International schools have been making some news nowadays. What does it mean to be an international school? the curriculum? the native teachers? or merely the language in which the courses are delivered?
Admittedly, English proficiency is a must today. Parents are increasingly aware that their children need to master the language. Most of them, though, does not really have a clear idea about how to learn it the right way. Seriously.
Take a look into this article, which throws some very interesting myths about ESL learning such as:
Is it true that children learn second language more quickly and easily than adults?
Does “swim or sink” method work fine in acquiring second language?
Why do some children seem to speak the language fluently enough, yet they are still failing academically?
and some other thought-provoking questions. Check it out and let me know how many of those questions u got right 😉
What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?
That is how this poem by Taylor Mali begins. Quite an interesting question, isn’t it? It makes me stop and think XD
Teacher is arguably not a dream job for many people now. It is so underestimated! What Teachers Make got some encouraging words on this idea, widening those minds who aren’t aware of teachers’ dedication. The video is really enjoyable with Talor Mali’s stunning delivery. Definitely worth your 3 mins 🙂
PS: Mr. Mali has some videos on this poem, demonstrating different spirit and style inside them. I personally like this one, but feel free to check the other versions ^^ Now you tell me, what have your teachers make of you?
Enjoy!
What Teachers Make
By Taylor Mali
He says the problem with teachers is, “What’s a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”
He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the urge to remind the other dinner guests
that it’s also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite conversation.
“I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor,” he says.
“Be honest. What do you make?”
And I wish he hadn’t done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
which is, if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.
No, you can not work in groups.
No, you can’t ask a question.
Why won’t I let you go to the bathroom?
Because you’re bored, and you don’t really have to go, do you?
You want to know what I make?
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home at around dinner time:
Hi, this is Mr Mali, I hope I haven’t called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something that your son did today.
He said, “Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?”
And it was the noblest act of courage that I have ever seen.
I make parents see their children for who they are
and who they can be.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful
over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And then hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them realize that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if somebody tries to judge you
based what you make, you give them this (the finger).
Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! Now what about you?
The Four Milestones 