Dear Mr. Burgess,
I am writing this letter to tell you how I felt during your classes this year, and how I feel now that I have been able to pass my proficiency level exam.
As you remember, Mr. Moore wanted to punish us for our lack of knowledge and our bad behaviour. I really want to thank you for not hitting us and for teaching us that if we worked together and were responsible of our own actions, we would succeed. If not for you, we would have ended up not learning what we have learnt with you.
I now know that I have grown up and I think next year, if we are not lucky enough to have you again as our teacher, we will keep on working hard to learn more things.
I will never forget you. You have been a really good teacher.
Hope to hear from you soon
Keep in touch
Miriam
Thursday 30 October 2008
A final reflection
Now that I’ve ended the book, I would like to reflect upon two things: the clash of class and culture you see throughout the play, and the changed we can find in the new Rita as a result of her choosing education.
From the very beginning, it’s quite obvious that Frank and Rita belong to two different worlds. However, I think both Rita and Frank feel curious, and attracted somehow, to the opposite world of their own. Rita is sure that if she can manage to get educated, she will be able to get rid of her boring life and start a new one full of choices she will make on her own. Similarly, Frank feels there is something unique in Rita’s ways of behaving and expressing herself. He thinks that is something she should not miss in the changing process.
Although there are many times misunderstandings because of culture and class differences, Rita and Frank manage to learn how to overcome them in order to get effective communication. For example, in the first scenes, Rita mentions a TV show or books Frank is not familiar with, or sometimes Rita uses expressions such as “off the cake”, and Frank has to ask for clarification. All the same, when Frank faces Rita for not having attended Julia’s dinner party, he has to explain to her that the wine or a dress won’t make a difference; confidence is something you cannot buy.
Now, as a result of Rita choosing education throughout the play, even under difficult circumstances, we find a Rita who is full of energy and life. She no longer looks down on her background and culture, but has learned to work hard in order to change what she was not satisfied with: she is no longer married to a man who does not take into account her needs and independence. Rita is now a new person because she is not afraid of making mistakes any more, she feels much more confident and is willing to face what is ahead.
From the very beginning, it’s quite obvious that Frank and Rita belong to two different worlds. However, I think both Rita and Frank feel curious, and attracted somehow, to the opposite world of their own. Rita is sure that if she can manage to get educated, she will be able to get rid of her boring life and start a new one full of choices she will make on her own. Similarly, Frank feels there is something unique in Rita’s ways of behaving and expressing herself. He thinks that is something she should not miss in the changing process.
Although there are many times misunderstandings because of culture and class differences, Rita and Frank manage to learn how to overcome them in order to get effective communication. For example, in the first scenes, Rita mentions a TV show or books Frank is not familiar with, or sometimes Rita uses expressions such as “off the cake”, and Frank has to ask for clarification. All the same, when Frank faces Rita for not having attended Julia’s dinner party, he has to explain to her that the wine or a dress won’t make a difference; confidence is something you cannot buy.
Now, as a result of Rita choosing education throughout the play, even under difficult circumstances, we find a Rita who is full of energy and life. She no longer looks down on her background and culture, but has learned to work hard in order to change what she was not satisfied with: she is no longer married to a man who does not take into account her needs and independence. Rita is now a new person because she is not afraid of making mistakes any more, she feels much more confident and is willing to face what is ahead.
Educating Rita and Frank
After finishing reading the book, I came to the conclusion that it’s not only Rita who learns during the course of the play but also Frank. There is plenty of evidence that suggests my interpretation.
Admittedly, Rita has become a different person. She is now a confident woman, who has passed a university exam and feels she can take decisions about her own life. This is something that at the beginning of the play Rita cannot do for she feels trapped in the life of hers. She has many things to consider for her future, such as going to her mum’s for Christmas, travel to France with Tiger, having a baby or even accept Frank’s invitation to Australia.
All the same, Frank is a different man too. Although he hasn’t given up drinking, I have the feeling that he will profit from the chance he is given by the University authorities in Australia. The change will do him good. Also, I believe Frank has learned a lesson: he has learned to accept other people’s opinion and being objective when evaluating essays.
The final scene in which Rita cuts Frank’s air shows really graphically that a student-teacher relationship is always reciprocal: you give and learn something, no matter how much experience you have on that field.
Admittedly, Rita has become a different person. She is now a confident woman, who has passed a university exam and feels she can take decisions about her own life. This is something that at the beginning of the play Rita cannot do for she feels trapped in the life of hers. She has many things to consider for her future, such as going to her mum’s for Christmas, travel to France with Tiger, having a baby or even accept Frank’s invitation to Australia.
