 A new lesson plan: O'Brother |  | 25 May 2008, 10:51am
I think it will be my last lesson plan for the year, and maybe for the next year as I will stop working (see my last note).
I've made a Harry Potter lesson plan too but I got inspired a lot by other websites so there are too many copyrights problems. Maybe I'll just post the links soon.
This O'Brother lesson plan is for an intermediate level (I did it for my 3ème level). It includes a presentation of the Ku Klux Klan, a scene study and a grammar focus on direct discourse and indirect discourse. I hope you 'll enjoy it!
Go to the lesson plans section and check it out !!!  |
| No I'm not dead... | 01 April 2008, 2:28 pm
I'm just lazy!!!! I've forgotten about the blog lately, I'm really sorry but I've been busy with other thoughts and I was not motivated enough to post.
So, I've tried to update a bit everything...
What are the news?
Well, I'm still teaching 6 hours in my school, which is starting to depress me a bit, because it leaves way more free time that I actually need. But there are worse problems, I agree...
My personal situation is also about to change, having a consequence on my professional situation. I'm about to move to another region but I didn't get my transfer. Well, I haven't had my transfer yet because I will normally get it next year. So I plan on moving anyway (as my boyfriend has a job over there now) and starting my studies again!
I've been completing my bachelor this year by doing a French as a Foreign Language diploma. I will pursue it next year by entering a Master in French as a Foreign Language. Well, that's the plan.
I'm exciting about this new project but also sad to leave school and the pupils. I love my job and I will long for it for a whole year !
So, the future of this blog is a bit uncertain. I guess I'll have to put it to sleep for a year, until I get a job back and can start posting again...
Will see... |
| Lesson plan: interviewing someone | 13 January 2008, 8:01pm
In the lesson plans section, you will find a new one for my highest level in secondary school. The goal is to interview your classmate as if he/she was a star! This allows to revise "how long" questions (+ present perfect) as well as "for" and "since". It also helps introduce present perfect progressive.
But above all, this lesson plan aims at improving the oral skills and more particularly oral expression !
Hope you will like it!
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| 2008 | 03 January 2008, 9:27pm
I wish you all a very happy new year 2008. I hope you'll have a lot of success and happiness!
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| COMMENTS ---------->  |
| A new lesson plan : PSYCHO |  28 November 2007, 09:16 am
I had this idea from looking in my schoolbook for my higher level at school (3ème). They propose to study the film PSYCHO from Hitchcock. I've just taken the idea and I've given up their plan. I've done my own, and I'm sharing it with you today.
You'll find it in the lesson plans section (intermediate level).
Psycho was made in 1960 and so many years after, it's still interesting to show it to the pupils, first because Hitchcock was a great director and he still deserves to be known, second because the film was one of the first of a new genre: thriller movies. It was clearly very frightening at that time, even though it has less impact now (we're currently more used to thriller movies).
In this lesson plan, I propose to study four scenes:
- When Marion (the heroine) arrives at the motel.
- When she's having dinner with Norman Bates.
- When she is killed in the shower.
- The final scene: the revelation.
It has to be noted that Gus Van Sant did a remake in 1998.
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|  | A particular one since he shot the film exactly like Hitchcock did: shot by shot. But he betrayed Hitchcock by adding a few details, mainly sexual ones, as if the only way to "modernize" it was to make it more sexual. I think it was a mistake.
It can still be interesting though to make a comparison between scenes from the two movies (the shower scenes are slightly different), it can be a good way to revise comparative structures with the pupils. I chose not to do it (my lesson plan would be way too long therwise).
More information about Psycho on wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho_%281960_film%29
The original shower scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdrDpELNbks |
| | COMMENTS ------------> |
| New Links! | 30 October 2007, 12:51 pm
If you have a look in the Links section you'll see that I've added some great links!
Enjoy ! |
| Being a substitute teacher | 16 October 2007, 2:41 pm
HI there...
It's been some time. Sorry about that. A few days after my last post, I was called to start a supply teaching job. 11 hours per week in a "zep" High School (zone d'education prioritaire = difficult school). It lasted three weeks and it mostly went fine.
I finished last week and now I'm back with 6 hours per week in my secondary school.
Being with new pupils for only three weeks was not very fulfilling as you can imagine. You're the supply teacher, and that's it. It's kind of hard teaching in those conditons especially when pupils take advantage of it. 
Anyway.
