Attention Seekers

Still remember the class with mushroom stories? once I read the story again, it looks like that's a perfect class where every teacher's plan will go smoothly. In fact, sometimes I feel like the kids (they're all about six or 7 and one is 8) start taking me easy, this recurring problem is not new at all for a lenient teacher like me, but I don't want to tell about it.

So this is a story about my kind of 'D-day', an important day. In our school, teachers are normally observed by the principal every several months, so this is my 9th observation day. The mushroom class, we call it Red 1, was chosen as the representative of my children class. I didn't feel nervous at all since that wasn't my first time, although we've got new material with completely new publisher books and multimedia, I had no worry. So I made my lesson plan well, activity by activity. I predicted things that could ruin my session until I finally thought that everything's perfect.

At the 'D-day', I told them that the principal would join them studying. Their response was just like "Oh, ohkay". I didn't have any intuition about unplanned things to happen.

The principal was finally sitting there when I started the class. And you know whaat? even since the first stage of teaching procedures, things were going unplanned.

I normally start by talking to them about their day, the food they ate, the lesson they studied at school, the cartoon they watched previous night, and even their plans after class, they have always been excited telling me everything, Gaby, the most talkative usually starts with "I'm not happy today, but I'm not angry too, just so so, I'm a lil bit tired, you know I have many course, and I clean my bedroom, my sister is lazy, never tidy the room, and today at school I have math test, it's easy, bla bla...". Marco ever replied me "Today I play basketball, I fight with P4, they're big, but I score one, tomorrow I play again at school but with P3, I think I will win again, bla bla...", even the quietest student, Priska always answers like, "I study PE today, weekend I go to church and then eat at the mall with my mum and dad and brother..". 

Normally they answer that way, but as soon as another new person (which was the principal) joined us, they turned to be aliens. This is the chronology of my first stage, talk to the students.

I started, "Hello everyone! so how's you day today? who's happy here? Are you all sad? no?" (I started brightly).

No one answered me, they put on very expensive faces telling me like, "want me to speak? pay in advance!". I tried really hard until several of them answered, "don't want to tell you about today". I was choked, but all was well, I went to the second stage, warming up. I had prepared a very exhilarating game with a lot of expectation in it. Normally since it was a new game, they will shout excitingly "I want to play, me first, me first, me first!", but while the principal was watching, they put on their "still expensive face" and just responded, "ms, I don't want to play", "it's boring ms, can I not play?", "can we play other game?", "ms, I want play hangman". Nothing answered as expected although in the end they played after my eyes almost popped out (I lie,hehe).

It was really funny once I thought about it again. Thank God, I'm not a newbie so I've learned to be prepared for those unplanned situations.

In the middle of my presentation, they could follow me in a quite normal way. I chose pair work as the practice, I divided them in to several pairs, usually, they never complain about anything during this activity. They have to follow all my instructions, but that day, they quite disappointed me because one of them didn't care about my instructions, and kept complaining as well, "ms, I think I know how to do this, we better bla.. bla.. so it is more interesting bla.. bla..", I don't mind my kids giving me suggestions, but at that time she talked a nonsense rule which wasn't correct at all but just created a chaotic situation. I got stiff because of that. I started getting more serious so they could follow me seriously too.

During the production stage, I encourage them to draw their room "this morning and now", basically they've just been intruduced to "past tense, was and were". Normally almost all of them are excited of drawing because it's fun, but that day, ane of the students said, "ms aaah, I don't want to draw", then, "ms, I can not draw", one who wanted to draw even said, "I want to draw the mountain and the beach", and there they went out of control. I never shout at my students, I don't believe in the "scary way" to educate. So I started shifting their attention from rebelling, I mumbled, "hm.. Amazing World of Gumball last episode wasn't interesting at all...", normally they will be offended and reply, "noooo, I like it!", "it was greaat not bad!" and other defensive answers, but at that day, they answer, "I don't watch it, I don't like gumball anymore, I like 'adventure time now'", I was like, argh! (but only in my heart, of course :D). I could see the principal couldn't hold her smile.