All the same, Frank is a different man too. Although he hasn’t given up drinking, I have the feeling that he will profit from the chance he is given by the University authorities in Australia. The change will do him good. Also, I believe Frank has learned a lesson: he has learned to accept other people’s opinion and being objective when evaluating essays.
The final scene in which Rita cuts Frank’s air shows really graphically that a student-teacher relationship is always reciprocal: you give and learn something, no matter how much experience you have on that field.
Rita’s changed her job
At the beginning of the play, we come to know a Rita who is willing to change and become a more educated person. In the process, she also decides to give up her old job in the hairdresser’s and be a waitress in a bistro. I believe there are several reasons why she’s done so.
To begin with, Rita used to hate her customers who could not differentiate important things from trivial ones. She said they would go to the shop and talk about clothes, shoes, massive soap operas on television. Also, they were only interested in outer beauty. They wanted to look like an actress or model they had seen on TV or read about on a women’s magazine, and they asked Rita to transform their looks.
In addition, her new job is giving her the possibility of meeting more fascinating people, like Tiger. She believes the bistro customers are young, and passionate about things that really matter. She has the feeling they are not trapped like she used to be and like the hairdresser’s women she used to attend to, and she enjoys spending time with them.
I think it is a very good decision to change your job if you feel you are not satisfied with it. For instance, if I ever felt I don’t want to work as a teacher any more, I think I would choose any other means to earn a living. If there’s no passion in teaching, children notice it and it could be one of the reasons why you would not be able to exploit their potential at maximum capacity.
To begin with, Rita used to hate her customers who could not differentiate important things from trivial ones. She said they would go to the shop and talk about clothes, shoes, massive soap operas on television. Also, they were only interested in outer beauty. They wanted to look like an actress or model they had seen on TV or read about on a women’s magazine, and they asked Rita to transform their looks.
In addition, her new job is giving her the possibility of meeting more fascinating people, like Tiger. She believes the bistro customers are young, and passionate about things that really matter. She has the feeling they are not trapped like she used to be and like the hairdresser’s women she used to attend to, and she enjoys spending time with them.
I think it is a very good decision to change your job if you feel you are not satisfied with it. For instance, if I ever felt I don’t want to work as a teacher any more, I think I would choose any other means to earn a living. If there’s no passion in teaching, children notice it and it could be one of the reasons why you would not be able to exploit their potential at maximum capacity.
Saturday 25 October 2008
The new Rita
At this stage Rita is completely sure she is changing in the direction she has always longed for. However, I believe when Frank tells her she has to be careful, she is not referring to her essay but to the fact that she is losing her true self in the transition.
The new Rita is now trying to change her way of speaking just because her flat mate says she’s got an ugly voice. She has also been talking to some university students downstairs and seems to be more interested in speaking about one of them rather than in discussing literature with Frank. .
In spite of all this, Rita is now capable of discussing literature and expressing her ideas properly. I mean, when Frank says he doesn’t like her essay, she manages to show disagreement with him, and, in a way, she is very convincing. I think she is right this time and Frank is not being subjective, because, as I said before, he is using the essay to express his opinion on the new Rita.
All things considered, I don’t think Rita has become wiser than before. I just have the feeling that now she can put her ideas into words and make herself understood. Frank, her knowledge on literature and her new acquaintances have given her the self-confidence that she needed to continue moving on.
The new Rita is now trying to change her way of speaking just because her flat mate says she’s got an ugly voice. She has also been talking to some university students downstairs and seems to be more interested in speaking about one of them rather than in discussing literature with Frank. .
In spite of all this, Rita is now capable of discussing literature and expressing her ideas properly. I mean, when Frank says he doesn’t like her essay, she manages to show disagreement with him, and, in a way, she is very convincing. I think she is right this time and Frank is not being subjective, because, as I said before, he is using the essay to express his opinion on the new Rita.
All things considered, I don’t think Rita has become wiser than before. I just have the feeling that now she can put her ideas into words and make herself understood. Frank, her knowledge on literature and her new acquaintances have given her the self-confidence that she needed to continue moving on.
Friday 17 October 2008
Moving on
I was one told by my psychologist that when we want something to change, it’s us who should start changing because that will inevitably produce changes, not only on ourselves but also on the people around us.
If we think of Rita and Frank, I believe they have both changed, but at a different pace and scale. In this scene, Rita is not the woman she used to be: she dresses differently; she speaks differently and is enjoying her life as never before. However, even though Frank is writing poetry again, he is, somehow, almost the same man we came across at the beginning of the story: he is witty, ironic, lonely, an alcoholic. Only that now he sees Rita is succeeding in her purpose and he feels proud of her, not just because they have got to know each other better and they both like each other, but also because he feels he has given Rita the push she needed to fly away.
