My Life after CELTA

After completing the lesson plan for my beginner student, we drove to IKEA to buy a mirror for me. Unfortunately, the store's parking lot was jam-packed with cars, so we drove back home instead of cramming our car into a tiny little spot. On the way home, both of us got so peckish that even though we knew how bad the fast food could be, we stopped at Burger King again and bought some extremely harmful junk food. C'est la vie. Anyway, teaching was okay, even after a three-week hiatus. I planned a review lesson, and it was necessary. It highlighted the weak topics in grammar and vocabulary. I hope my student enjoyed and found the lesson helpful. Other than that, the weather is still crazy. However, Sunday will bring significant changes. The temperature will drop by twenty degrees, and winter will return instead of the mild spring-like weather. Wunderbar, as a German would express their surprise.

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 last-minute lesson plan change did good for my class today. Even though I wanted to do a review lesson, I changed my mind, re-created it, and turned it into a listening practice. I think I made the right call. She enjoyed the class, and so did I. Anyway, the class was good, and after finishing it, we had a chat about her motivation, progress, and how I saw her during the classes.  The weather is changing. Even though the highest temperature was around +8-10°C, the northern wind made it feel much colder; no wonder Abby's evening walk was brisk and short. She did what she had to in five minutes, and right after the final act, she turned towards the house, signalling she was ready to go home. The weather forecast predicts much colder temperatures, wind, and snow.  Hello Winter! 🥶 ❄️  By the same token, in a month, it's Christmas 🎄 . And the end of the year. So, even though it feels like we've just started 2023, the year is ending astonishingly soon. We'll have plenty...

We got a taste of winter today. After a long and windy Friday - the wind has blown ferociously since yesterday morning - which brought much colder air above us, today was quite chilly. We popped into town to post some goods Ági'd sold on the internet, and even though the walk per se was pleasant, the strong wind couldn't make it desirable. We can't really complain about the weather returning to its normal temperatures towards the end of November, right?  The class I taught today was all right. My plan worked, and I could remain within the allocated sixty minutes, which is quite an achievement, I would say. Planning is one of my strengths, and it has been acknowledged today and during the CELTA course. I reviewed the syllabus several times, calculated how much time each stage would require, and guesstimated how my students would react. I was lucky as things panned out eventually. After the last few classes I've taught recently, I started to believe in myself. I'm wel...

Today was windy, and not in the sense of me being windy - it wouldn't surprise anyone, though. It was much colder than yesterday, which forebodes the imminent inrush of the pre-winter weather. I'm still not a big fan of late sunrise and early sunset, let alone the grey skies and days without sunshine. Walking with Abby in the evening was anything but pleasant, and the gale-force wind from the northwest ensured that none of us enjoyed the walk. I'd love to write about my thoughts and ideas, but planning the lesson for tomorrow took my time. It is challenging to devise a plan for the C1 level students because it is so high that even I need help with some of the topics this level requires. Even though this process is challenging, I enjoy it tremendously. 

I asked ChatGPT and BING to help me detect mistakes students are prone to make at the A2, B1, B2, and C1 levels. The tools were supposed to write five sentences at each level containing typos and various grammatical, syntactical, and semantical mistakes, among which some must have been flawless - to make my life more difficult. After the third set of sentences, both tools started to produce the same mistakes and write frighteningly similar sentences, so I left them. My class today with the A2-level group was quite good. They enjoyed the listening practice, and I could boost the retired lady's confidence. Today's performance during the listening task was way better than the first time she'd heard a recording. I was pleased to see how she tried to concentrate and focus on the not-so-easy conversation and how much she could understand, even though she felt otherwise. When I asked her about the text, she described it perfectly. The weather was interesting today. It's still ...

The weather was horrible today. Except for the chilly but dry morning, the day was too windy, rainy, cold, and depressing. It wasn't the amount of rain that vexed me. Anyway, in six more weeks, 2023 will be over. I'm not going to ponder on how 2024 will be or how the world will see Biblical portents. I will only focus on: Ági - she's been and will be the most important person in my life. Focusing on our future, getting old together, and planning our last decades on Earth is my number one topic. Abby - this little rascal wagged herself into our lives quite forcefully, but after three and a half years, she is one of us. My English teaching - I'll continue to hone my skills, my English learning and teaching. My focus should be on my CPE exam plans despite the long road. Securing our future - somehow, we must come to terms with the fact that time is not on our side anymore. The dangerously fast passing of time scares me sometimes, so we need to take precautions in time. As ...