Finally after feeling like it's been a thousand years, the last fifteen minutes, the principal left. As soon as she left, all the aliens turned to be my normal kids! and started telling a lot of story and all. I was just sighing non-stop.

Ooops! this gonna be a very longe story, I'll make it in to two part because I'm running out of time to prepare going to my office, see you tonight, blogspot!

Fan Girl Moment

Yay! I was so happy to see @thekooksmusic tweeted that they were writing songs these days. I'm a fan of The Kooks since "naive" which I thought was Lily Allen's original song, back then I was so keen on her version that I walked around youtube to see her live, later I found out that she was just doing a cover for The Kooks'. Since then I've officially fallen in love with their music, the guitar sound (as usual) plus the English accent vocal of Luke Pritchard. 

When I like a musician, I'm going to go through several long sleepless night to find about them in the internet especially Youtube, thanks to super speedy internet connection in my room. Same case happens for The Kooks, I was so curious that I watched all of their interview in Youtube, but unfortunately, they're all Potterish British, I felt like I was watching some Weasleys. To be honest, I didn't really understand things they said that time. A bit frustrated  I trained my self by listening to their interview and songs constantly until now. Well, when we're used to something, we're getting better at it. I wasn't used to understanding English men talking, but now I'm used to listening to it. When I find their newest interview, I'll understand them better. This is good for me to enlarge the exposure of my English as well.

The Kooks released their latest album last year, "Junk of The Heart", I love all the songs there. Number one song from that album, for me, is "junk of the heart (happy)", a song that makes me wiggle :D

I asked a friend to listen to their songs, but my friend seemed quite disturbed by Luke's vocal. Well, I don't know, perhaps, it is me who's got worse sense at choosing good vocal because I like 'Our Lady Peace' vocalist, that is said to have weird vocal too. Honestly at first, I didn't enjoy Luke's vocal, but I've grown to be fond of it. 

ah! if I were a guitar master, I would definitely play all of their songs. In fact, I've been stuck only as a listener, never a musician :p 

Let me post a song from The Kooks to celebrate the occasion of them making new songs, haha ;)

old days.. (She Moves in Her own Way)

these days (Is It Me)

Mushroom Story

AH! Glad to be back here again.

Several days ago, I had a new cute experience with the kiddos. It was in Red 1 class, a class with 3 boys and 2 girls, their average age is 7yo. That day the target language is offering food, like "do you want some chocolate?", "I want some candies", "I don't want any soup", etc.

We started playing matching food cards with the jumbled name. Everyone was so excited. Then I went to the next slide, the slide that was fulled of mouthwatering food pictures. As a lead in, I ask them about those food, "who likes stew?", "who doesn't like curry?", etc. They all answered enthusiastically. Until it came to mushroom. The picture was very clear. Before I asked anything, they started speaking naturally, Priska said, "I think mushroom is healthy, not like french fries", Rahmat added, "noo salad is healthy, not mushroom", Duncan shouted, "mushroom is yucky, I don't like!", then Gaby stated new comment, "ms ms, my grandma cook me mushroom at home, I like it, it's so yummy!", the others started to get distracted and stated inconsistent things (which was cute), "ah gaby, my mom also cook me mushroom!" marco didn't want to lose. Duncan, who said that mushroom was yucky even changed his mind, "me too, I also eat mushroom at home!". I was just smiling while giving them chances to discuss about mushroom. when I was about to stop, marco stood up, "ms you know mushroom is healthy, but some danger ms". I was surprised and I thought marco talked about poisonous mushroom so I supported him, "yes, you can't eat poisonous mushroom, it's very dangerous!", duncan even added dramatically, "you eat it, then after 2 hours you will die". I thought marco would be happy, in fact, he rose his pointed finger and shaked it, "noooo ms, not the poison mushroom!", I was confused, "so what mushroom did you talk about earlier marco?". He put on a very serious face and explained, "MUSHROOM IN OUR FEET IS DANGEROUS MS! its not healthy."

