How to become a Chinese teacher?

How to become friends with my teacher?

• I am taking a teaching assistant course. So i am a student helping out a teacher in a class of younger age. I am in grade 11 assisting a teacher in a gym class. The students are in grade 10. I am basically a mentor to the students in the class and i help with drills and stuff. The teacher i am assisting does not like me at all. I do what he says and i am usually there (its first period which is at 8:35am) and im on time almost every day. I think im very helpful but the teacher and i dont get along. I probably say about 2 words to him the entire class. I am a very awkward and low self esteem person in the mornings. I become more social and confident as the day goes on. Anyways i want to be friends with my mentor teacher but i find him a little intimidating and im not communicative at all in the mornings. All the other kids taking the teacher assistant course joke around with their teacher and smile all the time, and i want to have a relationship like this with mine to make it less stressful. What should i do? thanks guys

• Answer:

  Hi Jordan, It's a good thing that you are aware of this potentially awkward situation and want to find a solution to it. Are you an athlete? If not, that is physically an easy way for the teacher to target you. That being said, you do not need to go and try out for a school sports team. Here are alternative solutions: "I am usually there": Uh-oh, what aren't you "always" there? You are supposed to be in class on time, even when it's early at 8:35 AM, so you should work harder to try to get to this class on time so it shows respect to this teacher you are assisting. "I'm on time almost every day": Same as above. Try to turn that "almost" into "always". "I probably say about 2 words to him the entire class." Mr. P (I don't know your teacher's last name, so I will just use Mr. P as a substitute.). That's 2 words. We know that is definitely not a lot. Ask him how his day was, how his weekend was (if on Monday), if he is looking forward to the next weekend (if on Friday). Ask him what he thought about a game that aired last night, or a game that will be taking place soon. Try to find out what he is interested in, either by directly asking him, or by asking people who know him better (ex: maybe other gym class instructors, previous teaching assistants, school counselors possibily.) Even if you aren't interested in the same things, try to be. If you don't want to have a deep conversation with him, try to just simply ask questions about him. Example: Why did you decide to become a gym class teacher? [listen to Mr. P's response]. Okay, that's interesting. That's just what I was curious about. Thank you. Other Questions: What's your favorite sport? What's your favorite sports team? What are some of your other interests? (If it's pre-holiday season) What are your plans for the holidays? (Follow up question: Will you be spending time with your family?) Have mini 1-2 question interviews with him once or twice a week. If he likes it, you can talk more! If not, then only once a week because you may appear to be annoying/rude. Cheesier/More "Questionable" method: Buy him gifts AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES OF THE YEAR. (i.e. Thanksgiving, holiday season, welcome back from winter break, before and after spring break). Obviously, don't overdo this because you'll look like a "suck up". (Not that this should matter, but it is a "safety net" reliever. Most teaching assistant courses don't count for much of anything. Check with your academic counselor/adviser to see if your grade in the class matters.) Hope you develop a better relationship with your teacher that you are assisting! Best, Kenny0