It's so much more...

Teaching is not only about the subject you teach. I taught Vivaldi today and I am not a music teacher.....one of the many reasons why I love teaching English so much!

And the fun of it all is that Vivaldi taught me something in return...well it was actually more of a reminder: BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE and look forward to what life has in store!

What size school would you like? ;)

Are you familiar with the question: 'What size Coke would you like?' Of course you are since I take it there are few chances for you not to have tried the famous drink at least once. And the choice when being asked such a question is quite simple: small/ medium/ large. But is it just the same when you're in the position of choosing a school for your own kid? Some would say 'No!', but I beg to differ!

They say there are small schools and big schools and believe me when I'm telling you that the actual size of the building or the number or classrooms have nothing to do with it. It's all about reputation. Or at least so they think. Who's 'they'? Well, let's just say that a lot of parents nowadays make this choice according to how many great references they can get from friends and relatives. Yet, is it really the best way to go about it?

I may be a teacher, but I am also a mother about to make a choice when it comes to my daughter's education. The mother in me did the exact same thing that most parents do: I asked for references, I looked into it, I took notes and compared them to others' notes, I questioned, I made up my mind and reconsidered my choice for as many times as you can  imagine. The outcome of it all: a nightmare! Then I stopped for a second and thought about it! Is this what a parent should really  focus on? Shouldn't we make sure instead that our kid is prepared and ready to face the variety of responsibilities that come with school? Wouldn't it be better for everyone if we stopped questioning so much and just did our best in making the whole experience worth it?

I mean, is it really fair to have everyone  assess the activity in a school even if sometimes they might be people with no expertise? And isn't it also true that at times 'small' schools have demonstrated their worthiness by unbelievably outstanding achievements? You might think it's easy for me to say so, since I am a teacher and also because me and my daughter happen to have the biggest school in our neighbourhood. It might be the biggest around here, but it certainly isn't the most famous in the region or in the country, and yet that was not an obstacle for our students when they had the opportunity to represent our 'small' community  in regional, national and even international competitions.

A school is not about the size, the fame, the references, or at least it should not be! A school should be all about the people in it, their dedication and perseverance. And even though you might not be a teacher, you can always teach your kid that no matter how 'small', school still offers a universe in itself....all they have to do is explore it.

And believe me when I am telling you that no matter what others may think, a big school can at times prove to be too small when it comes to expanding your limits, in the same way a small school might surprise you by offering infinite challenges and opportunities. So....what would you choose?

P.S.: it is also true that when it comes to good news a small school is too big and never too small to make bad news travel fast. But this is another story! ;)

Public Speaking...an everlasting passion!

"So, what is this Public Speaking thing anyway?" - a simple question that got it all started. In the beginning I was just curious, then I got a little bit scared that I might not be able to do this... I even remember praying that my first student who considered it would just give up in the end, but he didn't! So we embarked on a journey of hard work and long sessions of speech delivery and dealing with difficult questions. This is how it all started. And then it gradually turned into something more, something we could easily call a lifestyle, a trend, the thing that keeps us going, students and teachers alike.

It's those 5 minutes when the world stops and everyone listens to you, your minutes of glory, your once in a year opportunity to speak out and let everyone know about your views on life. It's your moment....it's the one time you own the stage and hold the audience heart.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand" was this year's topic. Words of wisdom if you ask me...as I've been teaching for almost 10 years and not even once have I come across a more wonderful experience that bonds teachers and students into proving that contrary to what others may think, TEACHING  is nothing else than ANOTHER BRICK OFF THE WALL! "Are you willing to free your mind and accept that?"


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