Tag: teaching

The Disparity – 17th November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

People will demand freedom of speech as compensation
For the freedom of their thought that remains in suspension

Disparity between desire for outward expression
And the actual practice of inner contemplation

A little poem based on the Soren Kierkegaard quote “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”

Today I’m feeling:

Good again, even waking before my 7.30 alarm despite going to sleep well past midnight.

As I have to take Amy to the airport this afternoon, I know that I won’t succumb to an afternoon nap, which is good.

Amy goes to Pusan with her mum, dad, auntie and friend and she has already been frustrated with organising this trip, which she initially just intended to be her and her mum. I asked her yesterday if she was excited but she is mentally preparing for more frustration!

It did trigger me to investigate the possibility of going to Nanning for a few days in April, so I asked Ellen for some ideas on what to do there. I figure that it might be a way of easing Amy into the idea of travelling more in China.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

For our washing machine and the sunshine today, meaning that tonight I sleep in fresh, clean sheets again. I’ve been waiting for this for a few weeks already!

The best thing about today was:

Getting some more guitar playing in again and slowly making improvements. I go through cycles and at the moment I’m playing more guitar than I am reading, possibly helped by the fact that I’m constantly going to my room to kick off downloads of comics I’m interested in – so I guess there’s still a connection.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I very gently sent a message to Nancy at TLC asking why David and I are still getting all the junior high school classes again this semester. I know the answer but I’m suggesting to her that perhaps it is not quite fairly distributed among the three available teachers.

She replied that she will talk with Kru Tang about it. That made me chuckle a bit, as it seems Kru Tang is unaware of the reason it is not fairly distributed.

I’m stirring things a little bit and would like things to be more fair and it would also make the school happier that they don’t have to cater to one particular teacher’s selfish requirements.

I wonder what will happen next…

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I pointed out a huge cockroach to Safe while I was sitting reading in Utopia. Luckily, no one else was around at the time and the roach gave Safe a good chase and I think even got away, back outside via the door.

Chess With Pigeons – 15th November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

Lined up against the wall
Identified with your tribe
Where does the mindset shift
From the rules that you prescribe?

This game isn’t easy
Yet played out every day
All uniquely similar
In deeds and words we say

Incited to live in fear
Lies are told as true
Only some allowed to win
But tell that you can too

A race to become less tolerant
Can be run in any way seen fit
Upend the board and strut around
Covering everything in shit

Inspired by this great post at The Renegade Press

Today I’m feeling:

Good once I got moving and going. Exercise and hangs were a bit more difficult today as my arms are tired from doing this more often but hopefully it will settle down to strengthening everything.

With a long day ahead, I’m still feeling positive and on top of things but definitely looking forward to resting up at the weekend.

Health:

Physical: 8
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Ploughing through the day and continuing when I got home. Using energy is giving me motivation to draw on my reserves.

The best thing about today was:

A student that I hadn’t met before said, ‘Hi, Teacher Shaun’. I asked her who she was and we talked a little and she said ‘I like Teacher Shaun.’

I asked her why, and she said ‘I’m ใจดี๊’, meaning kind-hearted. As I’d never talked with her before, I assumed that she had heard this from other students.

Either way, it made me feel good.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

In my short break between classes today, I was hoping to enjoy some peace in the cafe but there was some meeting going on and I was relegated to an uncomfortable low table but I got on with a few things anyway. It was a bit rushed but it was good not to drop the energy levels and flake through the afternoon.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Amy is in a feisty, drunken mood and being a bit loud and dramatic. I’m doing my best to entertain her but the day is catching up with me and I just want to read and relax until I fall asleep.

Our cats were extremely scared and bothered by the fireworks for Loy Kratong last night. Amy let them both into the bedroom, which I knew was a bad idea but didn’t want to say anything.

Cap settled by my head, but Tigger was hiding under the lounge, and I got back to reading. After a while, I saw movement to my right, and Tigger had come out onto Amy’s bed. Unfortunately, he wasn’t sitting but pissing. I quickly got him off and pulled up the doona but it had also gone through to the sheet too.

I got them off the bed and into the washing machine and Amy complained that I wasn’t watching them whilst she got stuff prepared to sleep in the other room.

Art took this picture because the sunlight through the cafe window was giving a beautiful soft morning glow to Piti and me.

A Crack In The World – 13th November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

What version of me did I show you?
Was the impression left in your mind
The enigmatic or the sad and sulky?
Which one would you prefer to find?

