My current episodes of life (4)

September 16
According to Ma’s requirement, I made another two rehearsals in the multifunction hall in the morning with students from Classes 1 and 2, Senior 3 of my female colleague Cui Daorong. The two rehearsals went very well and smoothly, and I felt very confident in myself and the success of the coming open class.

And after those two rehearsals, I was very calm and full of faith and success. And the first time, it was not so hard for one to give a lesson in public places. On the contrary, I hoped its coming very much. That evening, I had a very gooooooood sleeeeeeeep.

September 17
Today I went to Linyi No.6 Middle School to show my open class.

My lesson today is a reading one of Texts one and two. I showed my two students in charge of English how to carry out my teaching plan and asked them to make the class in good order and maintain the class discipline. And I was also convinced that they were able to do it very well.

Then I waited for a short while in my caseroom before I received a telephone from my colleague Wang Xiuying to tell me to come to the school gate to gather for the start-off. At about 8:20 am, I started out in Wang’s private car together with my other colleagues Xu Baoguo, Zhang Qiuyun and Liu Qing.

At about 10 am, we all arrived at Linyi Hotel, and after checking in, I came to Room 411 and had a good rest and waited for the lunch time of 12 am. I lived with Hou Zhanling. At 2 pm, I got up and prepared to start off to Linyi No.6 Middle School.

At this seminar, there were three lessons. The first one was taught by Fan Jingzhi from Lanshan Tutorial School of College Entrance Examination. The second one was given by a teacher from Hedong District. I presented the third lesson at about 4:30 pm. At the very beginning of the meeting, all the teachers paid attention to the lesson, but after a short time, a loud noise arose from the teachers, and sometimes even influenced the students on the platform who were all from Lanshan Tutorial School, with 30 girls on the platform and other boys sitting beside the platform.

A short rest after the first two lessons, I began my open lesson at 4:40 pm. But before that, I had met with a little trouble that my mobile disk borrowed from Ma Baolong, my close male friend, did not work in the computer. Finally I had to go on internet to open my email box and again downloaded the powerpoint courseware.

To be honest, I did not feel any nervous or upset when I stood on the platform and began my teaching content. Ignoring all the teachers present below, I was absorbed in the teaching content and the students’s performance. I had to admit that that lesson was the best one including the four rehearsals. I finished all the teaching content in the limited time of 45 minutes.

And then three of us had several minutes to explain about each other’s lesson. At 6 pm, the meeting ended successfully. At 6:30 pm, I arrived the bus stop and luckily caught the last bus to Tancheng. After 75 minutes, I reached Tancheng and got off at the crossing, and then walked home happily.

I must admit that I had spent the most difficult 19 days since I worked as a teacher in September, 1991. But I also must admit that all that benefited me a lot and that experience made me braver and more confident than ever.

I was very lucky that I came across my deskmate Liu Zhengxiang. Since we graduated from Linyi Teachers’ College, we did not see each other for 18 years. We were all very happy and excited to see each other on this special occasion. In front of the platform, we had a gooooood chat about what we were interested in most. Because it was time for me to prepare my lesson, we had to stop our pleasing chat. After the meeting, I was so busy to return home, so I couldn’t meet him again. But I know he is working in Yishui No.2 Middle School, and I decide to get in touch with hime after my advanced title assessment.