My student said...

@Shavkat (140102)
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 (6228)
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 (140102)
• 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 (6228)
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 (140102)
• 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
@LadyDuck (472004)
• 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 (140102)
• 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 (140102)
• Philippines
23 Dec 21
@LadyDuck She is my new student and does not know my style in teaching yet.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472004)
• Switzerland
23 Dec 21
@Shavkat May be you were so serious that she thought there was a problem.
1 person likes this
@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
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
23 Dec 21
@Shavkat that's true..but often children don't realise it
@Shavkat (140102)
• 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 (140102)
• 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.
@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 (140102)
• 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
• Philippines
23 Dec 21
Maybe you looked sad when she asked that question.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140102)
• 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 (140102)
• 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 (140102)
• Philippines
22 Dec 21
She did me smile when she asked this question.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317249)
• 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 (140102)
• 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 (341752)
• 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 (140102)
• 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 (140102)
• Philippines
23 Dec 21
You said it right. She is unreasonable for not studying her lesson before the class.
1 person likes this
@solidcodes (1765)
• Philippines
22 Dec 21
Are you an English teacher in a Chinese company?
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140102)
• Philippines
22 Dec 21
Yes, I am
1 person likes this
@Faster16 (3181)
• Indonesia
23 Dec 21
maybe you are an introvert, so it looks less friendly
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140102)
• 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 (140102)
• 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
• 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 (47336)
• 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 (140102)
• Philippines
22 Dec 21
I agree. There is some flow of thoughts and wondered where did they get them sometimes.
1 person likes this