I was hiding, desperately
Trying to be anything but myself
To slip through a crack in the world
Leaving an image of someone else

I cross each bridge as I burn it
Wait impatiently for the credits to roll
Each day takes a small part of me
Once put together defines the whole

Inspired by a few paraphrased quotes within.

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good after a slightly better sleep last night and waking up with a start to my alarm. Some tough exercise, as eating ice cream for the last three days has increased my weight more than I would like.

It’s weird Wednesday with just one 50-minute class today at 12.40, so lots of sitting around, thinking, reading and writing.

(Later) I let my class catch up with the work that I had asked them to do and started checking those who had finished. In a flash, it was over and done with an exclamation of ‘shit’ when I was told it was time to finish!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

The old uncle at the 20 baht shop who let me change over the light bulbs for a different colour and to pay the difference.

He was a bit slow working out the difference to pay, but I let him do it with a calculator and a phone, hoping that he might make a mistake in my favour!

The best thing about today was:

Finishing off the little project of writing 52 mini poems – an idea that I started a couple of months ago.

Though some of them are just little throwaway ideas and ruminations, there are a few that I rate quite highly.

Something I learned today?

It was Mimi’s 16th birthday today. I found out when I entered class and saw a mangled half-eaten cake on the desk! She’s from my new grade 10 class and I haven’t really got to know these new students yet but she seems to be a happy and friendly kid and the work she did today was good.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I dropped by to see Baipad as she was throwing up yesterday and didn’t come to school. She wasn’t there today either but I felt certain that she was feeling better and just being lazy.

I got her to agree to come to school tomorrow and also continued to try to encourage her to do something nice for the boy that she likes.

I took this picture because it’s a tough life for this fat little cafe cat.

Queen Of Dreams – 11th November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 5 Comments

Holding your breath
Waiting for the turn
Hoping for the Queen of Dreams
with another lesson to learn

Rolling the dice
Waiting to settle
Dancing with the Queen of Dreams
with pedal to the metal

Playing the game
Waiting to win
Turning to the Queen of Dreams
without becomes within

Written for No Theme Thursday picture prompt (above) and Poets and Storytellers United – holding your breath

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good despite a slightly disrupted sleep, which I’m thinking may be down to the two double-shot coffees I have on the weekends. I only have one on weekdays, so perhaps I need to switch back to the double-ris on weekends.

Apart from that, I’m still in a good mood and my classes have kept me busy and entertained all day.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Feeling energised and on top of things in my classes and doing all the things I needed during my 50-minute break.

The best thing about today was:

Feeling like an actual English teacher for a moment!

It’s weird to say but working more with some of the older students, who are more interested in actually learning and improving, has focused me a little more on teaching the language, more than just helping the students practice using language (by just reading and writing).

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I still have a problem with no classroom available to teach my afternoon grade 11s and today ended up in the canteen, which wasn’t exactly ideal but everyone got on with it as best they could and I wrapped up pretty quickly, giving the students work to send me before the weekend.

Something I learned today?

Ipswich won their first game of the season yesterday! Hooray! They beat Spurs away from home two-one. Amazing!

I took this picture because ‘our’ little cow was resting here in the morning when I was about to leave for work. Left us a lot of useful poop too.

A Box Full Of Cubans – 6th November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 6 Comments

Blue and red both arm an expansion
Desperate to maintain and hide inside
Sighs at sixty years of sanction
When a box of darkness opens wide

Despite the embargo, we’ll flip this lid
Set fire to watch the ashes emerge
Behind the masks the ravaged skins did
Weave around the desire to purge

So let’s puff away and soak in glory
The winners crush dust into the floor
The fat man claims to make the story
And blockade away forever more

Written for an AllPoetry.com assonance assignment and using the Poets and Storytellers United prompt – “a box full of darkness”, as well as The Sunday Whirl Wordle #679 – sighs fire flip ravaged blue floor emerge masks ashes soak skin weave

Today I’m feeling:

Tired on waking as I didn’t sleep well. Not sure why, just felt uncomfortable through the night. Still, I got through exercise and hanging and took the time to grab a coffee at Utopia, which has helped get my brain moving.

A random thought that I had last night:

Thai teachers are children pretending to be adults

Foreign teachers are adults pretending to be children.

(When I say ‘Thai teachers’ I am, of course, being facetious and tarring them all with the same brush but it is something I feel at certain times. And when I say ‘foreign teachers,’ I was just talking about myself!)