I was blanked a moment, wondered if he was joking that time, but looking at his innocent and serious face, I can't help but laughing out loud, I mean, mushroom in our feet???? is it even in our topic??? :))

We ended up laughing together, it was still a mystery whether they laughed because the knew what I meant, or whether they just followed me.

the next slide was about spaghetti, the kiddos spoke alot about this food, every one wanted to be the one who-know-it-all about spaghetti. Gaby stood up, "ms, I learned at school, I know where spaghetti come from...". She put on a mysterious face, hoping that other friends will be curious. Unfortunately, what she got wasn't what she wanted, marco felt irritated and didn't want to lose either, "Ah gaby, just stop, I also know where spaghetti come from, you no tell us, I already know". Gaby got a little bit angry, "where?? tell me if you know!". Marco with flat face and serious face answered confidently  "of course I know SPAGHETTI IS FROM CARREFOUR, I and my mum buy there". Once again, I hoped he was joking, but looking at his face he was very serious, I started teary laugh, especially while looking at gaby's upset face. She sat directly, folded her hands on her chest then sighed, "aaaaah marcooo!". Marco gave a normal face and answered, "why?", which made gaby even angrier. 

That day, even until I got home, I couldn't stop smiling remembering that story, because I experienced it spontaneously, it was even funnier in my head. I love you kiddos! 

My Father and Me

The relationship between me and my father is difficult to define. So far that I know, we're very close because I've always done everything he asked me to do. I did well at school. I didn't make friends with those who my father thought would harm me. I've always stayed at home playing snake and ladder, monopoly, scrabble, or lego after school since he told me that our neighborhood environment wasn't good. I've always slept in the afternoon exactly from 2 until 4, I had never gone to school before I finished my breakfast. I had never had my lunch before I fixed my shoes and uniforms on the right place. I remember that I never intentionally disappointed him except when I skipped one of my afternoon sleeping time and escaped from the windows to play with my friends, I do regret it.

I know we're very close because I've always been there for him. In the morning, I would be the one who was ready to join my father's morning exercise, running. I remember it was always still dark, my sisters would still be covered by their thick blanket while me, ready to fight with the morning breeze. Sometimes I wonder, why did I want to do that? If I didn't want to, I could just say no, but the fact that I did it, maybe it was also part of my unconditional love toward my father.

He would run so fast and leave me behind then I would be scared of being alone in the dark so I would try my best to chase him. Sometimes my father would trick me, give me his heavy bag and said that he needed to fix his shoelaces. when the bag was in my hands, he would run again, and I'd hardly try to chase him with that heavy bag.

That was happened eight or ten years ago. As the time goes by, We barely have time to do those things. My father is loosening his strict rules toward me. During my high school  I could go wherever I wanted to go, I could get home late in the night. To get those kind of freedom crept me out too. I asked my mother why he always permitted me doing everything, and my mom's answer made me speechless, "your father knows how stubborn you are, even though he says, no, you won't listen, you'll still do things you like, so tactfully he always says, yes". I wonder if I was really that stubborn, but thanks father for putting your trust on me that time.

Nowadays, I barely talk to my father. He isn't a text man, neither do I. He's not so keen on talking on the phone, and I found it more difficult to build conversation on the phone with him, you know, things have changed, and when it happened, we're at different place and situation.

As he goes older, I know how I come to this level of stubbornness, it was inherited by him.

About two weeks ago, I went home. As usual, my father would gladly drive me to places I requested. We talked a lot along the way. My father isn't the kind of man who said sweet words to me, we often exchanged nag and ended up defensing ourselves. It was still the same fun.