All in all, what I mean is that the fact that Rita has changed doesn’t mean that Frank has changed, but their relationship has changed because now Rita is a different person and Frank feels he doesn’t need a tutor any longer, she is ready to attend any kind of university and graduate.
If we think of Rita and Frank, I believe they have both changed, but at a different pace and scale. In this scene, Rita is not the woman she used to be: she dresses differently; she speaks differently and is enjoying her life as never before. However, even though Frank is writing poetry again, he is, somehow, almost the same man we came across at the beginning of the story: he is witty, ironic, lonely, an alcoholic. Only that now he sees Rita is succeeding in her purpose and he feels proud of her, not just because they have got to know each other better and they both like each other, but also because he feels he has given Rita the push she needed to fly away.
All in all, what I mean is that the fact that Rita has changed doesn’t mean that Frank has changed, but their relationship has changed because now Rita is a different person and Frank feels he doesn’t need a tutor any longer, she is ready to attend any kind of university and graduate.
Friday 10 October 2008
We could sing better songs than those
At the end of scene 7, we see a Rita who is desperate to be given a sign which shows her that what she’s done so far is the right thing to do. Nonetheless, everything seems to indicate that she is in the wrong path.
To begin with, despite deciding to go to Frank’s dinner party on her own, she can’t manage to find the suitable dress and bottle of wine. In fact what happens is that Rita realizes she’s not the sort of person she used to be: a woman who conformed herself with material things. Later, she comes to the decision she’s not joining the party because she’s afraid of facing the chance to interact with people she doesn’t know. Although Rita is very sociable, she refuses to make jokes of funny comments to be accepted by a group. This shows she is insecure.
On the other hand, when Rita joins in the singing at the pub, she has given in. She thinks she has reached the bottom end and cannot go on with her ideals any longer. It’s at that moment that her mum confesses she’s being crying because they could be singing better songs that those they are singing at the pub, and Rita sees the light: it’s now the time to move forward or she’ll always regret not having tried to follow her ambition. If she doesn’t, she’ll look back when she’s a middle-aged woman and she’ll feel she has betrayed herself.
To begin with, despite deciding to go to Frank’s dinner party on her own, she can’t manage to find the suitable dress and bottle of wine. In fact what happens is that Rita realizes she’s not the sort of person she used to be: a woman who conformed herself with material things. Later, she comes to the decision she’s not joining the party because she’s afraid of facing the chance to interact with people she doesn’t know. Although Rita is very sociable, she refuses to make jokes of funny comments to be accepted by a group. This shows she is insecure.
On the other hand, when Rita joins in the singing at the pub, she has given in. She thinks she has reached the bottom end and cannot go on with her ideals any longer. It’s at that moment that her mum confesses she’s being crying because they could be singing better songs that those they are singing at the pub, and Rita sees the light: it’s now the time to move forward or she’ll always regret not having tried to follow her ambition. If she doesn’t, she’ll look back when she’s a middle-aged woman and she’ll feel she has betrayed herself.
Monday 22 September 2008
The importance of language style
When I first became interested in learning English, I wanted to use the language to communicate my ideas and to be able to interact with people all over the world if I ever had the chance. As time passed by, I realised that I had already learnt that skill and that I wanted to go for more. But what was it that I was after?
Reading this chapter made me think about the importance of language style depending on the circumstances. For instance, when Rita turns up at Frank’s office, she is so overwhelmed by her emotions that she can’t even think about the words to express how she feels after having seen Macbeth at the theatre. She says: “It wasn’t boring, it was bleeding great, honest, it done me in, and it was fantastic. I’m gonna write an essay on it.” As I read her words, I wondered what she was going to say in her essay. I feel curious about how she will speak her mind to refer to the play, as I’m sure she will have to select the words, style, and grammar carefully if she really wants to write academically.
Sometimes, communication is not just enough. Using an appropriate register gives us something that goes beyond communication and causes a different impact if we use the appropriate language style. I think Rita is in the process of finding that out.
Reading this chapter made me think about the importance of language style depending on the circumstances. For instance, when Rita turns up at Frank’s office, she is so overwhelmed by her emotions that she can’t even think about the words to express how she feels after having seen Macbeth at the theatre. She says: “It wasn’t boring, it was bleeding great, honest, it done me in, and it was fantastic. I’m gonna write an essay on it.” As I read her words, I wondered what she was going to say in her essay. I feel curious about how she will speak her mind to refer to the play, as I’m sure she will have to select the words, style, and grammar carefully if she really wants to write academically.
Sometimes, communication is not just enough. Using an appropriate register gives us something that goes beyond communication and causes a different impact if we use the appropriate language style. I think Rita is in the process of finding that out.
