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I was writing to a former student, saying that I was no good at teaching English. Some of the things I wrote I think are worth putting here, especially if someone reading this might end up teaching English as a second field.
***
Here's my problem with English: nothing I do can get them to pick up a book and read it. I can't make them read Fahrenheit 451, even if my readings of the first page in class and any other passages got me an Acadamy Award.
I always feel defeated. With Latin, I could look at test grades and see how *I* was doing. Did I teach the material well, did the students understand the concepts, etc. And when I got those kids that froze on tests and couldn't/wouldn't do the reading comprehension on the front, I pondered that and figured out WHY and helped them do better at those. I could FIX problems in Latin 1. All I needed was a student who wasn't actively determined not to learn. You can't help those kids. But those who participate and play along, you can get them to pass, ya know? You can even get them to excel!
There's nothing like that in English. So I hate this. I hate this because I don't want to make reading books any more hateful to students and I'm teaching a book about people no longer wanting to read books and thus sanctioning their distruction and I can't get the message across.
SO WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE TO TEACH THIS? THEY DON'T WANT WHAT I'M SELLING.
I can sell Latin. I can't sell English. I can only pass it off to a few. Maybe. But not to the majority. And I find that troubling and disturbing. Then I go home and wonder why I'm literally killing myself teaching school for something with so little reward. Latin has rewards; English does not. And I have essays at school that need grading and I just don't know when I'll grade them. I have no idea when. I have 100+ Latin tests and quizzes I want to do first because those have purpose. They are feedback for both the kids and myself--where we need to work harder, who's slipping, what I need to teach better or reteach. They are as much a reflection on past work as future work.
The test I just gave on Fahrenheit 451 which most people bombed utterly EVEN THOUGH it was an easy test if you had read the book, just tells me who is reading. It tells me about their work ethic, not about their brains.
***
So, if you haven't settled on a second teaching field and think English would be easy, think again. Go add another modern language. Go take French or German. Don't do English as your second field. Your time gets sucked away and there's little reward outside of the joy of spending time with the authors on your reading list.
I've really enjoyed reading Ray Bradbury and have picked up some of his other works.
But this isn't the kind of teaching I wanted.
***
Here's my problem with English: nothing I do can get them to pick up a book and read it. I can't make them read Fahrenheit 451, even if my readings of the first page in class and any other passages got me an Acadamy Award.
I always feel defeated. With Latin, I could look at test grades and see how *I* was doing. Did I teach the material well, did the students understand the concepts, etc. And when I got those kids that froze on tests and couldn't/wouldn't do the reading comprehension on the front, I pondered that and figured out WHY and helped them do better at those. I could FIX problems in Latin 1. All I needed was a student who wasn't actively determined not to learn. You can't help those kids. But those who participate and play along, you can get them to pass, ya know? You can even get them to excel!
There's nothing like that in English. So I hate this. I hate this because I don't want to make reading books any more hateful to students and I'm teaching a book about people no longer wanting to read books and thus sanctioning their distruction and I can't get the message across.
SO WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE TO TEACH THIS? THEY DON'T WANT WHAT I'M SELLING.
I can sell Latin. I can't sell English. I can only pass it off to a few. Maybe. But not to the majority. And I find that troubling and disturbing. Then I go home and wonder why I'm literally killing myself teaching school for something with so little reward. Latin has rewards; English does not. And I have essays at school that need grading and I just don't know when I'll grade them. I have no idea when. I have 100+ Latin tests and quizzes I want to do first because those have purpose. They are feedback for both the kids and myself--where we need to work harder, who's slipping, what I need to teach better or reteach. They are as much a reflection on past work as future work.
The test I just gave on Fahrenheit 451 which most people bombed utterly EVEN THOUGH it was an easy test if you had read the book, just tells me who is reading. It tells me about their work ethic, not about their brains.
***
So, if you haven't settled on a second teaching field and think English would be easy, think again. Go add another modern language. Go take French or German. Don't do English as your second field. Your time gets sucked away and there's little reward outside of the joy of spending time with the authors on your reading list.
I've really enjoyed reading Ray Bradbury and have picked up some of his other works.
But this isn't the kind of teaching I wanted.
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Teaching English
Date: 2007-10-28 04:41 am (UTC)OK -- "devil's advocate" here.
I believe what you're having a problem with is not the subject you're teaching (English), but your students' lack of work ethic in that subject. I see a similar lack of work ethic in my students of Spanish I. I teach Spanish I at the high school. Anyone who really wanted to or was capable of doing well took Spanish in 7th or 8th grade. What I get are the ones who didn't fit into those categories. Those students basically have little or no work ethic. By this time of the year, I've either been able to instill a work ethic into them or demonstrate that without one they'll have no possibility of passing the course unless they develop one. I see this as a life lesson for them more than a FL one. Do enjoy these classes? -- no. Do I let the students know this? -- no. By my words and actions, I let them see that I really care about them and their progress in Spanish.
Obviously your heart is not in teaching English. Sad to say, but your students are probably picking up on this and reacting to it. Play the game. Make them think that teaching English is the most fun you have all day, and that they are the most important people you deal with all day. Maybe you'll start to believe it too. (OK, dreaming.)
We have to take the hand that we're dealt and make the most of it. We need to remember that what we're teaching is not just a subject, but children. We need to show them that all learning is important. Some get it, some don't; but we keep on trying no matter how hard it is. We're teachers!
It looks like you'll soon have a schedule of only Latin classes. Focus on that future and do what you need to to get through the next year or so.
With Latin, it's easy to judge ourselves. We are the only Latin teachers our students have ever had. With English, you are only one teacher among many previous ones. Unfortunately, there are many previous circumstances that may have prejudiced your students against reading and literature. Sometimes it's the literature itself that turns them off. Once I had to teach eighth graders Dickens' _A Tale of Two Cities_. You can guess how well that was received.
Hang in there! Remember that teachers are part actors -- and sometimes that's the only thing that keeps us afloat.
I can say "been there, done that" and I'm back "doing that" again now. Am I happy about that? No. However, I'm glad that I'm still teaching Latin too, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (if I squint).
You should have a long and prosperous Latin career ahead of you; do what you need to do to get there. I know how exhausting that is, but it is worth it in the long run.
Bona fortuna,
Sandy
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-21 11:40 pm (UTC)I had considered teaching as career after college (1987), but for many of the reasons you mention, I did not stay to earn a teaching credential. Your blog is a glimpse of the path I did not follow...
I've added you to my friends list.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-22 04:45 pm (UTC)I still say that teaching Latin is very rewarding. :)