Now, I have to work full time at school so I'm helping pupils individually (kind of tuition). It's better than nothing, it keeps me in school and in contact with the kids.
I'm spending more time doing stuff OUTSIDE school as I'm preparing a diploma to teach French as a foreign language. It takes me time but it's intellectually very stimulating. I'm also going to give private English lessons (that will help pay my taxes!!!  )
Go to the lesson plans section, you'll find new stuff!!!
COMMENTS ---------> |
| Where do I belong? (professionally speaking) | 21 September 2007, 9:51pm
The beginning of this school year is kind of weird and unpleasant. I only teach 6 hrs per week for the whole year: two classes including one I had last year - I feel quite happy about that.
Which means there are 12 hours left to keep busy. I'm going to do only short term supply jobs for those hours. *sigh*
I started one this week in a difficult area. It's in high school (good point) but I've discovered that 17-year-old pupils can be as stupid as 11-year olds. I have one HORRIBLE class, in which there is one violent boy. I'm kind of scared.
It's definitely a new experience, a new way of teaching, a new challenge.
BUT I'll teach there for a bit more than a month. That's the bad part. Not that I want to stay more, but I'm the supply teacher. What a brilliant way to be introduced to pupils! How serious this looks. I feel like I don't belong in this school and I don't really want to invest myself in it.
I love my job but this situation is not fulfilling me.
Personal problems are adding up. Spirits are quite low.
--------------------------
While doing research tonight, I discovered this magnificent song: "strange fruit", sung by Billie Holiday.
Just listen:
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| STRANGE FRUIT | Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
Blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
The scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
for the rain to gather
for the wind to suck
for the sun to rot
for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
"Strange Fruit" is a song most famously performed by Billie Holiday that condemns American racism, particularly the practice of lynching and burning African Americans that was prevalent in the South at the time when it was written.
The "strange fruit" referred to in the song are the bodies of African American men hanged during a lynching. They contrast the pastoral scenes of the South with the ugliness of racist violence. The lyrics were so chilling that Holiday later said "The first time I sang it, I thought it was a mistake. There wasn't even a patter of applause when I finished. Then a lone person began to clap nervously. Then suddenly everyone was clapping and cheering."
Source: Wikipedia
You can watch the video here:
| | video Billie Holiday |
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COMMENTS --------> |
| Little problems and an update | 19 August 2007, 4:18pm
I had a big problem with the software I'm using to edit and publish thi website. It got kind of crashed and I lost all the data which meant I had to re-do everything !!!!! God, it took me some hours but it's done!
Unfortunately, I can't recover your previous comments 'coz it will take me way too much time. I'm really sorry about that.
Anyway, I'm back safely and you'll find some little changes in the website (I took advantage of the situation to clean up some stuff). I hope you will like it.
At the right corner of the page, you can see two little flags as I'm planning to do a French version of this website, which means I have to translate everything! It's not done yet and I don't know when I will do it (not soon anyway, one day I hope). But the flag is there to remind me !
Nothing really new, I'm still waiting to know where I'm going to teach next year! I hope I will know soon... I'm just trying to enjoy the last piece of my holidays !!!
You'll find some new updates:
- an note in the Teacing tips section about "feedback from the pupils'/
- a new book in the Books section
- a new note about making your own posters in the teaching tips section (DIY sub-ection).
Enjoy !
COMMENTS -------> |
| Back ! | 09 August 2007, 5:51 pm
That's it ! The big trip is over! So many miles behind me... 4 cities, a couple of thousand miles. Sleeping in youth hotels, spending nights in buses, meeting new people, different people... Incredible sights.
Walking several hours a day... a great feeling. No tiredness, no exhaustion, just pleasure and discoveries, all way long, all the time, endless things to be seen.
My backpack, my heavy packpack...
Travelling around... freedom, only freedom. No constraints, no limits.
And people... and people...
Have a look at the pics in the new photo albums section.
I've also done some fun videos: | |
| Destination : USA |  10 July 2007, 4:41pm
Well, I just wanted to say good bye before I leave for New York ! I know, I'm a lucky girl!
I won't be able to update this website but I'll surely tell you all about it when I come back (and I'm thinking of creating a photo album).
Right now, I just have trouble packing!
Here is my itinerary: New York, Boston, Montréal and Washington.
I'm visiting two friends in two different cities. For the rest, I'll be backpacking. I love it !
Talk to you in three weeks. |
| School is officially over |  04 July 2007, 4:44pm
School has officially ended today. There were only a few pupils coming to school. It was more babysitting than anything else really.
