Every teacher has favourite students. And although the same children tend to be favoured by everyone as they move through the grades, every teacher has different styles and personalities, and thus would probably favour certain types of students more than other teachers would. Reluctantly assuming the role of armchair psychologist for a moment, I have…

I recently had to test my students’ speaking skills. Two years ago, Minh Anh, 12, could barely say hello. Now she can casually chat about basic conversational topics like family, work, and hobbies. Relaxed and trusting, she knew she had the space to think and refine her responses as she went along. It was extremely…

I came into teaching public schools in a rather unusual way. After years training and working as an artist, my body staged its own retirement and it took some time to figure out what to do next. Teaching dance, theatre, circus techniques was something I knew I was good at. Having watched my parents manage…

Teaching teenagers is often one of the least favorite tasks among my colleagues. Many either dislike teaching them or feel less comfortable with them compared to teaching primary school or adult students. Adults are self-motivated and don’t usually require clever motivational stratagems. Primary school students, on the other hand, are generally easier to manage, as…