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Amy’s family for accepting me into their family and tonight to enjoy a meal together for Dad’s 73rd birthday.

The best thing about today was:

My one 50-minute class for the day, in which I got energetic, berating late students, pushing students to quickly get some notes down, practice the grammar point until I felt like they had got it, all the while having fun and keeping everyone on their toes.

Slow internet connection meant that we ran out of time to play a quiz, so I assigned them to do it later and sent them off to their next class. Fast and furious.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

For some reason, the method that we get paid has changed and now we have to fill out a form to get the remainder of our wages in cash! Dangerous!

Luckily, since I use my phone to pay for things 98% of the time, I usually end up forgetting that I have any cash at all.

I should go to the optometrist and give this cash over as a deposit for new glasses before anything untoward comes of it!

Something I learned today?

The movie “Gravity” was more expensive to produce than the entire Indian Mars mission. That is just stupid! I’m all for art and movies but imagine what we could be doing with that money instead. Knowing the USA, though, it would be killing more brown people.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Drunk Amy stole my thunder at the restaurant as I was ready to give our waitress a tip at the end of the meal but Amy decided she wanted to tip her when she brought two more beers and to make it worse, she had no cash, so it was me who gave it to Amy to give to her! Oh well!

I was still going to tip the waitress with the money I had ready but she had disappeared when we were leaving.

Sarah took this picture when she grabbed my phone and caught this action shot of Baitoey as she was running around.

The Silo – 5th November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

There were many that day
Was it day? Is it night now?
Here, it’s not possible to tell
Time has lost all its meaning

We lined up waiting for the interview
It has been a long wait
But I will review all that came to pass
It was obvious, even as I said it
It took me a long time to figure it out
The master told me that messages were sent
But I had been slow to realise

Later, we all gathered round
And I wasn’t the only one
Most of us facing the review agreed
That we all took too long to realise
Then we returned to the silo
Perhaps one day, we can try again

A time-disoriented play on a life’s review in The Matrix or Heaven.

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good again, though sadly, I was a little achy again this morning. Never mind, I’m still feeling relaxed and positive. Only a couple of classes today, one tomorrow and then that’s the week done for teaching! What a crazy school!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Kru David for inviting me to get involved in a little project idea he has to sell a maths board game. It could be a money maker but for me, I feel that I can’t invest my time in this, especially as it requires effort in marketing it, which I absolutely detest.

The best thing about today was:

Being able to get back to writing poetry with a 3-hour break between classes today and working hard on two pieces. It’s now, when I realise that a lot of my time and effort is going into that writing, as I’m not just churning out the ideas anymore but trying to improve my work.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

The sports boys in my grade 12 class were late to arrive this morning and what I was teaching was far above their capabilities, so I let them be, whilst trying to interact with them whenever I could.

I’m not going to be able to gift those boys with much knowledge beyond convincing them that they should at least give everything a shot.

Something I learned today?

Baby owls often sleep face down because their heads are too heavy.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I good humouredly let Earn know not to talk to me in a rude way, even if it was just for fun. We were both laughing about it, but she understood what I wanted to convey.

One of my students sent me this today, along with some funny, cheeky comments.

Launch Pad – 4th November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

The swagger of the fisherman
He’s dreaming big, nets full of fish
An ocean filled with his thoughts
Trawling towards his deepest wish

Eyes to the astronauts overhead
What are they thinking as they fly?
Break the big things down to the small
Everyone, everywhere, just getting by

Inspired by a David Elikwu newsletter

Today I’m feeling:

Great. This is the first morning in a long, long time that I woke up without any aches! I have a little ache now after exercise but I am still quite amazed at feeling this good this morning.

(Later) The good feeling in my body persisted during the day, which made me pretty happy and motivated.

Health:

Physical: 8!
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Kru Lucky bringing back snacks from his trip to Japan during the holiday and sharing them with all the teachers. Which reminds me, they’re still in my bag waiting to be eaten.

The best thing about today was:

The general, lazy feeling around school for most students who are not participating in the sports events. It’s relaxing but a little too relaxed. I can’t get my students into the flow of the semester and to knuckle down.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I still don’t have a new schedule yet, so I’m still down for 7 hours today, though thankfully, our classes are reduced to 50 minutes for the rest of this month, making things a bit easier. It’s always a little jarring transitioning in and out of this change and today I struggled a bit, either with getting things done in time, or erring the other way and not doing enough in the time. Luckily, it’s easy enough to jump onto some quiz sites and do a quick quiz, though.