The reason I prefer tailor-made lessons to the traditional following-the-language-book method is that even though devising the syllabus is a tad more challenging, the reward of successfully teaching something is indescribable. I still can add the essential topics recommended by the language books, but the flexibility definitely gives teachers and students a stronger basis to cooperate and trust each other. This is essential to be able to hone the weaker topics a student might struggle with, and by strengthening the weak skills, students can deepen their knowledge and their confidence soars, which can help maintain and improve their motivation. Gosh, this sounded like a piece of the annual report from the International Teachers' Conference on Methodology and Pedagogy.  Anyway, my student enjoyed the class today, and despite leaving out half of the planned lesson, we made notable progress. She is a natural talent in language learning, and even though we only scratch the surface of gr...

Well, my students seemed to enjoy the class today. After carefully planning the lesson, I came up with a fairly good syllabus about giving directions. I started the class with the previously discussed review section, during which we reviewed some of the vocabulary from the previous lessons. They did a fantastic job translating the Hungarian words into English and vice versa.  We moved on to the new vocabulary section when we completed the list. I brought seven new words - I know I'm supposed to focus on four or five new words, but this is what they'd asked me to do, so I kept my promises - and besides, they knew some of them, the context I provided them with helped them a lot - as well as the eliciting questions - to find out the meaning of each unknown words. Once we completed this section, we moved on to the next chapter: checking the previously learned vocabulary. I created a list with the essential words and expressions and asked them to check the items and tell me what the...

Early wakeup meant early breakfast, early coffee, and early lesson planning. I still refuse to set back my biological clock and follow the wintertime. Even though it means I have to bear in mind two different, let's say, timezones, I don't want to fast forward the clock in March, thus losing an hour's sleep, which will undoubtedly upset my system. I think I made that clear, so it's time to move on. I overwrote the lesson plan I'd devised yesterday. I wanted to review the previous lessons, but it dawned on me that it might not be a good idea yet. Since the students haven't had any issues with the words we reviewed at the beginning of each lesson, challenging them at a later class would be a much better occasion. I found a brilliant listening exercise - as a sort of sequel to my previous lessons - on the British Council's website and re-created the lesson plan. Surprisingly, it took me only an hour to come up with a new class idea, so I was quite satisfied wit...

Yesterday was exceptionally busy. I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and drove to my mate to have breakfast together. As one of my CELTA fellow students came to visit Hungary, we met early in the morning at 9 o'clock. After they had breakfast and I slurped a much-needed coffee, I showed them around by car because the weather was not on our side. The gale-force wind made the heavy rain worse, so I could only drive them around to enjoy the view from the comfort of my vehicle. Before hitting the road to Szentendre, we covered "Városliget", some residential areas on the outskirts of Budapest, and the Great Market Hall. When we got to Szentendre, it was still raining, so we couldn't take a long walk in the downtown area. I could only show them the Christmas Museum and the two "longs" places, where we ate a nice "sajtos tejfölös lángos". Once the nosh found its way to our stomachs, we set out to buy some "kifli" for the high tea. We then spent the rest of ...

Today was the first day I felt no frustration while preparing and teaching the lesson. I planned a review lesson, but since only one of the students attended the class, I had to change the plan on the spot. I drilled the listening exercise with the lady, and by the end of the lesson, she was confident about her abilities and understanding of the text. I was over the moon to see her trying hard to understand the text's meaning, which was challenging as the girl's speech was fast, and her accent was sometimes below standard. Anyway, the breakthrough occurred after the first half of the listening, and by the end, I didn't need to repeat the sentences over and over again. She got all of them right. The weather was terrible today. The day started with cloudy skies and rain. Even though the clouds disappeared at 2 p.m. and the air was warmer than usual, I didn't like today's weather. And I won't like Friday either, since according to the latest weather forecast, we mu...

Draughting the letter about our stance on solar panel installation took almost my whole day. Since our property is part of a communal tenure, it is challenging to navigate the maze of regulations, laws, and private interests, let alone balance every aspect. There were so many details I had to take into account that my wee mind couldn't focus on anything else. Anyway, with the help of Ági, we could end the story and send the letter to our neighbours. But boy, am I exhausted? I taught a class today. Since Ági and Roya's last regular lessons were long ago, I thought I'd plan an easy lesson for them. The topic was food, which interested both of them. Apart from a few hiccups on my part, I think it went well. The weather is still strange. The average temperature is ten degrees higher than the typical average temperature in October. And according to the weather forecast, the next four days will be similar, although with less rain. With the letter done, I can find some time to stu...

