by italki teacher Ilene Springer

My boss was a miserable tyrant. She was the Director of Studies at the first ESL school in Malta where I taught.

On this day, I had a beginning/intermediate class of kids from Spain. With most of them having partied the night before in Paceville, Malta's big bar scene, most had headaches and felt really sick during the lesson. Consequently, many had their heads down on their desks instead of listening to my lesson. But there were a few struggling to learn a little, so I let the others sleep.

My boss walked by my classroom which had a glass wall. So when she saw some kids sleeping, she burst in the room and began screaming at the kids, who went into shock.

"You don't fall asleep here in front of the teacher!" she said. Her face got red.

"But we don't feel good," said one student, lifting her head from her desk. (Wow, I was impressed--a beginning student starting to speak English.)

"You be quiet!" GROWLED my boss. " I'm talking now." I have to say that this was the first time I had ever heard an English teacher tell beginning ESL students to be quiet. Usually, we had to PRY their mouths open to get a word of English out.

She flipped around and FLEW OUT THE DOOR, warning me, "Ilene, you tell me if anyone ever falls asleep here again."

I know my JAW HAD DROPPED as I looked at the students and they looked back at me. Honestly, I didn't know what to say. I hated her as much as they probably hated her at that moment. Suddenly, a tall Spanish boy who had been silent for most the lessons (the students were all about 15 years old) pointed at me: 

  

I was so proud of him, but I didn't know if I should tell him that. Then a girl sitting next to him darted up to the whiteboard, grabbed a marker and drew a WITCH. Again, I didn't know If I should correct her, based on what her classmate had said.

But all I know is this: watch out--beginning students know more vocabulary that you think.