Anyway, this afternoon I was due for the final three hours to be in building 8 but when I got there, the room was padlocked and only two students had arrived. I got a message saying that the other students were in a meeting for sports day but no indication of how long that would last. A few more students rolled up while I was contemplating whether to find another classroom or not. Of course, the students begged me for free time and eventually I agreed but on the condition that I would set them work to complete before our next class.

I went back to the teachers’ room and figured out a couple of tasks for them to do and in the process ended up making a whole bunch of other lessons that can be done at any time.

I also cancelled the last one-hour class of the day with my grade 12 English students. I know that they will be happy enough with that and doubted that they would attend anyway.

Something I learned today?

Potatoes have more chromosomes than humans — 48 compared to our 46.

I took these pictures of Program hard at work in my class today. I sent them to Kru Karn, his homeroom teacher, and we both laughed later when we remembered how we were saying that he is a little better behaved this semester.

A Lad In Time – 1st November 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 6 Comments

Don’t waste a wish on wondering
Chances are as rare as the genies
Don’t rue the wasted time blundering
Made maudlin by monsters and meanies

Vinyl orders at adinterim.bandcamp.com/album/we-saw-a-window-2

Today I’m feeling:

A little tired and slow. The first full week is catching up with me now. I still feel fairly positive, though, thanks to my happy, playful students this morning.

My body feels pretty good after getting it moving and hung. I was a bit stiff when I woke up but exercise seemed to have loosened things up.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Tony at Suspect Device for arranging to get me sent a copy of Running At The Edge of Their World, the book about Suspect Device fanzine, which arrived today. Double amazing as I haven’t even paid for it yet!

The best thing about today was:

It’s consistency. No one thing in particular, but just a general great feeling throughout the day. Though I’m starting to feel that familiar Friday wind-down of exhaustion again.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I was happily sitting in the cafe when I got a message from my student, Palm asking me where I was.

As November is ‘sports day'(!), classes are cut from one hour to fifty minutes so that at the end of the day, students can practice their sports.

I made the incorrect assumption that it would start on Monday but instead discovered it started today!

I got to class and I only had an easy task for them anyway, which was on a preprinted worksheet, so no harm done.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I nearly lost my temper with my student Pang today as she gave me a lot of attitude but luckily I was able to step back in time and sit down with her to try and find what the real problem was, because I was sure it wasn’t me.

I told her that I was on her side and if she would let me in, then I could try and help her. I have given her this message before but she didn’t really take to it. Maybe it will this time. Maybe it won’t.

This morning, the kids were making fun of my hair and then Nicha took this picture after grabbing my phone out of my pocket. I guess from this angle (around Nicha’s height) I can understand why it looks so crazy.

Made For Us – 31st October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 9 Comments

How can you ever let me down?
We’re not made to be broken
Just like fools, we left so much unspoken
Now the future is a past that’s come back around
We were made to be broken
How could you ever let me down?

A biolet quadrille shared with dVerse – promises.
Highly inspired by The Buzzcocks – Promises

Today I’m feeling:

Not bad once I got going, it was a struggle to get up this morning and my right shoulder was a little achy from using the new silica scrubs I ordered from Temu in the shower last night. For some reason, I had a sudden urge to clean.

Amy came with me this morning as she had some things to do in the city and she’ll pick me up again at 2.30 for my only day of the week to be able to get home a little early.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

My old students, Ploy and Ozone, playfully begging me to teach them again. I’m not sure exactly what brought this on for them but it made me feel good.

I wish I could teach everyone who begs to be taught!

The best thing about today was:

Listening to my grade 8s attempting to read a reasonably difficult passage of text and doing way better than I expected.

They are no longer afraid to try and to fail or get things wrong. Though some still need to be pushed to work because they are not really interested, I can see that they do have the capabilities if they so desired. Unfortunately, they are too busy with distractions most of the time.

Something I learned today?

Today I learned something that has left me a little stunned.

When Amy picked me up, she told me that she had gone to Nut’s house to have lunch with her and Bee, as Bee was visiting the psych at MFU.

Bee then told the whole story about her and George and it is fucking amazing!

Firstly, Bee moved out of their house about 3 years ago and they have been separate ever since! All this time, we have been saying that George was holding her back and that she was stupid to stay and she had actually already left.