Tuesday 9 September 2008
Choosing: the course or your husband?
In scene 5, we learn Danny, Rita’s husband, finds out she is lying to him about taking the pill. As a consequence, Danny over reacts and burns her books and essays. However, Rita is more determined than ever not to abandon the course she’s taking with Frank.
If we try to understand why the course means so much for Rita, we are to pay attention to what she says to her tutor about it. She definitely believes the course is “proving her with life, more life than she’s had in years.” She feels alive as she is discovering herself and is not willing to give in just because her husband can’t understand why she is doing it.
On the other hand, Danny sees the whole thing in a different light, so I wonder if any of them both can be blamed for the hard time the couple is going through.
Life is about making decisions all the time, and, unfortunately, we can’t satisfy everyone with our choices. The hard question is: Shall we sacrifice ourselves to please others?
If we try to understand why the course means so much for Rita, we are to pay attention to what she says to her tutor about it. She definitely believes the course is “proving her with life, more life than she’s had in years.” She feels alive as she is discovering herself and is not willing to give in just because her husband can’t understand why she is doing it.
On the other hand, Danny sees the whole thing in a different light, so I wonder if any of them both can be blamed for the hard time the couple is going through.
Life is about making decisions all the time, and, unfortunately, we can’t satisfy everyone with our choices. The hard question is: Shall we sacrifice ourselves to please others?
Tuesday 26 August 2008
Education makes me stronger
After reading Rita’s words: “It makes me stronger coming here”, I immediately began wondering why it is that education makes people stronger. At first, I thought about the professional you become after graduation and the sense of independence you experience not having to get temporary jobs but one where you can really apply your professional knowledge. But just then, I kept on thinking and I realised we become stronger AS we are being educated.
When we decide to joining any course of studies, we are choosing the people we want to interact with as well as the teachers we want to learn from. The whole learning process can not be isolated from the social and interactional context. In my opinion, that’s how you become a stronger person: you learn and interact with the course, but also, bit by bit, you use that experience in your personal life.
Education makes me stronger because it enables me to build social bridges which, if used wisely, will help me be a happier person as I think it will happen to Rita by the end of the book.
When we decide to joining any course of studies, we are choosing the people we want to interact with as well as the teachers we want to learn from. The whole learning process can not be isolated from the social and interactional context. In my opinion, that’s how you become a stronger person: you learn and interact with the course, but also, bit by bit, you use that experience in your personal life.
Education makes me stronger because it enables me to build social bridges which, if used wisely, will help me be a happier person as I think it will happen to Rita by the end of the book.
Friday 22 August 2008
What is being a “good” teacher?
We all know what a teacher is, her roles in school and in the classroom. After all, we’ve all had at least one in our educational life. Yet, what is being a “good” teacher?
I’ve asked my own students, and they all agree a good teacher is someone who knows about the subject she is teaching, but also a human being who should care about them. A person who gets the trouble to get to know her students and is willing to help them become better persons. I must admit I agree with them.
If we consider Rita’s tutor, Frank, so far I believe he is a good teacher because not only does he show to have knowledge of literature, but he also seems to have a great capacity to adapt himself to Rita’s ways. For instance, he answers Rita’s personal questions with great enthusiasm and patience, but never does he lose track of the main objective which is Rita’s final exam to get her degree.
So, next time I’m asked what being a good teacher means, I’ll say it’s a human being who has been trained to be a teacher, but also someone who cares about her students, who is patient and capable of adapting herself to her students´ different ways of learning.
By Miriam Rodriguez
I’ve asked my own students, and they all agree a good teacher is someone who knows about the subject she is teaching, but also a human being who should care about them. A person who gets the trouble to get to know her students and is willing to help them become better persons. I must admit I agree with them.
If we consider Rita’s tutor, Frank, so far I believe he is a good teacher because not only does he show to have knowledge of literature, but he also seems to have a great capacity to adapt himself to Rita’s ways. For instance, he answers Rita’s personal questions with great enthusiasm and patience, but never does he lose track of the main objective which is Rita’s final exam to get her degree.
So, next time I’m asked what being a good teacher means, I’ll say it’s a human being who has been trained to be a teacher, but also someone who cares about her students, who is patient and capable of adapting herself to her students´ different ways of learning.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Thursday 7 August 2008
There’s more to Rita than meets the eye?
I have just finished reading scene one of a theatre play called “Educating Rita” by Willy Russell. I would like to share with you my first impressions of Susan, or Rita as she prefers to be called, one of the major characters in the story.
When the play opens, Rita meets her tutor, Dr Frank Bryant, at the Open University. Through their dialogue we can infer that Rita is a very intelligent woman in spite of the fact that she has been poorly educated and belongs to the working class.