Even though the morning was chilly, the predicted heatwave eventually reached us. It is rather unusual to experience summer-like temperatures in the second third of October when the average temperature is supposed to be around +12°C. What a weird way of looking forward autumn and winter! Anyway, I woke late; therefore, my breakfast was late, as well as my coffee.  However, after finally regaining consciousness, thanks to the caffeine, I checked my only beginner student's homework. Apart from a few minor mistakes, she did a fantastic job, which allowed me to focus on more complex topics. She really is a fantastic language learner! So, my morning was about waking up, planning and teaching the lesson, and preparing lunch. After devouring the nosh, Ági went to teach, and I began my other engagement: the complaint to the bank. They still haven't closed my account, which is irritating. I wasn't short of words to express my heartfelt indignation. I triggered the process on 30th Ju...

Today was a busy day. I had to take Abby to the vet for her plaque removal. While she was heavily sedated in the operating theatre, I bought some items in the nearby store. After taking her home, I had to prepare a letter to our neighbour who told us the other day that he'd like to install solar panels in his part of the communal garden. Once I completed the letter, I grabbed some food, took Abby for her afternoon walk, checked my afternoon lesson, and drove to Budapest to teach. Once the lesson was over, I drove back home. Grabbed something to eat, worked out, and waited for Ági to arrive. Summer is coming back soon. According to the weather forecast, we should expect record-breaking temperatures during the next three days. The highest temperatures will be around +30°C, which is frowningly unusual at this time of the year.

I taught an English lesson for my beginner student today. The class was about pronouns, and at the end of the lesson, she said she enjoyed it very much. It was good to hear, and it made me feel good. After the class, we jumped in the car and went to the craftsman store to buy a 10-meter-long extension cable. And since Burger King was nearby, we grabbed a menu there. We know it's junk food, but "c'est la vie". When we returned home, I grabbed a coffee and continued my DIY project. I sealed the back door but didn't have time to apply the silicon layer. I'll do it tomorrow, and the door will be winter-proof. The rest of the day went by quickly. I gave Ági a foot massage, and once I finished it, I turned on the central heating. I had to run up and down between the attic and the basement to adjust the water pressure in the system. It took me forty turns to complete the job. Now, my thighs look like that of a kangaroo. I'll jump about from now on instead of walk...

My new bridge is in my mouth. It took the doc almost an hour to meticulously and precisely fit it in and cement it. I wasn't allowed to eat for three hours, and I still can't chew anything on the left side of my jaw. However, my dental features are ship-shape-and-shiny. Only one tooth is left: they need to replace the old filling. Once it's done, I'll have a Hollywood-type smile. Before the dental care, I went through the lesson plan I'd prepared the other day for today. When I returned home from the dentist, I took Abby for her afternoon walk and drove to Budapest to teach. Before arriving at where I taught, I popped into a store to buy some "kifli" for later and four "Túró Rudi" to appease my rumbling stomach.  After teaching, I hurried back home, grabbed two "kifli", some butter and plum jam, and ate like a king. It was already pitch dark when we returned from our evening walk with Abby. I hate the early dusks. However, summer tries ...

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 ...

Despite taking the natural sedative, which stinks like an athlete's feet, I slept terribly. The constant interruptions vex me. However, I feel more relaxed after these "pills", so there might be a waiting time for the ingredients to come into effect. Fingers crossed. After my morning student, I had another class this afternoon. Both went well, but this meant I had little time to study. It'll improve over time. Summer said goodbye to everyone today. The imminent change in the weather, the fading foliage, and the dawns that are getting earlier and earlier are clear signs of the advent of autumn.

We completed the back garden today. Well, a few tasks are left to fiddle with, but at least we can sit there and enjoy the subtle temperatures in the mornings with Abby. She won't be able to run into the common garden for the fence. I finished the paint job that awaited me and enjoyed the sun till lunch. We enjoyed the delicious food on the balcony and the ice-cold beer I drank afterwards. I haven't drunk beer for over ten years, and this 3 decilitre of golden sap hit me in the head. No wonder I slept like a log for 45 minutes. Anyway, the rest of the day went by quickly. We watched two episodes of Dexter, and then I gave Ági an English class about tenses focusing on Present Perfect Simple and Continuous/Progressive. It was intense, and I hoped she could grab the gist of these tenses. It's not easy for the Hungarian brain to comprehend how these tenses work because we are wont to express it with adverbs or simply the present or past tense describe what the perfect tenses in...