A(nother) Sharp Turn

Though I hold a degree in politics and international relations, my present activities relate more on the teaching of English and the development of the 'infrastructure' of that process. At a point in my life when I have to teach business management was the point when I had to make another sharp turn.

The year was 2003 and I was practically brand new in the office system. We got a request to teach writing for a bunch of managers who needed a good result to be able to get a higher position in their respective companies. Free writing? I like. Academic writing? It's painful but it's OK. Case study analysis?

It was like a nightmare on a bright sunny day. I had to roam through my brother's business management textbooks. At that time internet line was not as popular as today so that was not optional. In the end, I managed though sometimes I was lost of breath, eh, resources. Most case studies available are not free. And by the way, you have to pay in dollars.

Another request came along. And then another. And another. Probably not because I'm very good at what I do but because the fee for a session on this done by a professional would cost a fortune. In fact, I'm still enduring my ex-student's request now, at least until the end of the month.

Ever wonder what I've been teaching these people?
First, they have to know the 'how'.
Then they have to learn to comprehend the text by any means possible. The sample case studies can be found here and here. Sometimes the 'normal' reading comprehension techniques just don't work and I had to come up with a customized way based on their learning style, preferences and their tight schedule.

And then, the writing. If you say that this is the hardest thing to teach, tell me about it. And this client I have now doesn't even have any sense of what a complete sentence is supposed to look like. Conjunctions are beyond recognizable in her eyes. She once said that she could read, understand, or notice something only when she finds it interesting. Believe me when I say that it is hard to keep my eyes from popping out when she says those words. But she's an eager learner and I know she's tried real hard to achieve her own goal. I hope our effort do make good results in the end.