Two weeks ago, I realized one thing, I need to get to know my father more and my father needs to get to know me more, because in several part, I'm not the same as I used to be. It's quite amusing, let me give you example. During lebaran, I was quite exhausted following my father here and there visiting thousands of relatives which meant I tied my hand on my father's hand, which also meant not ordinary since in my town, people at my age should go with friends, not with their father visiting all the oldies. I did enjoy knowing my relatives, but I felt too tired that time so I did protest him why he kept forcing me to follow him everywhere. His answer made me furious, "Is it a burden following me? why? wanna go with your friends? where are they? I don't see one these days, and its not like you have a boyfriend either to take you everywhere, so just follow me and memorize all your relatives". I was burned that time, I didn't want to just lose, so I answered, "why mentioning boyfriend? how am I going to have boyfriend if I always follow my father and my mother everywhere?". My father just laughed. I thought about it a lot, he's surely concerned about me. These days I barely meet my friends, they're busy with their own lives and I wont bother disturbing them. It brought me to tears though.

Another story that strengthened the fact that we both needs to get to know each other more, we've got so many relatives, some of them live quite far that we need to drive there. One day we planned to visit one of them. My father warmed up his old car, then my mother got in, my two sisters came afterward while I was still in my bedroom, fixing my messy liquid eyeliner, to be honest I'm not in to eyeliner, I'm still amateur. I wasn't keen on 'make up', but these days I learned about it. When I got home, people kept thinking that I was still students, and my mother kept encouraging me to change a bit, to take care of my 'womanish side' to look as what adult woman looks in my town. So that day, my father kept pressing the horn calling me out. I was really angry because even in a normal situation, I hardly put on eyeliner, in a hurry moment like that, I saw a picture of mountain on my eyelids, it was horrible. I took all of my 'make up' things, then got out of home with sully face, my father asked if I was asleep before, of course it was just a sarcastic way. I told him that I needed more time for my 'make up', he was just like giving less care and mumbled stuff like "why bother putting make up, what for, woman with make up or without make up is just the same". I was like argh! it's useless to answered, so I started erasing my eyeliner. Along the rocky road, I thought a lot, previous time, when I got home, I still didn't like putting 'make up' so I didn't need more time, but these time, I can't just leave home shabbily, I've got that sense of shame and I want to respect my self more.

Well, there were too many stories to be told here, stories I want to remember, I learned a lot last time I was home. When I kissed that old man before leaving home for another year, I talk to him in my heart, "dad, I might not be anyone now, but I'm sure that I'm not stubborn for no reason, I promise to understand you better in the future".

Ah, I write for this long, once I read this again, I miss my father more. I love him unconditionally.

Hello September!

Never be too dependent on someone because even your shadow leaves you when you're in the dark (overheard)

Hometown

I can't believe that its finally the 17th day of August! no, I'm not posting about independence day, but today is the day I'm going back to my hometown after 8 months. I can already smell home. these are pictures of the beauty of my hometown taken in my last holiday, pretty, aren't they? ;)

TADAIMA~

Waka Waka Dance (Re-Post)

I had ever been surprised by keisha, a 9yo kid, one day, she met me bfore class, “ms I need to talk to u after the class, this is really important” I gave her a “what’s wrong?” Face then she continued, “I can’t tell u now, please ok, I need ur time after the class, ok, give me yes ms”

I was nervous abt what she wanted to tell. When its time for class, I went to the 2nd floor. I met keisha around the stairs, she stopped me. “Ok I think I’ll just tell u now, can we talk here now? Pls listen to me, only 3 err no 2minutes, ok?” She gave me puppy eyes, then I nodded

I thought she wanted to tell me about something serious like the lesson or the way I’m teaching, but theeen she told me, “Ms can u give punishment to jordan and nalendra?” She asked. I shooked and asked back, “what for? They didn’t do anything wrong”. She became gloomy. “U know I like ‘waka waka dance’, bcos of that, they keep laughing at me, I mean what’s wrong with that dance” she mumbled. I hold my laugh.

“They keep laughin at it, it hurts my feeling, I want u to give them punishment, can u promise me that?” She shot me. I was a bit surprised. I actually wanted to laugh, not bcos she likes that ‘waka waka dance’ but bcos I thought she wanted to tell sumthin really critical. In the end I accepted to give punishment to jordan and nalendra, her classmates, but when I wanted to explain it in class, keisha was panic..

