My student said...

@Shavkat (139786)

Philippines

December 22, 2021 4:37am CST

...'Why are you not smiling?" I was a bit surprised by this question of my seven-year-old girl student tonight. I explained to her that 'I am not a clown.'

We are having a lesson and I cannot keep on smiling while teaching her at the same time.

I am sure I am going to have a poor score after this class online. Does it make sense? Is she reasonable for this matter? Image Credit: animatedimages.org

16 people like this

15 responses

@askme123 (6150)

•

22 Dec 21

Well probable you looked vex while teaching and dont even realize.They are kids they dont understand the pressures of life. Everything is fun and games for them

2 people like this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

I am sure I am not, my friend. She is just unreasonable. There is time for smiling and making fun during the class online.

1 person likes this

@askme123 (6150)

•

22 Dec 21

@Shavkat You can make learning fun for them by popping a joke or two now and then.They are just kids

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

@askme123 I am aware of that. Do not be worried. I can handle the situation of being a virtual teacher for more than 8 years now.

Thanks for reminding me.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

22 Dec 21

May be you looked angry and she was concerned. I often tell to my husband to relax and try to smile.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

I usually smile having classes with my students. But I cannot smile while I am explaining the grammar rules properly.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

@LadyDuck She is my new student and does not know my style in teaching yet.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

23 Dec 21

@Shavkat May be you were so serious that she thought there was a problem.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@prashu228 (37524)

• India

22 Dec 21

Children ask all sort of questions which we don't expect Her question makes sense but you know how to handle it ..

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@prashu228 (37524)

• India

23 Dec 21

@Shavkat that's true..but often children don't realise it

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

@prashu228 It is not the children's fault. The parents are the ones who need to do this teaching per se in the first place.

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

Yes, it is with sense. But then, she needs to understand that it is not always having fun during the class.

Show more comments

@Rashnag (30592)

• Surat, India

22 Dec 21

She is a small girl. She would like you to smile. It's ok. It happens. You must be getting tired and stressed for workload, so u didn't smile. You should try doing it. You will feel better as well as your students

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

In fact, she is doing her homework during class. I ignored it but still carry on the class.

1 person likes this

@Rashnag (30592)

• Surat, India

23 Dec 21

@Shavkat ok dear

@freelancermariagrace (27800)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

Maybe you looked sad when she asked that question.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

Actually, I am not. It is a serious one because we are having the grammar rules and she is trying to sway the situation as her scapegoat.

1 person likes this

@Babino (5759)

• Morocco

25 Dec 21

maybe smiling a bit wouldn't hurt anyone. Did you really get a poor score after this ?

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

27 Dec 21

I smile at random when having classes online. Don't worry because she did not study her lesson.

1 person likes this

@cherigucchi (14876)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

You should at least smile because may be it means a lot to her.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

She did me smile when she asked this question.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

22 Dec 21

You don't need to be a clown to smile. If you smile while you teach you might get more work out of her.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

I tried my best to smile while teaching. She stopped demanding when I told her about the clown thing.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339496)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Dec 21

Hopefully she won't give you a bad review. As you say, you can't smile all the time.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

I do not mind if she gave me a bad score for my performance during the class. It is her loss for not having my next time of class.

1 person likes this

@MissNikki (5237)

• Maple Ridge, British Columbia

22 Dec 21

That is so funny! Sometimes kids say silly things for no reason.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

You said it right. She is unreasonable for not studying her lesson before the class.

1 person likes this

@solidcodes (1764)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

Are you an English teacher in a Chinese company?

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

Yes, I am

1 person likes this

@Faster16 (3182)

• Indonesia

23 Dec 21

maybe you are an introvert, so it looks less friendly

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

I am sorry to say that I used to be one. Now, I am an ambivert.

@Caurfebri (267)

• Indonesia

23 Dec 21

Children are full of curiosity.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

23 Dec 21

I agree. Perhaps she is not ready to have her class. She does not know her given lesson for that day.

1 person likes this

Galih Dwi Pangestu

• Purwokerto, Indonesia

23 Dec 21

Maybe, according to them, your facial expression looks angry unlike usual, so try to smile more often or be friendly while teaching

1 person likes this

@dodo19 (47317)

• Beaconsfield, Quebec

22 Dec 21

Kids do sometimes ask questions like that. They can say the darnest things. Things we don't always expect.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (139786)

• Philippines

22 Dec 21

I agree. There is some flow of thoughts and wondered where did they get them sometimes.

1 person likes this