Teachers’ desk:
Jan 06, 2009
<b>Make the most of your holiday</b><br>It is a month to the beginning of the term and some of you may be as idle as your students. If this is the case, here are tips to help you make the most of your holiday:
Make the most of your holiday
It is a month to the beginning of the term and some of you may be as idle as your students. If this is the case, here are tips to help you make the most of your holiday:
Read
I like to collect books during the term for reading during the holiday. There is no better feeling than to complete a wonderful book. There are many books on inspiration, self-motivation and religion. I just completed The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch, and I intend to embark on Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.
Learn something new
Learning is a lifelong process so you cannot be too old to learn. Learn a new language, local or international. Other skills to learn include computer, cooking, driving and public speaking. The artistic ones could go for reading sheet music or playing an instrument.
Business
This seems daunting when you consider the start-up capital. However, a business cannot take off in one day. Start small and be committed to watch it grow. Consult other people who are already in the business of your interest. Some teachers I know are rearing chicken. One uses his car for special hire business. You could also invest in the stock market.
Meet people
Widen your social circle. Parties are good opportunities to make connections that might help in future. Church is another place to make new friends.
Review yourself
Analyse how you have performed in the last year. Candidates’ results are not yet out, but you could still be objectively fair to yourself: How effective were your teaching methods? Were students generally attentive or were you almost thrown out of the classroom? When did you last update your notes? Are you still using notes from campus? What were your achievements and failures? Where can you improve and what should you abandon?
Decide
What you do today will determine where you will be tomorrow. Write down the things you want to do this holiday and tick them off as you achieve them. Set weekly and daily goals and always review your progress.
Travel
Do this only if funds are available.
Quote of the day:
Modern cynics and skeptics see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust care of their plumbing — John F. Kennedy.
It is a month to the beginning of the term and some of you may be as idle as your students. If this is the case, here are tips to help you make the most of your holiday:
Read
I like to collect books during the term for reading during the holiday. There is no better feeling than to complete a wonderful book. There are many books on inspiration, self-motivation and religion. I just completed The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch, and I intend to embark on Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.
Learn something new
Learning is a lifelong process so you cannot be too old to learn. Learn a new language, local or international. Other skills to learn include computer, cooking, driving and public speaking. The artistic ones could go for reading sheet music or playing an instrument.
Business
This seems daunting when you consider the start-up capital. However, a business cannot take off in one day. Start small and be committed to watch it grow. Consult other people who are already in the business of your interest. Some teachers I know are rearing chicken. One uses his car for special hire business. You could also invest in the stock market.
Meet people
Widen your social circle. Parties are good opportunities to make connections that might help in future. Church is another place to make new friends.
Review yourself
Analyse how you have performed in the last year. Candidates’ results are not yet out, but you could still be objectively fair to yourself: How effective were your teaching methods? Were students generally attentive or were you almost thrown out of the classroom? When did you last update your notes? Are you still using notes from campus? What were your achievements and failures? Where can you improve and what should you abandon?
Decide
What you do today will determine where you will be tomorrow. Write down the things you want to do this holiday and tick them off as you achieve them. Set weekly and daily goals and always review your progress.
Travel
Do this only if funds are available.
Quote of the day:
Modern cynics and skeptics see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust care of their plumbing — John F. Kennedy.