She stood up directly and said, “I don’t ask ms wida to give you punishment, really I don’t do it”. I can’t hold my laugh. I mean she was just too obviouuuus, because of that, the class became a bit chaotic, and in the end I didn’t give punishment to anyone. Well, kids are geuninely cute :))

One-Sided Love for Wisa

So this is what I foundlast month. I taught wisa, a 6yo tomboy girl. She surprised me sayin she’s got boyfriend, also an ILP student. She was so happy saying “ms my boyfriend kokoh patrick, ituh ms, wear glasses in YAC 6 class, I like kokoh patrick ms”. the class became noisy as she confessed. Although all her classmates laughed at her, wisa was really confident. I asked her, “is it really patrick? Why do you like him?” 

She replied, “yes ms kokoh patrick your student dulu, I liiiikeeee kokoh patrick”. She kept saying that while her friends laughed out loud. 

A fella, thaddeus even added, “wisaa, you love kokoh patrick, you get married, then you kiss like this muaaaah, hahaha”. He showed kissing expression that made me speechless.

Their expression were really cute, I mean a 6yo girl which is a green adventure student had a crush on a 12yo boy from young adult class, haha.. I felt a bit pity for her, well I had just finished teaching patrick. So far, he never mentioned about wisa, it must be a one-sided love :))

Adorable Albert

Yesterday, one of my kids classes learned about parts of the body. My students were all about 6 or 7yo. Everyone was so excited that I came up with "I spy" game. I gave them an example, while spying with my eyes and hand just like a detective, I shout, "I spy a part of the body, the first letter is W". The kids were noisy screaming "BINGO!", "BINGO!", "Waist!", "Wrist!".

Then they took turn shouting the "I spy". It went smoothly until Albert's turn, I tell you, he is ubercute kiddo with some part of his mouth toothless. Albert started, "I spy part of the body, the first letter is R". Then he smiled inviting his friends to answer. Unfortunately, no one knew. 

"What's the answer, Albert?", in the end, I asked him. He smiled again full of victory and shouted, "RICE!". I was surprised, everyone was too, then they started complaining to Albert. I told Albert that we're talking about parts of the body, not food.

Albert nodded and seemed cool, then he replied, "Rice also part of the body miss". "Are you sure?", I challenged him, then he answered with an answer that made me almost fall from my chair while laughing out loud, "Yes, miss, everyday I eat rice, now, the rice is here, in my stomach, so rice is part of my body now". I was like "...." for several second then laughed together with the other looking at Albert touching his belly tummy and smiling purely. I loovee Albert!

Polka Dot Hand

I was once tricked by my students. In my class, no matter how young the kids are, I force them to speak always english, I open jakarta Corner (a corner where they can speak a word in indonesian for maximum 5 minutes), I also apply the “tick” method, when a kid says indonesian word, I’ll give a “tick” on their hand using my marker, it also applies on me, wheh then asks me a word, I must explain slowly with more simple language, when they don’t get it and I have no choice but tell them the indonesian word, each of them may give me “tick” too. somehow, it works.

So this is a class with 5 kids. In that class speaking in indonesian is counted as a very big mistake, the same like killing people. Sumtimes when they forgot, they’ll speak in bahasa. I’ll be happy giving them a tick :D

That day I gave a tick to nia bcos she said “iya” and was caught by james that directly report to me. Rule is rule, if we want the rule to be well implemented, we have to be serious. After nia, several students got ticks too. Then while doing their writing task, I saw them discussing sumthing, I thought it was about the lesson, then they all came to me.

“Ms we want to ask u, we don’t know how to read this in english” they showed me the book. Its written “motorcycle”. Then I started reading. As I started reading “motor..”, james closed the “cycle” part with his palm, I stopped, confused for sum seconds until I heard shouting. They’re all shouting happily, “ms widaaaa speak bahasaaa, ms speak bahasaaa”. I realized, they tricked me to say ‘motor’ which is only bahasa for them! I actually wanted to defend myself but I couldn’t stand looking at their happy face, then I finally allowed them to give me ticks, that was really your lucky day, kids :)

polka dot hand