To begin with, Rita makes some impressive comments about the painting hung on Frank’s office wall, which reveals she can talk about arts and religious sensibly. She then realizes Frank has an alcohol addiction as well as why he has agreed to teach at the Open University: he needs the money. Rita also comments on the differences between the ordinary university and the Open University, which proves she knows what she is doing at enrolling this course. In addition, the moment Frank and Rita talk about books and poetry, we come to think she has good understanding of what certain technical terminology means, although she is still not capable of expressing herself properly.
I think that having changed her name from Susan to Rita is her first step to become a different person. She is unwilling to remain as a hairdresser and a housewife for life, and she wants to change from the inside. While she discovers herself, we will find out if Rita succeeds and becomes the well educated higher class woman she really longs for.
By Miriam Rodriguez
When the play opens, Rita meets her tutor, Dr Frank Bryant, at the Open University. Through their dialogue we can infer that Rita is a very intelligent woman in spite of the fact that she has been poorly educated and belongs to the working class.
To begin with, Rita makes some impressive comments about the painting hung on Frank’s office wall, which reveals she can talk about arts and religious sensibly. She then realizes Frank has an alcohol addiction as well as why he has agreed to teach at the Open University: he needs the money. Rita also comments on the differences between the ordinary university and the Open University, which proves she knows what she is doing at enrolling this course. In addition, the moment Frank and Rita talk about books and poetry, we come to think she has good understanding of what certain technical terminology means, although she is still not capable of expressing herself properly.
I think that having changed her name from Susan to Rita is her first step to become a different person. She is unwilling to remain as a hairdresser and a housewife for life, and she wants to change from the inside. While she discovers herself, we will find out if Rita succeeds and becomes the well educated higher class woman she really longs for.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Thursday 26 June 2008
When teaching or doing any other job
After this first term, I finally got to the end of Savater´s book, which, I must confess, has made me think about a lot of things, in particular, about the relationship between ethics and the condition of being human.
What does it mean to live ethically? What is it that I do when I don’t respect other human beings? Why take care of not only ourselves but also our planet? Why is it that I will never understand myself if I switch off from the rest of the people? Interesting concepts does Savater develop throughout his book. I recommend it to anyone who is, at least, a little bit curious like me.
One more thing: after reading this last chapter of Ethics for Amador I can say it has really reminded me of my human qualities and it has helped me understand why we must never forget our common humanity, no matter what occupation you have.
Appendix
By Miriam Rodriguez
What does it mean to live ethically? What is it that I do when I don’t respect other human beings? Why take care of not only ourselves but also our planet? Why is it that I will never understand myself if I switch off from the rest of the people? Interesting concepts does Savater develop throughout his book. I recommend it to anyone who is, at least, a little bit curious like me.
One more thing: after reading this last chapter of Ethics for Amador I can say it has really reminded me of my human qualities and it has helped me understand why we must never forget our common humanity, no matter what occupation you have.
Appendix
By Miriam Rodriguez
Monday 23 June 2008
The Art of Teaching
The art of teaching, the ability or skill involved in teaching, resembles the art of living in one essential feature: nobody can tell you how to do it better. There is neither a recipe nor a book containing the necessary instructions to succeed in living or teaching well. So, how can we achieve what seems to be an impossible mission?
I think one can study not only to know about the English language itself, but also to learn how to make all that knowledge that is accumulated in the to-be teacher meaningful to students. Definitely, that’s the key to succeed. However, I’m afraid, like in every other job, not everybody is cut out to be a teacher.
To name just a few examples, I would say a person needs to have certain qualities to be a good teacher. If you are narrow-minded, egocentric and a bad listener, for instance, I think it won’t matter how hard you try, you will not be a good teacher because you won’t be considering your students, and that’s the worst mistake a teacher can make.
Epilogue
By Miriam Rodriguez
I think one can study not only to know about the English language itself, but also to learn how to make all that knowledge that is accumulated in the to-be teacher meaningful to students. Definitely, that’s the key to succeed. However, I’m afraid, like in every other job, not everybody is cut out to be a teacher.
To name just a few examples, I would say a person needs to have certain qualities to be a good teacher. If you are narrow-minded, egocentric and a bad listener, for instance, I think it won’t matter how hard you try, you will not be a good teacher because you won’t be considering your students, and that’s the worst mistake a teacher can make.
Epilogue
By Miriam Rodriguez
Sunday 8 June 2008
Our Space
I always try to make my class as democratic as possible, although I also know students have not been given the chance to vote for me as their teacher!
