Category Archives: Teaching
Full of Win
My high-school students had the word fiasco on their vocab list today. I asked if anyone already knew the meaning, and they defined it as epic fail.
This Is Just How Caesar’s Legions Got Started
My morning before class started with sleeping through the alarm, and as always, rushing set off a series of other minor catastrophes. When I saw the No Left Turn – Train sign by Chapel Hill Road, I realized I’d have to teleport … Continue reading
Travians on SeeJaneGame
I have a review of the addictive little browser game Travians up over on SeeJaneGame: The game opens with a message from your Travian’s uncle Horatio, asking you to come and help him with the ancestral estate. As he sends … Continue reading
Kids Today!
On Saturday, I gave my students at Chinese school a writing assignment. They were asked to imagine that ten years have passed and they’ve become hugely successful in their chosen field. They’re so successful, in fact, that they’ve been invited … Continue reading
Be Prepared
I don’t mean to sound like a bitter old schoolmarm, but when did it become the teacher’s job to stop lessons to provide supplies? I remember forgetting my pen or pencil and asking to borrow one in whispers, hoping my … Continue reading
American Mei You
I planned to write a post about starting a job today, teaching SAT prep. Towards the end of the job interview, when we were talking about where to park and what time to arrive, the main teacher (I’m the assistant) … Continue reading
Who Do You Love?
I played a round of Who Do You Love? with my students on Friday. You put the chairs in a circle so almost everyone can sit down, and one person is left standing in the middle. The person in the … Continue reading
Reasons To Work In China
In the belief that such things are very Western, my school encourages me to wear jeans, sneakers and t-shirts to work. Subscribe to Violet Eclipse by Email
My Sister The Pirate
My sister Bethie just returned from three months of sailing the high seas, so naturally when I got to talk to her tonight, I asked her all about her pirate life. “Did you call your friends, ‘me hearties’? Do you … Continue reading
English Assignment
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