One thing I really don't like about teaching is being observed. I'm spending the half-term break with it constantly at the back of my mind as I'm being observed by my team-leader next week. Its a 90 minute lesson with 25 advanced level students - or more accurately, 25 students who are on an advanced level course. The students are mostly there to get their EMA (£30 a week). About 5 of them want to learn.

Anyway, I get so fed up with having to monitor behaviour and control the unruly crowd. It seems that teaching is way down the list of priorities. Actually, when the lesson is observed, this is usually one of the rare occassions when I can teach because the students are fairly attentive for a change. As long as I take some nice coloured pens for them to use and paper. Can you believe that they come to lessons without pen or paper! They think its fine to be rude to teachers.

When I was in school, the worse thing I was guilty of was doodling and day-dreaming.

At least we get good holidays!