I've learned yesterday that my pregnant pupil finally aborted last week. And I've also learned that the father is in the same class, a 14-year-old boy !!! They apparently planned it but found themselves without any condoms and did it anyway. I wonder sometimes what those kids had in mind!
Anyway, all this is over. I'm now waiting for a new position next September. It should be given to me during summer time.
It's time now to think about the holidays!!!!
I'm leaving on the 11th for... the USA !!! I'll spend time in NY, Boston, Montréal and Whashington ! This is gonna be so great ! Just having a backpack, travelling by bus, visiting two friends and enjoying!!!
Happy holidays to everyone ! |
| End of school year feelings | 29 June 2007, 3:54pm
I've learned lately that my school won't need any supply teachers for next year, meaning that I won't be probably teaching in that school.
I'll probably have another contract somewhere else.
It was a blow because I still hoped it could work, I still hoped I could stay there. I like the kids very much and it was hard to announce them the bad news. Tears were shed. Notes and cards were written. Presents were given. Cheerful good-byes were said.
Leaving another time. Not knowing what's ahead. Regrets and fear. The life of a supply teacher.
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| I've been tagged! | 25 June 2007, 3:06pm
Le principe : Chaque personne décrit 7 choses à propos d'elle même. Ceux qui ont été tagués doivent écrire sur leur blog ces 7 choses ainsi que ce règlement. Vous devez taguer 7 autres personnes et les énumérer sur votre blog. Vous laissez alors sur les blogs de ceux que vous souhaitez taguer un commentaire leur indiquant qu'ils ont été tagués et les invitant à lire votre blog.
Well, I'll do it in English if you don't mind.
1) I used to write and draw a lot when I was a kid. I was not that talented but I always thought it would develop and that I would become a writer or some kind of artist. It didn't. I stopped writing and drawing. I should go back to it. I don't dare.
2) I'm very proud of my working class background. I'm more than proud. I despise people coming from a wealthier background. I despise the young people, lingering in their studies, buying weed with Dad's money.
It's not a quality, I know.
3) I love my boyfriend more than anything else.
4) I'm dreaming of living abroad once again. I will not die before it happens or I will die an unhappy woman.
5) If I hadn't met the man of my life, I guess I would be right now wandering in a anglophone country, teaching French. I would be moving from time to time, changing location. This is the life I used to dream about.
6) I always lack of time.
7) .... it's getting hard... I love chocolate... (sorry)
Ive decided to tag:
* Profenzep because I love her blog: http://profenzep.over-blog.com/
* profarchere pour son blog poetique: http://profarchere.canalblog.com/
* Nissac, to know more about him: http://nissac.blogspot.com/
* "une vie de morue" because her blog is so funny: http://uneviedemorue.hautetfort.com/
* "une prof en gwanda" because her glog makes me travel in my head: http://uneprofengwada.mabulle.com/
* Professeur carbure for his wisdom: http://professeurcarbure.fr/dotclear/index.php
* Charly because I would like to have a colleague like him: http://charlyleprof.canalblog.com/ |
| A baby will be born |  19 June 2007, 8:43pm
G. is pregnant. G is sixteen. She is four to five years older than the other pupils in her class. She was not born in France. She came here a couple of years ago. Her school results are really bad and we don' t know what to do with her. Plus, she is working besides school, illegally. And she has to take care of her little brothers ans sisters.
And now this.
Her baby.
Her belly is not round yet, but I can see she is tired and nervous. Nobody is supposed to know. But I know they know. The pupils. I can see it in their looks when I talk to G.
What will become of her? Will she drop school? and live the life she could have had in her native country? Not taking the chance of going to school here? Repeating the inevitable fate of her mother and grandmother? Born to give life. Born to take care of others without having a life of her own. A youth.
She's sixteen. |
| I'm still alive | 05 June 2007, 8:02 pm
I know I'm not posting regularly, this is just a shame!!!!! I'm very sorry myself about this but I don't seem to be able to find time.
Well, I was on a school trip one week ago so that explains part of the silence. I came back, I was so so so so so TIRED!!!! I slept the whole week-end but this wasn't enough as I also fell ill (cold and everything).
London was fun with the pupils!!!! But sometimes you have the feeling of leading a group of cows (64 pupils, this is crazy to take such a big number).
Anyway, everything went fine but I have trouble recovering from such a big week !!!
