My Life after CELTA

Nah, I'm just kidding, 53 cannot be 35 in any way. When I first heard this term, fifty is the new forty, I thought something was wrong with my ears. Even the explanation of this locution seemed dodgy. I'm pretty sure that this is a kind of self-hypnosis technique used by those who are unable to accept their age and refuse to take notice of the natural order of things. (It's always weird to see the results of what the scalpel of cosmetic surgeons did to some poor, deluded individuals.) Anyway, I found the tail of the mojo and tried to get it back completely. I completed the homework Charlette had given me a month ago - it wasn't easy to complete, though - and booked some lessons as well. I'm looking forward to these classes. Nevertheless, my mind was struggling tremendously with the homework. My brain is still not as fresh as it used to be, so I won't be surprised if it turns out to be a balderdash. The weather turned freezing. Well, it's not as cold as it is...

Three more episodes, and Only Fools and Horses is over. We'll miss the characters from Nelson Mandela House in Peckham, as well as Boycie and the others. Uncle Albert is a hilarious figure, but I find Grandad even more captivating. His voice and appearance were unforgettably remarkable. Yesterday evening, while giving Ági a foot massage, I saw a couple of interviews with Del Boy, more precisely with Sir David Jason, and he came across as a highly intelligent, modest, but extremely loveable gentleman. Even though the decades turned him into an older man, there is this mischievous twinkle in his eyes while he talks about the show and his character.  The weather was way better today than yesterday. It was much colder outside during the day, but at least we could see the sun. The next two days will be similar to today, but the long-term forecast predicts rain and snow on Wednesday and Thursday. I can't help but wonder if Christmas will be white this year. Chances are we'll have...

Today, we watched Only Fools and Horses's final episode of the sixth season. The emotional roller-coaster this series puts you on is baffling. The writer got us to understand the characters without words but grimaces or gestures. It would take tens of pages to write about this series, but there are a few more episodes we need to watch before buckling down to it. It suffices to say that this is one of the best British series we've ever seen, even if it is a classic one. Today, my beginner class was all right. Since we don't have class next Friday - because we are in Graz for Ági's linguistic conference - I thought that apart from the regular reviews, I would emphasise those areas that need more attention. She did a fantastic job again, and I'm glad I can teach her. The weather is so bad that I can hardly find the appropriate words to describe it. It's been raining since yesterday, and it's still pouring. The snow melted, and the rain washed away completely. T...

I woke up at half past midnight because of the wind. I couldn't go back to sleep, so I jumped out of bed and went down to the basement. I checked my submitted CELTA assignments, lesson plans, tutor feedback sheets, and my self-reflections. What an unbelievable journey the CELTA course was. This time last year, I was about to hand in my second assignment and the plans for my fourth teaching practice. I remember how anxious and nervous I was, and I wanted to quit several times. However, now I'm glad I didn't turn my back on the course. It was a hell of a ride! My class with the A2 level group today was about reviewing the previous lessons. I created a plan that contained the most challenging parts of the previous lessons. They seemed to enjoy it, and they did a fantastic job. Apart from a few minor mistakes, their performance was top-notch. The weather was beautiful today. Even though the highest temperature was around +1-2°C, the sunshine compensated this freezing cold. Unfo...

The world has turned upside down. It has never been a peaceful place. Even nature and the animal kingdom are brimming with fights for survival, territory, and just for the sake of it. One might think humans are much different, and common sense would inhibit such horrendous acts, but no. We are no different, however much we want to cloak our bloody history. It has never ceased to amaze me how nefarious people can be.  I'm sorry for this gloomy intro. The unexpected and sudden war in Israel made me think about how close we are to Biblical times. There have been sundry portents indicating that humanity is heading towards its extinction. The ongoing Ukrainian and the recently unleashed Israeli wars make everyone uneasy; no wonder I'm not in the mood for writing.  Anyway, my day was great. I could complete the A2 group's lesson plan, and I even began to put together my beginner student's next lesson. Besides planning, I could find time to learn as well. I reviewed my previou...

After a not-so-good night's sleep - I had a terrible dream; a lion wanted to chase me down and eat me - I woke up like a log. Little did I know about how chilly the outside temperature was when I took Abby for her morning walk. Both of us hurried back home. It took me two hours to create the lesson plan before my dentist's appointment, but I did it eventually. Since my temporary bridge had fallen off yesterday, I went to the dentist without it. Anyway, I'll have a new bridge next Wednesday if things pan out. I had a lesson with Ági's student this afternoon. I enjoyed the class and hope the students were also content with it. But the afternoon traffic is lethal. On the way home, there were numerous collisions, and I even saw two cars in the ditch. Crazy drivers should stay indoors. The weather is changing. It's still not typical of October, but the first signs of autumn are visible. The foliage is not as fresh green as it used to be during summer, and the nights are ...

I was an official chauffeur today. I had to drive Ági to the university this morning and bring her back this evening. I hardly had time to study as much as I'd wanted to, but at least I got out for a bit. Not that I would be in prison; only staying at home every day makes it feel like being in a super secure institution. Anyway, the nearly hundred kilometres I drove today was fun, and the car's consumption is outstanding - 5.6 litres during the morning route and 6.1 in the evening. My class with Charlette was superb. She really is the best English teacher I've ever met. The lesson was all about what I needed to strengthen and improve my English, so I was over the moon. She really is inspirational, and her knowledge is top-notch. Wind up, wear out, and drop in on are the phrasal verbs I wasn't entirely sure of; therefore, they need more attention so I can explain their meanings while teaching.  The weather could be better. It's not bad, but the intense cold wind from...

Winter is around the corner. Again. It's irritating that the cold weather is still with us after a long grey winter. We didn't see the Sun today, and the temperatures dropped significantly. And to top it off, it was snowing, covering the Eastern countryside with 10cm thick fresh snow. The next four days will bring more rain, so we are unhappy. As for my English studies: I was exceptionally productive today. I did a lot of tests with fairly good results. Half of the mistakes I made were irritating - I attributed them to the lack of attention - and the other half - mainly phrasal verb-related ones - because I needed to be 100% sure of the meaning. And the scariest part of my learning today was my chat with chatGPT. The way and speed with which AI can explain even the most complicated grammatical rules and structures are simply baffling. I was shocked to see how easily it could come up with an explanation, and how it interacts with humans is scary. But it was a great experience an...