What I mean by democratic is creating a friendly and cooperative atmosphere where every one of my student is free to express themselves. I also try hard not to have favourite ones and to take them all seriously: I respect everybody for their human condition and not for the level of English they have. And last but not least, I provide assistance to all of them, and if the more advanced students don’t need help, I give them a more challenging task so that they can feel they are learning.
Of course I sometimes fail, I would say MANY TIMES I do. But I am aware of my errors and of the fact that I’m not perfect. I keep on trying and I think that makes a differences. I’m sure my students can tell.
Chapter 9
By Miriam Rodriguez
What I mean by democratic is creating a friendly and cooperative atmosphere where every one of my student is free to express themselves. I also try hard not to have favourite ones and to take them all seriously: I respect everybody for their human condition and not for the level of English they have. And last but not least, I provide assistance to all of them, and if the more advanced students don’t need help, I give them a more challenging task so that they can feel they are learning.
Of course I sometimes fail, I would say MANY TIMES I do. But I am aware of my errors and of the fact that I’m not perfect. I keep on trying and I think that makes a differences. I’m sure my students can tell.
Chapter 9
By Miriam Rodriguez
Monday 2 June 2008
Encourage Free Thinkers
Most school head figures boast that if their students are disciplined and obedient, they will succedd in life. However, I don´t quite agree with it.
To begin with, although learning is a painful process, students need to get involved and find some kind of pleasure in what they are studying, and, in this way, make use of their freedom to choose, for example, to decide what kind of exercise they would prefer to do. Nonetheless, headmasters fear if students feel pleasure, they will get distracted, and, for this reason, lose their track.
In my opinion, the sensible thing to do for teachers is help their students become free thinkers, and, in doing so, they will be learning to reason things wisely. If, on the contrary, regulations are always imposed on them from the outside and students never get the chance to opt on their own, they will become muppets unable to think for themselves. How will the cope with real life when they finish school?
Chapter 8
By Miriam Rodriguez
To begin with, although learning is a painful process, students need to get involved and find some kind of pleasure in what they are studying, and, in this way, make use of their freedom to choose, for example, to decide what kind of exercise they would prefer to do. Nonetheless, headmasters fear if students feel pleasure, they will get distracted, and, for this reason, lose their track.
In my opinion, the sensible thing to do for teachers is help their students become free thinkers, and, in doing so, they will be learning to reason things wisely. If, on the contrary, regulations are always imposed on them from the outside and students never get the chance to opt on their own, they will become muppets unable to think for themselves. How will the cope with real life when they finish school?
Chapter 8
By Miriam Rodriguez
Tuesday 27 May 2008
In our students´shoes
When you are a child, you generally fantasize with an adult life of yours. You will pretend to be a receptionist and answer the plastic toy phone or even wear your mum´s high-heeled shoes and her make-up to think of yourself as a top model. Where does all that imagination go when we actually become grown-ups?
How come teachers find it so hard to place themselves in their students´shoes? It isn´t so difficult if they just tried to take into account the audience of their classes and had a little bit of interest in taking the trouble to get to know them. Teenagers are already undergoing too many psychological and physical changes for teachers not to consider each student as what they are: different and unique human beings.
As far as I´m concerned teenagers feel at a loss in many things and they sometimes hide it behing the mask of rebellion. Wouldn´t it be worthwhile to take them seriously and make an effort to understand what they expect from us?
By Miriam Rodríguez
Chapter 7
How come teachers find it so hard to place themselves in their students´shoes? It isn´t so difficult if they just tried to take into account the audience of their classes and had a little bit of interest in taking the trouble to get to know them. Teenagers are already undergoing too many psychological and physical changes for teachers not to consider each student as what they are: different and unique human beings.
As far as I´m concerned teenagers feel at a loss in many things and they sometimes hide it behing the mask of rebellion. Wouldn´t it be worthwhile to take them seriously and make an effort to understand what they expect from us?
By Miriam Rodríguez
Chapter 7
Thursday 15 May 2008
Human Beings: Decision Makers
I thing taking decisions in life is by far the most painful process humans have to undergo. You may say I´m being rather pessimistic about this issue, after all, it´s better to take a decision yourself rather than being impossed what to do.
What I mean is that we cannot avoid experiencing a sense of responsibility in any decision we take. No matter how hard you try to foresee what can happen if you take one course of an action or another, but in the end you deeply inside know you cannot anticipate so much because you never know what impact it can cause. The umpredicable nature of possiblilites provokes the inevitable anguish of not really knowing what will happen.
