Con”grad”ulations, Graduates!
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2018! Many thanks to all my students who called me back to say I helped them achieve the cap and gown. Everything is brighter with balloons.
Tag: student
Student came late…
Every fifth grade student knows about late notes for class – it’s the rare child who made it through this many years of school without ever needing one. How many 5th graders get to write a late note for their moms? Evening classes can be tough, but it helps to have a helpful 11 year… Read More Student came late…
Student vs Signature
Student: I want to talk to you about a research paper. Me: Sure, please sign the sign-in sheet. Student: Oh, I will just be here for 5 minutes. Me: OK, please sign. Student: I just want to know… Me: I will answer as soon as you have signed. *offers pen* S: But, I will just… Read More Student vs Signature
Student So Wise
Student: Why isn’t the on-line test working, it’s not working right! Me: Did you do the on-line tutorial? Student: Yeah, yeah, and now the test isn’t working! The stupid machine is so old! Me: *checks computer* seems OK. Student: This isn’t working! *using many many words. * Student: *continues to complain* Me: Student, if you… Read More Student So Wise
Robot Club is Meeting!
They are meeting in my computer lab. Very noisy with setting up Robot Wheels. Slinging Shakespeare quotes. “Whether it is better to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune…” “Cry havoc and let slip the hounds of war” “To be or not to be…” for three minutes, by heart. Color me impressed.
Hi, Angry Student, Calm Down!
Telling an angry or upset person to keep calm has worked approximately zero percent of the time. A line that actually works for me is, “I need you to speak clearly long enough to let me know what’s going on.” It’s amazing how many people are willing to let go of their rage if they… Read More Hi, Angry Student, Calm Down!
So very concerned
Student had a homework question – Agree or Disagree: Generally, men seemed less concerned about building a relationship than women. Student is not a native English speaker. French grammar treats verbs a little differently than English. The man is less concerned than the woman? The woman is less concerned than the man? I am So… Read More So very concerned
Happy Holidays
Working in the Resource Lab on Friday before the big vacation, and there are 7 students at various levels of English working on their homework for the on-line writing assignments. I love signing off for people who keep working until their work is perfect. Kudos, folks!
Tutor vs The Personal Pronoun Take II
Student had to write an essay about something not school-related that he is passionate about. Am I supposed to use personal pronouns in this essay about myself? Oh, the dreaded Personal Pronoun rule. If one is writing about a general topic, then the Point of View should also be general, which means not using personal… Read More Tutor vs The Personal Pronoun Take II
If at First You Don’t Succeeed…
… Write Write Again. (and again and again and again…) One non-native English speaker knew exactly what to say but did not have the vocabulary for it. Neither did Student’s friends, and translate.google.com was not helping much. neravnodushniy = partial What does partial mean? Synonyms are incomplete, fractional favoring one side in a dispute above… Read More If at First You Don’t Succeeed…