Things will not slow down as I accompany another school trip (with the lowest level) to the mountains for a sport week! Sounds like an experience for me!
Things will get smooth after that as school officially finishes on the 4th of July. |
| Update - news | 20 May 2007, 4:33 pm
As you have seen, I've changed my URL. I think you appreciate not having ads any more. I like it too ! This problem prevented me from posting and updating since I wanted to change my hosting service before posting again.
So today I've updated the lesson plans section and the Books-Films section with new items.
Please if you have any comments, don't hesitate.
I also wanted to tell you that I'm leaving next week with 64 pupils (!!!) to London for a school trip! So I won't be able to post.
I'm sorry, I would like to do more entertaining notes like before on my previous blog and not notes just about the updates. I'll try to work on that.
Talk to you soon! |
| NEW URL - Please update your bookmarks | 19 May 2007, 1:00 pm
Because of the very annoying ads on the funpic hosting service, I've decided to change it.
Please note the new website address: | |
| HAPPY EASTER |  09 April 2007, 09:37 am
Just a few words to tell you that I had no time to update the website as I wanted to do (improve the links page, start the European Common Framework page, etc). Now, I'm on holidays and I'll be off for a week.
I don't know if I will have more time afterwards. We'll see.
Well, enjoy your Easter week-end! |
| Update | 03 April 2007, 3:50pm
Hi there!
Sorry for not posting anything at the moment. i'm just relaxing a little bit and enjoying my free time.
Nothing big here, holidays are coming soon (yeppe!!!).
I've updated the lesson plan section with one new lesson plan (beginner level):
"writing a letter". |
| Whant to know when you're going to die? | 18 March 2007, 12:47 pm
Here is a website that calculates your date of death, in case you want to know (that can be useful if you had planned something that day).
My death will be on the 9th of October, 2061.
It even gives you the countdown to your death !
click here: www.deathclock.com |
| A reminiscence of Ireland |  15 March 2007, 5:30 pm
I couldn't believe that I would find a little Irish feeling here, in this anonymous, cold, unauthentic city of Paris region. It was yesterday evening, in an improbable place: a circus tent stuck in between the parking lot of a big supermarket and Orly airport!!!!
You had to walk through the roads, on grass into the airport, bear the sound of a plane taking off to finally reach this tent.
The Irish band Slide was playing there, for free. I didn't know the band but I thought it could be nice to go there, sit and listen to their music. Such opportunitites are so rare around here.
The music was wonderful.
From the first piece of music on, everything rushed back to my mind: the overcrowded pubs full of talk and Guinness, the floats on St Patrick's Day, the Cliffs of Moher, the green scenery, the neverending talks and dinners, the Smirnoff Ice on tap and the smiles of people around. |
| | Lesson plans are updated | 10 March 2007, 4:00 pm.
Hello there!
I've just updated the lesson plans section by adding two new lesson plans about Ireland and St Patrick's Day. So check out the two levels (beginner and intermediate).
That's all I've been able to do lately. I wanted to work more on the website but I didn't find the time. This first week after the holidays has been EXHAUSTING. I don't know exactly why.
This year is getting long and difficult. I find myself with more and more work and I'm just eager to see the year end to finally say "pfiu, that's it, I DID it !!!!!!".
I didn't think the first year of full-time teaching would be so tiring.
I don't know what to do to be back in shape, to stop giving everything I have during the week and have wasted week-ends (because I spend my time resting then). If you have any tips, tell me... |
| | Two new lesson plans: WH- questions | 03 March 2007, 9:54 pm
Please go to the "lesson plans" section to check out the last two about WH-questions for lower levels: http://missteacher.ovh.org/beginner-lowerin/index.html
Winter holidays are over tomorrow. I'll be back to school on Monday !
Which means a lot of new lesson plans to come! |
| The website is open | 2 March 2007, 12:16 am
That's it!!!!! The website is officially open !
It's not finished though, I don't like the links page so much, I need to change it.
The "European Common Framework" page is still empty. As soon as I have some time, I'll work on it.
I posted all the lesson plans, more will come.
Keep coming on this page to see the last updates!
Have fun ! |
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|  | |  | | This website is made for teachers of English and more particularly, teachers of English in France.
As I write in English, teachers from around the world will be able to surf on this website but the lesson plans are in French.
It all started on http://missteacher.blogspirit.com .But as the disk space was full, I was forced to stop the blog and open this website.
The files and important things will be transferred to this site. For the rest, have a look on the blog. |
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