This got me thinking about why she never said anything before and it turns out that George is still trying to influence her and to keep things secret from other people.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We were all shocked to know that they were actually married! Neither of them had ever told any one of us so-called friends about this.

And why did she leave? She finally had enough of his vicious manipulation and control and had to get away from him. She said that he is totally self-absorbed and selfish. He has no friends and only cares about himself.

Well, those things I had figured out for myself and now I feel completely validated. He is indeed the dark empath, the smiling narcissist.

Bee said that he talks badly about everybody behind their backs. This is also a reminder for me to try and not to do the same thing but this one is going to be difficult, as I would love to put him in his place. I’d like to wipe that smirking smile off his face!

Interesting that Kru Mai said George no longer talks with him in the teachers’ room but that George has told others that it is Kru Mai who no longer talks to him!

My mind is blown by all these revelations and it makes me feel more confident in myself. All those times he tried to manipulate and control me, too and got upset when I refused to comply – it’s all making sense and falling into place.

I should never have doubted myself. I realise now that on quite a few occasions in my past, I have been a very good judge of character.

I learned a lot about myself today and that’s great!

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I bought an inspirational poster online and put it up in one of my classrooms today. I will refer to it at different times during my lessons.

I took this picture because today is Halloween and crazy little Winter wore this to school. He is fucking hilarious!

D’Arby Manor – 28th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

*What does it profit a man that he gains
The whole world but loses his own soul?*
Holding on to the fantasy never explains
What happens when he reaches the goal

To the manor born where his shit don’t stink
He’s forever drunk on the power
*The honey is not as sweet as people think
And the milk’s gone fucking sour*

The empire imagined now rank and rotten
The cancer manifests within
Like everything ever, it’s all soon forgotten
Until the next man chooses to begin

Inspired by the two quotes* from Terence Trent D’Arby that I read in Charles Shaar Murray’s Shots From The Hip. I hated D’Arby’s music but it seems he wasn’t a bad guy.

Today I’m feeling:

Fairly reasonable and relaxed. I didn’t drink too much in the end last night, so I don’t have any hangover but I’m also not exactly full of energy either!

Amy is finally up and hopefully we can get some hearty breakfast and decent coffee and prepare for the drive home.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

My own smelly bed again. I love travelling, and I love my home.

The best thing about today was:

Driving back from Chiang Mai, I ate a CBD gummy and while I didn’t really notice any effects, I did really enjoy listening to music on my old iPod while Amy slept a lot of the way.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

After going to a few different bars last night, Nong May wanted to take Amy to a place called Warm Up. Amy was a little reticent as it was the place that she used to go to as a uni student more than 20 years ago, but Nong May said that it had changed a lot.

When we arrived, May’s friend Namfon met us and even though it was midnight on a Sunday, the place was heaving with people, both young and old.

I had had enough by now, though and didn’t feel like drinking anymore, so I left them to it and went back to the hotel. I knew it was going to be trouble when a full bottle of vodka appeared in front of us and Amy was already a few sheets to the wind.

I left the keycard with Amy and asked the hotel staff to give me another but then struggled a bit to get to sleep.

Sometime later, I woke with a start to two loud bangs at the door and there was Amy. Either the keycard didn’t work because there was already one in use in the room or she couldn’t find hers.

Amy stumbled around a bit, getting ready to get into bed but just as she was about to, she fell on the floor in the dark and I heard a thump on the bedside table. I jumped up, scared that she had hit her head on the corner of the table but thankfully, she hadn’t and I got her into bed and finally to sleep.

With all this drama, I was now awake again and checked to make sure Amy was still breathing. It took me a while to get back to sleep again at what must’ve now been about 4 am.

I woke up at 8.30 and when Amy stirred a little, she mumbled, ‘How did I get here?’ not remembering anything from a few hours earlier.

Something I learned today?

Last night, Amy met one of her students whom she taught twenty years ago and who is now a successful restaurateur. He was so happy to see her again and said that part of his success was because of her.

This kind of reaction is what I hope to inspire in my students and that in ten or fifteen years’ time they might say the same things to me.

It was especially poignant after yesterday’s birthday messages from my students, some of whom said I was the best teacher.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I took care of crazy, hungover Amy.

I took this picture in the lobby at the Mercure Hotel because it looked like an interesting design where I was sitting and its intricacies only revealed themselves when I got closer.