11 things blog challenge
JO from the My ELT Rambles blog nominated me to take part in this blog challenge. The rules are that you have to answer a set of questions, and then write some questions for other bloggers. I’d recommend that you check out Jo’s blog if you’re interested in English teaching. If you’re interested in all things girlie, check out her My Pink Rambles blog instead.
My answers
1. How do you spend your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my partner, family and friends – walking, working on my language skills, reading, playing games and befriending any dogs that I meet. Dogs can tell whether or not someone likes them and so we make friends quickly! Oh and I nearly forgot – cooking and shopping!
2. What’s your favourite song?
I don’t have one – it depends what mood I’m in and what I’m doing. Running to music makes me work harder, so I have a set of songs to which I like to work out.
3. What’s your favourite food?
Anything spicy – the more chilies, the better! My favourite drink is coffee, but I see that as more of a general necessity to get going in the morning and keep going throughout the day!
4. My guilty pleasure is…….. (fill in the sentence).
Chocolate!
5. Share a picture. What is it of (inspired by Clare)?
This picture was taken at Skansen, on an island near Stockholm, Sweden. I think that wolves are fascinating creatures and I am interested in learning more about them.
6. If you could go anywhere in the world to teach, where would you go and why?
I enjoy working at home in England and, as all of my English training takes place online, I can work with people anywhere in the world.
7. What’s your top tip for new teachers?
I’m a freelance teacher, so this is aimed at new freelance teachers. You need to be clear about the kind of work that you want to do, with whom you want to work and what makes you stand out from all the other offers of teaching. What makes you special? This will make it easier for you to be specific and clear about why people should choose your services and it’s much better than trying to offer everything to everyone.
8. What’s your top tip for teachers who feel burnt out?
Freelance teaching can be a lonely business, even if you spend your days talking to people. Try to find other people in the same position. Even if they offer some services that are similar to yours, you don’t need to see them as competition. Having the support of other teachers, or even other business owners, can be invaluable because it offers you another perspective on ideas, experience in areas that you may want to explore, a wider network, someone to help you celebrate when things go well, or cheer you up when things don’t go according to plan!
9. If I wasn’t an English teacher , I would be a/ an…….
Dog trainer! Although I suppose that by default that involves training people too, because often the problem isn’t at the dog’s end of the lead.
10. What’s the funniest thing that has happened during a lesson?
I was teaching a student and suddenly the Skype call ended. At first I thought there may have been a problem with the connection, so I just called her back. Apparently, the call had ended because her bird had flown down and landed on the iPad, hitting the “end call” button and putting an end to the English lesson. Clearly he didn’t find the lesson as interesting as my student! Maybe he thought that we’d been talking for long enough and it was time for him to get some attention!
11. Describe a typical work day.
There isn’t really a typical work day – it depends what’s in the diary. It is usually a mixture of teaching, creating content for my social media channels and online community, producing my podcast, networking, working on my website and keeping the finances in order. I have a spreadsheet for everything!
Now it’s my turn to ask the questions!
1. Which languages do you speak?
2. Tea or coffee, and why?
3. Who was your favourite teacher at school and why?
4. What was the last topic about which you blogged?
5. If you could only have three non-native apps on your phone, which would they be and why?
6. Do you listen to podcasts? If so, what are two of your favourites and why?
7. If you work for yourself, what’s your favourite aspect of running your own business?
8. What’s your favourite animal?
9. What food have you enjoyed recently? Feel free to share a recipe!
10. Countryside or seaside? Which do you prefer?
11. Which is your favourite social networking site and why?
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