Latest fashion

There's always something I take great care of when I’m starting a new English group. I plan my outfit weeks before the class is to begin, I choose the most appropriate suit, the right colour, the shoes, the bag, the jeans and T-shirt for adolescent groups and so on. It's just something that comes naturally to me; the way you dress can help you when want to give the best impression and win the students over by the end of the class!

So anyway, about ten days ago I was handed over my list of new stu­dents. Our registers have a space for their dates of birth, which are only completed if the students are under age. I read through the names and realised it was a kiddies group, as their dates of birth made then 9 and 10 year olds. I did find it strange that the list had been handwritten (they normally come straight out of the computer) but I didn't give it that much importance.

Anyway, that's when I put my thinking cap on and eventually realised that the starting date was actually the first day of Spanish Carnival. "Great! I thought. I'll use my teddy bear suit, bring in my box of cuddly toys, and base my first class on ani­mals and colours". I remember think­ing that most kids dress up at carni­val and they'd find it cute if their teacher was also in the carnival spirit.

And that's what I did, I arrived on the first Thursday of carnival, dressed as a cute little teddy bear, with my box of toys under my arm and my folder with the register inside it, in my left hand. I walked through the door quite happily... only to see the Director of Studies watching me com­pletely astonished, in the company of a middle aged smart looking man in a suit. I smiled at her and looked straight at her as she said: "Good afternoon, Vicky, I would like to in­troduce you to Mr. Mendez, the Di­rector of "XXXXXXX" who has organised the English course which you will be teaching today". I nearly died. But luckily, Mr. Mendez had an excellent sense of humour and started to giggle. The secretary then inter­rupted to apologise to me about hav­ing given me the wrong details for my new class. Unfortunately the com­puter had been re-programmed and had lost part of the school's vital infor­mation. That's why my register was handwritten!

Be careful! You never know what could await you in your next English class!

Vicky Lopez Sheridan in Spain

/From “English” №13, 2004/

Set Work

I. Define the words below. Say how they were used in the stories you’ve read.

To be in charge of; in sb’s first teaching job; pretend money; to sort out the problem; to cheat; a “got wrong end of the stick” incident; to pipe up; sb’s outfit; to win sb over; to read through the names; to put one’s thinking cap on; cuddly toys; cute; to goggle; sb’s register; an EFL class.

II. Find in the stories the English for:

Садиться на автобус; ходить за мелом; тряпка; влюбиться в кого-либо; воодушевить кого-либо; бранные слова; списывать у кого-либо; добиться ответа, примера; выгуливать собаку; умирать со смеху; совершенно серьезно; группа младшего возраста; наряжаться; в духе карнавала.

III. 1) Do you remember any funny moments from your high school life?

2) What was the funniest moment during your trainee practice?

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