tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post1185022166557777924..comments2023-09-15T15:22:54.167+02:00Comments on From Australia to Italy - and back: Teaching in an Italian state schoolLeanne was in Italy now in Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240105726417037664noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-39377322621438403272010-05-04T13:12:02.296+02:002010-05-04T13:12:02.296+02:00I really enjoyed reading this, I teach in both pri...I really enjoyed reading this, I teach in both private and state schools here in VT. The private one isn't too bad, instead of yelling the teachers use a little brass bell to quiet them down. I have only taught 11 year olds in private schools, they are a bit unruly since sitting and being quiet is often difficult but no sourness with the little ones. Now High school is a whole different story. Try keeping 25 fifteen year olds interested and paying attention (even if for only 45 minutes)is a real chore especially when their own teacher has no ability to do so. Can't wait for that one to be over with! ;DHeatherVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670305365898082622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-11518393476787499692010-04-16T21:43:16.720+02:002010-04-16T21:43:16.720+02:00Ciao Carolina,
Ahhh...a private school - what a ni...Ciao Carolina,<br />Ahhh...a private school - what a nice thought! I'll give the song translation a go when I am back (in Rogliano) next week!Leanne was in Italy now in Australiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240105726417037664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-74796779153699838802010-04-16T03:57:31.122+02:002010-04-16T03:57:31.122+02:00Wow!You did a great job of describing a real night...Wow!You did a great job of describing a real nightmare of a class/school! I wasn't in the state schools when I was there- instead I found work at a private high school in Cosenza. Older kids, but still lots of attitude and chaos! The one trick I found to get them engaged was to promise them we'd translate lyrics of their favorite American/English songs if they finished a lesson...worked like a charm- those kids really loved music! And in the end, they actually learned more about English that way than from the text! :) In boca al lupo!Carolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12372065726248321871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-40578350910986077692010-04-15T21:32:49.194+02:002010-04-15T21:32:49.194+02:00Hi Lindylou,
I sure do have my work cut out for me...Hi Lindylou,<br />I sure do have my work cut out for me. Thankfull the project is half way finished!<br /><br />Hi Sarah,<br />What great ideas! I have no access to a playground or anything similar...but I think I could do it in the classroom. The clothes game shall be there for Monday - my next lesson! I'll let you know how it goes!<br /><br />Hi Kelsbels,<br />I was not a teacher in Australia. Have only ever taught in Italy so also have nothing to compare it to.<br /><br />Hi Laura,<br />I know how you feel! I hate yelling at students (they are only 11 years old after all) but the scream comes out of your mouth without realising!<br /><br />Hi Cathy,<br />I don't think the words 'Classroom Management' exist in the Italian language ;)<br /><br />Hi Scintilla,<br />Sarah does have some good ideas! And you're right - guess i have to look on the bright side that they were sitting (not all of them, but most of them!!!)Leanne was in Italy now in Australiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240105726417037664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-38964331850360215432010-04-15T15:35:10.827+02:002010-04-15T15:35:10.827+02:00Sarah... ha ha ha but sounds like fun.
You actual...Sarah... ha ha ha but sounds like fun. <br />You actually had them sitting. That's a good start :PRosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11556403160595972518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-21497774453998406222010-04-15T14:38:52.257+02:002010-04-15T14:38:52.257+02:00May the force be with you Leanne. I did a short t...May the force be with you Leanne. I did a short teaching project in a private school in Italy (run by nuns), where the most challenging was the fifth elementary year, but I also got the most out of it. They did cooperate, I think because their class teacher wouldn't stand for any nonsense. Yes she did have to raise her voice to get attention. Just seems the way it is here in Italy. Classroom management is a big issue, that I believe could be handled better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-53839452661737901092010-04-15T14:18:20.260+02:002010-04-15T14:18:20.260+02:00Ciao Leanne! Wow... sounds just like my boat trip ...Ciao Leanne! Wow... sounds just like my boat trip from Amalfi to Salerno with a school group yesterday. I actually yelled at them in Italian, and it's rather uncharacteristic for me to yell at <b>anyone</b>. :-) Good luck and keep sharing your stories!!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11334724336156469342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-9041777207633738952010-04-14T20:15:53.965+02:002010-04-14T20:15:53.965+02:00Do you have access to the playground or the gym ?
...Do you have access to the playground or the gym ?<br /><br />If so, buy as many ping pong balls as you can afford, write English irregular verbs on them, throw them all over playground, divide students into teams and stand at the front yelling <br /><br />a) the verb in Italian<br /><br />or<br /><br />b)a sentence in English using said verb.<br /><br />Once all balls are collected and the row over who cheated, hid balls, wrote own words on balls are finished with, take knackered kids back to classroom for a cooling down activity. Preferably to do with irregular verbs.<br /><br />Tell them they can play game again on the last lesson only if they co-operate with the rest of the course (if a short course, if a long course say about halfway through and then again at the end)<br /><br /><br />If you can't get ping pong balls beg borrow or steak as much old clothing as you can and play similar game where team has to dress one unfortunate member of the squad as fast as possible in the items of clothing that you yell form your nice shady corner of the playground. <br /><br />Do not do this in the classroom, the other teachers will hate you forever.<br /><br />The kids however, will love you and you might get a modicum of co-operation out of them if you dangle a repeat performance at them when they step out of line.<br /><br />They may even learn something.<br /><br />Just don't bank on it LOL.TEFL Ninjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13660756490115614438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-8411608608718645842010-04-14T19:25:09.988+02:002010-04-14T19:25:09.988+02:00Oh my goodness Leanne, it sounds like you have you...Oh my goodness Leanne, it sounds like you have your work cut out for you before you win these children over. Which I am sure you will succeed at. Good Luck.LindyLouMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.com