Teaching can at times feel like Tartarus. Specifically, Sisyphus. You struggle and struggle to get the students higher up the steep mountain that is learning- especially learning English- and when you think they've got to the top of the molehill you're trying to reach the summit of, they roll right back down to the bottom and you have to try again.

Today is not one of those days. Today I've had the joy of the 'aahhhh' of realisation, and it hasn't been followed by my discovering that though they think they've understood something, they've got it totally wrong. The weaker students have persevered and it has paid off wonderfully- a student who could barely use a mouse at the start of the year is quietly and happily putting together a Powerpoint presentation about her family. She's got the hang of what to write on the slides- basic facts not lots of detail- and is using the title and text boxes. It's very satisfying.

Which is nice, on my birthday.

Also, the lady who came into my class on Wednesday? Apparently it's a compliment that she's got to come to my classes, because she's had a couple of bad observations and is shadowing people for best practice. Very flattering, I just hope that seeing me will actually be a positive thing...