One always boasts about the decisions that caused a good result, but we never dare say a word if the result was not what we had expected. I´ve always wondered if this is in the human nature or if it´s just me who find it so difficult to assume responsibility for what I did not intend to happen, although I definitely know taking decisions means making use of our freedom.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 6
What I mean is that we cannot avoid experiencing a sense of responsibility in any decision we take. No matter how hard you try to foresee what can happen if you take one course of an action or another, but in the end you deeply inside know you cannot anticipate so much because you never know what impact it can cause. The umpredicable nature of possiblilites provokes the inevitable anguish of not really knowing what will happen.
One always boasts about the decisions that caused a good result, but we never dare say a word if the result was not what we had expected. I´ve always wondered if this is in the human nature or if it´s just me who find it so difficult to assume responsibility for what I did not intend to happen, although I definitely know taking decisions means making use of our freedom.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 6
Monday 12 May 2008
Constant learning
I’m afraid I’d like to insist on the means to achieve a goal, as I previously did in my previous post.
When delivering a lesson, a teacher knows exactly what to teach and what to expect from the students. However, it is not always clear how to deal with the input so that it becomes the students´ output.
During the teaching-learning process, there are certain factors we must consider, but best of all, we must not forget that it’s human beings we are dealing with, not just “students”. In getting to know our students as far as a teacher-student relationship can go, we are adding an extra but essential element to our teaching. If, on the contrary, we dehumanize the whole process, we risk ignoring our most important role: helping them to be better human beings.
I believe it’s not an easy job, basically because you can not learn that from books. It’s through experience and constant learning from our students that we are likely to succeed.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 5
When delivering a lesson, a teacher knows exactly what to teach and what to expect from the students. However, it is not always clear how to deal with the input so that it becomes the students´ output.
During the teaching-learning process, there are certain factors we must consider, but best of all, we must not forget that it’s human beings we are dealing with, not just “students”. In getting to know our students as far as a teacher-student relationship can go, we are adding an extra but essential element to our teaching. If, on the contrary, we dehumanize the whole process, we risk ignoring our most important role: helping them to be better human beings.
I believe it’s not an easy job, basically because you can not learn that from books. It’s through experience and constant learning from our students that we are likely to succeed.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 5
Friday 25 April 2008
Impossible is Nothing
Nowadays teenagers seem to be incapable of setting their priorities rationally. They resemble Esaú, the hunter, and Kane, the businessman, in the sense that they apparently know what their aim is. However, teenagers, unlike Esaú and Kane, are not willing to make sacrifices to achieve their goals.
In my experience, youngsters know exactly where to head for, but the slightest idea of having to work hard or making sacrifices puts them off at once. Most of them are used to getting what they want on the spot: the minute they study and behave properly, their parents reward them in the twinkling of an eye. I wonder why most teenagers don´t come to think that the reward in itself is the fact that they are getting better educated as they become grown-ups.
Now that I´m writing this, I come to the conclusion that parents and teachers should show teenagers that a means to an end is as important as the result in itself. Advise them if they are close to lose their track just because they consider the means is not worthwhile.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 4
In my experience, youngsters know exactly where to head for, but the slightest idea of having to work hard or making sacrifices puts them off at once. Most of them are used to getting what they want on the spot: the minute they study and behave properly, their parents reward them in the twinkling of an eye. I wonder why most teenagers don´t come to think that the reward in itself is the fact that they are getting better educated as they become grown-ups.
Now that I´m writing this, I come to the conclusion that parents and teachers should show teenagers that a means to an end is as important as the result in itself. Advise them if they are close to lose their track just because they consider the means is not worthwhile.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 4
Friday 18 April 2008
Do as we please?
I often wonder why is it that some people are often motivated by greed. And what´s even worse, why people following orders or fulfiling their own interests can cause so much damage in this world.
In my opinion, nothing can justify evil-doers. They may say they were obeying orders, like the tortures during the military dictatorship in Argentina. Soldiers are expected to obey orders without questioning them? As far as I am concerned we must question whoever it is, even ourselves, before acting.
Freedom is a double-edge weapon if used unwisely. That´s why I believe we must always make use of the ablility to reason: think over our real intentions, and analyse the conditions and consequences of our course of action.
Will human beings ever be ready to live in an ideal society like the one Thomas More presented in his Utopia?
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 3
In my opinion, nothing can justify evil-doers. They may say they were obeying orders, like the tortures during the military dictatorship in Argentina. Soldiers are expected to obey orders without questioning them? As far as I am concerned we must question whoever it is, even ourselves, before acting.
Freedom is a double-edge weapon if used unwisely. That´s why I believe we must always make use of the ablility to reason: think over our real intentions, and analyse the conditions and consequences of our course of action.
Will human beings ever be ready to live in an ideal society like the one Thomas More presented in his Utopia?
