge when it opens for the boats!

Teaching the Royal Family in Spanish!

'20 Things 20-Year-Olds Don't Get' - A Response

I recently read the most fantastic article by Jason Nazar on Forbes about young people and their attitude to business. The no-nonsense style of the article was a change from the molly-coddled, spoon-fed and watered-down approach of treating young people in the 21^st century, especially by career professionals (Huffington Post recently argued, rather mockingly, that always being told we are special is ultimately making us unhappy). While I wouldn’t personally like to work under Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, Nazar’s example of the most valuable boss, being told off for my future mistakes before I make them could be useful. Business is not about Miss Honey telling us what to do and giving us a big cuddle if we don’t succeed, it’s about pro-activity and initiative. I imagine it’s also about having a thick skin too.

Nazar talks about the emergence of social media in the business world and its longevity, or lack thereof. Although many would be offended at his suggestion that ‘social media is not a career’, his point is clear. Social Media is unreliable and may disappear as quickly as it arrived. Reports suggest that Twitter has already reached the top of its graph and is now on the decline and even Instagram feels the need to introduce advertising to prevent social media mortality being a reality. As Nazar states, Social Media is a tool for marketing that should be adapted to other business, rather than be the business itself. Social Media is simple, it is isolated and above all, it is unreliable. Business may not be reliable either, but it involves interaction with people and the formation of business relationships that can’t be acquired from posting on a Facebook page a few times a day.

Would we ask to go home if this happened?
Image: WeBlogCartoons

His comment, ‘Stop hiding behind your computer. Business gets done on the phone and in person.  It should be your first instinct’ is of particular relevance to my generation. We don’t pick up the phone anymore and many don’t even bother with email. In order to contact the Graduate Recruiters for the Big 4, it seems as though my comrades simply head to the Facebook page and add a comment to the long list of obvious and unnecessary questions before them. The way I see it, hiding behind our computers is making us anonymous, uninteresting and ridding us of all initiative. Asking questions has its time and place, but working something out for yourself is invaluable.

While I don’t agree with everything Nazar says, such as his rejection of tweet reading, the overall essence of his article appears to be a comment on laziness. Lack of networking, hiding behind social media and sending blanket emails; it is all easy. Picking up the phone, meeting business professionals and taking responsibility for our own mistakes may be tough, but it is rewarding. The Co-Founder of Docstoc has certainly persuaded me of one thing, there’s a lot more to business than sitting in front of a computer.

I urge you to read the original article, ’20 Things20-Year-Olds Don’t Get’ on Forbes.

2000 Hits Later

Quite recognisable, no?

My second post on this blog just over 6 weeks ago was a declaration of my plans to expose my attempts at creativity online. I now feel that with the landmark of 2000 hits diminishing into the distance, it is time for me to reflect on this adventure thus far.

I am happy to see that I still possess the adamant feeling that my blog is there to entertain, maybe even educate but not to embarrass. Although I like to write about various aspects of my life, I am pleased to say that my personal life has stayed well and truly off the page. 

For all the things I am doing right, there are plenty that I am doing wrong. One of the challenges I am yet to face is that I often find my blog does not have any purpose or theme. I write the things that come to my mind, varying from amusing advice to controversial opinions without much continuity. This is hardly surprising, I tend to be incredibly indecisive in every other aspect of my life as well but I worry that mynotebookandme will suffer as a result. 

Despite all my gripes, the most encouraging aspect of this experience is that I have discovered that I like writing. I would never have thought that at the age of 20 I would discover a new hobby as simple as writing. I owe it all to Paperchase and their cute notebooks (yes, there is a real notebook!).

So 2000 hits later and I can’t wait to watch the numbers crawl even higher. The more people read, the more I write. Forget the stereotype of teenage girls complaining about boys and bad weather and jump on the blogging band wagon- it really is incredibly satisfying.

I guess I will update you again in 2000 hits time…but who knows when that will be.

Poem: I Once Asked a Stranger

A little poem to brighten your day:

I once asked a stranger

Where he was heading to

I wish I’d asked that stranger

If I could have gone too

I once asked my teacher

What she was teaching for

I wish I’d asked that teacher

If I could learn some more

I once asked a foreigner

What he was doing here

I wish I’d asked that foreigner

To travel with me, a year

I once asked myself

What my purpose was

I answered to myself

Simply, just, because. 

Fancy a Good Read?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larsson, translated by Reg Keeland

            

The first of the Millennium Trilogy, this crime fiction novel was anything but predictable. Even if crime fiction isn’t your thing, the novel touches upon corruption in the modern financial world, contemporary Swedish culture and emotionally disturbed computer hackers, perfect for an ordinarily mundane Sunday afternoon. From fascinating story-lines to totally unique characters, ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ certainly keeps you guessing right through to the end. 

The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas- Arlene Sherine

Probably my most controversial choice, I chose this book not because I am an Atheist but because I’m interested in the impact of Christmas on others who are. A combination of 42 atheist celebrities, comedians, scientists and writers including Simon Singh, Derren Brown and Charlie Brooker came together to create a selection of different opinions and stories about our festive season. Whether you’re unsure of your beliefs, interested in how science claims to disprove God or just intrigued as to what Derren Brown has to say, this book is easy to dip in and out of throughout the year. 

A Long Way Down- Nick Hornby 

A much quicker read than my other choices, ‘A Long Way Down’ follows four protagonists as they tell their story as to why they are at the top of a building, ready to jump on New Year’s Eve. Depressing as it may sound, in typical Nick Hornby style, this novel provides regular laughs as we learn each character’s story from the morning TV presenter accused of being a paedophile to the failed American rock star turned pizza boy. Although it’s not the greatest novel I’ve ever read, it is certainly interesting to follow Hornby on his challenge as he attempts to use wit and comedy to describe a most sombre subject matter.