21. Blackboard activity:

• Come up to the board, (if the teacher is at his/her desk). Will you please go to the board? (If the teacher is somewhere in the middle or at the back of the classroom). I’m afraid we’ve ran out of chalk. Could you fetch me the chalk, please? Will you clean the board? Not with your fingers. Use the duster/sponge. Go and wet the cloth, please.

22. Setting homework!

• Please, take down (write down) what I want you to do for homework. Today I’m not going to set you any homework. That’s the bell. Don’t forget there’s Parents’ Evening on Thursday. Good-bye, everybody. Till Monday, then. See on Monday. Have a nice week-end.

23. Teacher’s report (A teacher is writing in his mark-book or informing the pupils):

• He is a very good all-round pupil.

• Good at English. She’s been working so hard.

• She’s the best in the class. There’s no one else in the same street.

• He’s a plodder, he works hard, he does his homework regularly. I will give him a good mark and his behaviour is excellent.

• Her English is rather poor, but she works hard. I’d give her satisfactory, I reckon.

• He is well below average, too. He seems to have no grasp of English at all. Maybe I’ll drop a hint to his parents.

• He’s rather lazy. At first he makes a fairly good impression for he’s always ready with an answer of sorts. But there’s no depth to him; he never troubles to use his head. I’d mark him satisfactory.

• He’s a sound pupil. Intelligent and works well. I’d mark him good.

• She’s bright. Thinks for herself, too. Her progress in English is good. She’s above average. I’m very satisfied with her on the whole.

• She should work hard. If she really doesn’t work hard, that won t get her very far.

• He’s making progress. It’s up to him.

24. Bad behaviour:

• Well my lad, it’s high time you and I had a little chat. You have been making a complete nuisance of yourself in class recently. Wherever there’s been trouble, you’ve been the ringleader. Warnings and punishments don’t seem to have slightest effect on you. Have you any explanation to offer for your conduct? Well, think it over now. I’m going to give you one last chance to sort yourself out. Stop fooling around in class. Do you promise?

25. Poor success in studies:

• Well, it’s high time you and I had a little chat, my girl. You are no good at school-work. Your work is anything but satisfactory. Your average mark this term was one of the lowest in the class. I want a promise from you that you’ll try to mend your ways. Do some honest work for a change. Well, remember you are on probation. Off you go now, and don’t forget your promise.

26. A word of advice to a green teacher from a colleague as an old hand at teaching:

• As an old hand at teaching, may I give you a word of advice? The first day your students will be trying you out, probing for your weaknesses.

• Clever little friends they are at it, too.

• New teachers often err by being over-friendly at first or else over-strict.

• Be firm but not harsh with them, to begin with, the friendly footing will develop as you get to know one another.

• Keep your sense of humor and perspective and never lose your temper.

• Above all, the secret of good discipline in the class-room is to keep your class interested and working with you. That needs a great deal of enthusiasm, understanding and preparation. If a class get out of hand, then ten to one the teacher is to blame. A dull boring teacher is bound to have a restless, indifferent class.