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 3
Sunday 13 April 2008
From Captains to Teachers
Savater´s parallel between the captain’s moral dilemma on the ship and how people choose to live their lives kept me thinking. What particularly called my attention this time was how people can handle things that they haven’t chosen for themselves.
Kids who haven’t chosen to be born in a particular country, city or neighbourhood are a case in point. They have no choice but to live there until they are old enough to move or to stay, as they prefer.
This led me into thinking of children who live in shanty towns or children whose parents are far from being model human beings. What is it that teachers can do to prevent these children from being condemned to follow their parents’ footsteps?
I strongly believe we must give our students the necessary tools so that later in life they can choose by themselves with a critical mind. It’s our duty to show them there is a different world from their own, and that there is no universal truth they must live up to. There are as many different perspectives as people in the world and it’s our moral responsibility to help them foster their ability to think critically.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 2
Kids who haven’t chosen to be born in a particular country, city or neighbourhood are a case in point. They have no choice but to live there until they are old enough to move or to stay, as they prefer.
This led me into thinking of children who live in shanty towns or children whose parents are far from being model human beings. What is it that teachers can do to prevent these children from being condemned to follow their parents’ footsteps?
I strongly believe we must give our students the necessary tools so that later in life they can choose by themselves with a critical mind. It’s our duty to show them there is a different world from their own, and that there is no universal truth they must live up to. There are as many different perspectives as people in the world and it’s our moral responsibility to help them foster their ability to think critically.
By Miriam Rodriguez
Chapter 2
Tuesday 1 April 2008
Free to choose, up to what extent?
If we are free to lead our life the way we want, shouldn´t there be any restrictions? I believe there are. Certain things we should or shouldn´t do just because they would condition other people´s choices, preventing them from living the way THEY desire. At understanding our rights end where other people´s start, we are ALL free when choosing what we think is better for us.
If we come to think we are not free to choose the course of our actions, we are totally wrong. I guarantee there´s no magical formula we can apply to a very same situation. Picture yourself, for instance, in a classroom with a mate, doing a final test in order to graduate as doctors. Would you let him copy from your sheet even if you knew his lack of knowledge could affect someone´s life in an emergency room? Would you turn a blind eye? Would you help him and then take the trouble to have a talk to him? Would you tell the teacher? The options are unlimited…
In the end it´s nobody but us who decide what path to take. In this way we will be accepting the consequences of our actions, and if we later find out we´ve made a mistake, we can always learn from them. Never fear free will!
If we come to think we are not free to choose the course of our actions, we are totally wrong. I guarantee there´s no magical formula we can apply to a very same situation. Picture yourself, for instance, in a classroom with a mate, doing a final test in order to graduate as doctors. Would you let him copy from your sheet even if you knew his lack of knowledge could affect someone´s life in an emergency room? Would you turn a blind eye? Would you help him and then take the trouble to have a talk to him? Would you tell the teacher? The options are unlimited…
In the end it´s nobody but us who decide what path to take. In this way we will be accepting the consequences of our actions, and if we later find out we´ve made a mistake, we can always learn from them. Never fear free will!
By Miriam Rodriguez
(chapter 1)
Monday 31 March 2008
Never judge a book by its cover!
I have recently started reading a very pragmatic book: “Ethics for Amador” by Fernando Savater. In the prologue, Savater tells his son Amador, among other things, he wants them both to profit from this reading-writing experience, and adds he has decided to write his thoughts on paper since he believes his child will feel much more relaxed to react, not having to put up with never-ending adults speech.
What immediately called my attention is the fact that it is not the typical book which contains boring theoretical concepts. As a matter of fact, I thought I would have to learn endless definitions and specific vocabulary by heart. On the contrary, the book draws a parallel between Savater´s personal view on what he considers ethical behaviour and a concrete example taken from any adolescent’s life. Addressing directly to his son through everyday language and situations, Savater also expresses how necessary ethics is, not only in any course of studies, but in our lives as well.
I have the feeling that, by the end of the book, Savater will have succeeded in showing that we should all be capable of free thinking when making choices, a practice which will affect our course of actions and true self constantly.
By Miriam Rodriguez
What immediately called my attention is the fact that it is not the typical book which contains boring theoretical concepts. As a matter of fact, I thought I would have to learn endless definitions and specific vocabulary by heart. On the contrary, the book draws a parallel between Savater´s personal view on what he considers ethical behaviour and a concrete example taken from any adolescent’s life. Addressing directly to his son through everyday language and situations, Savater also expresses how necessary ethics is, not only in any course of studies, but in our lives as well.
I have the feeling that, by the end of the book, Savater will have succeeded in showing that we should all be capable of free thinking when making choices, a practice which will affect our course of actions and true self constantly.
By Miriam Rodriguez
(aviso antipedagogico y prologo)
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