A new term, a new year...

Just over a week into the new term and in some ways it feels like I never had a holiday. However, motivations levels are still not as high as they should be, so I know I've been away.

What is it about teaching? I know lots of teachers and of course we always talk about it. Why do we teach? Well, for most people it's to avoid working in an office, because they enjoy the challenge, the instant feedback and the sense of achieving something. Now I know that Monday mornings are difficult for everyone, especially so after a holiday. But when I worked in an office I found that you could 'hide' to a certain extent if you weren't feeling on top of the world. Not so with teaching. It really is performing and you have to get up there and throw all your energy into it, however you feel. It means 'getting into character', especially so if you're not the most out-going of people.

I'm lucky really where I'm teaching. My classes are mostly small and the students are mostly nice and want to learn. However, I do teach quite a lot of teenagers and their expectations can be quite high. I prefer days when I have the younger ones as well, who are quite happy to bounce round the classroom pretending to be kangaroos, or just play 'teacher' and give commands.

And being back in Spain? It's nice to see the sunshine again and to need sunglasses. I went out with a friend of mine on Saturday for a drive and bit of a wander round some Spanish villages. It really was beautiful - clear, blue skies, warm in the sunshine and lots of attractive views. So, it's not bad really...

Happy New Year!

And so, thanks to the deafening (well, almost) cries of 'keep writing', I will continue.

Watch this space...