I thought it would be best if I could take a break from the school. So, I have decided to go to Spain and Portugal. I went to Eastern Europe last year. It turned out to be quite nice. I went to Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Both Poland and Czech Republic were worthwhile to visit. For Hungary, it was just so so.
This year, I'm going to Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Lisbon. These living standard of these cities are relatively cheaper than other western European countries. One thing that shocked me a bit is the temperature. It can reach almost 40C at daytime. Wow, in Hong Kong. It just reaches 33-35C at most. But it is the humidity that kills in Hong Kong. It's much drier in those cities. I hope it would be bearable. I'm leaving tonight. Hope I can sleep on the plane.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
End of the school year
At last, the whole school is about to finish. This year is a bit different. My school is going to close down. The school management said that it will still go on for 5 more years.
Well, they can say whatever they want. But the reality is that teachers have started to leave. Students will start to leave soon.
What am I going to do?
I'll still hang around for another year and see what will happen in the following year.
One thing that really pissed a lot of people off is the way the school handled matters during this period. The are afraid of teachers' leaving, that's why they offered some staff of a pay rise of HK$10,000 a month to keep them. Of course it would be great if you were one of them. But for the others, it's a blatant unfairness. This will create a big frigging problem for the teachers who are going to stay. Well, let's see what will happen then.
Well, they can say whatever they want. But the reality is that teachers have started to leave. Students will start to leave soon.
What am I going to do?
I'll still hang around for another year and see what will happen in the following year.
One thing that really pissed a lot of people off is the way the school handled matters during this period. The are afraid of teachers' leaving, that's why they offered some staff of a pay rise of HK$10,000 a month to keep them. Of course it would be great if you were one of them. But for the others, it's a blatant unfairness. This will create a big frigging problem for the teachers who are going to stay. Well, let's see what will happen then.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Generation/cultural gap
I just don't know what students are thinking actually. The students I teach are the kind of lower banding students (not so academically talented). Some of them come to study at this school because they still have got a sort of vague hope that they can go to university. However, after nearly a year, some of them have just given up.
Recently, that student called Vivian really gave me a lot of troubles. Her English is good, but her attitude is shitty. I had never bothered much to chase her for her homework. But things are getting worse. She's become a pain in the ass. She stirs up a sort of "hidden" feeling of hatred among her friends towards me. They gave me suspicious look or behave nastily in my lessons. I have enough of all these. I have to discipline her. And by chance she's one of the head prefect. How wonderful for her shitty behaviours and being a head prefect at the same time!!
To be honest, I don't like to punish students. I think they are mature enough to be dealt with. But not so. It's getting more and more difficult.
Recently, that student called Vivian really gave me a lot of troubles. Her English is good, but her attitude is shitty. I had never bothered much to chase her for her homework. But things are getting worse. She's become a pain in the ass. She stirs up a sort of "hidden" feeling of hatred among her friends towards me. They gave me suspicious look or behave nastily in my lessons. I have enough of all these. I have to discipline her. And by chance she's one of the head prefect. How wonderful for her shitty behaviours and being a head prefect at the same time!!
To be honest, I don't like to punish students. I think they are mature enough to be dealt with. But not so. It's getting more and more difficult.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Apple computer
It's difficult to use a Mac in a Windows dominated world, especially in a Hong Kong secondary school. In Hong Kong, people simply don't suppose you'll use an OS other than Windows. IT supporting staff don't like Mac users. First, you use something that they don't know much. And when you want to ask them to give you technical support, they simply can't do much. When it comes to teaching materials, you can simply forget your Mac. They are solely designed for Windows only. However, should I switch back to Windows? I think all Mac users will know the answer. Once you're a Mac user, I think it's difficult for you to turn back.
Why I want to blog.
The other day I listened to a BBC podcast - Digital Planet, talking about bloggers in India. Basically, they are trying to make a kind of "archive" of how much they have to pay to bribe the officials in order to get things done. I think the idea of archiving something quite interesting. I think I know what I want to blog now.
As a high school teacher in Hong Kong, I think I want to blog about the day-to-day experience of teaching, whether they involve office politics, or troublesome students. I hope it can help me "archive" what I have encountered in the coming months.
As a high school teacher in Hong Kong, I think I want to blog about the day-to-day experience of teaching, whether they involve office politics, or troublesome students. I hope it can help me "archive" what I have encountered in the coming months.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
New
It's my first time to blog. No experience at all. Don't know what will come out of it. I'm still on my way to discover why people want to blog. I know it sounds stupid to all experienced bloggers. But just wonder why.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
