Yebba! They did it again.

I was impressed by my senior class’ performance in our English activity: producing a talk show. I divided the class into four groups last week and assigned them the task to create a talkshow based on the topic, “Crossroads Teenagers Face.”

Having held them by about two years now, I knew that had tendency to be passive and lax. I recall last year I tasked them to make a speech choir. And when they were about to perform, I noticed they were very, and did I say very, much ill-prepared. I burst out! I was expecting something neither really something extraordinary nor extravagant but just something they took time to sit down, study and rehearse. It was all I was after. But lo and behold: no props, no magic! I gave them all a much deserved Z-E-R-O for that activity.

And, so it wasn’t 7th heaven waiting for this day to come. I kept on reminding them and even had dedicated one day for the research at computer laboratory. I do believe in sources to substantiate any argument. I mean, there must always be a basis, isn’t it? I also have the auditorium reserved for this specific function because I want them to experience how is it to be up on stage talking and assuming other people’s chucks.

To cut this short, we had the stage set complete with lights and sounds (3 microphones and a wireless one), with laptops and LCD projector, with props and with a video camera. Only, there were no other audiences but the class.

What was exciting about this was that, people who are not used to talking suddenly talked and talked and talked. Though scripted, they still have taken effort to simulate with their character roles and to study their lines. They might miss some lines, but the hearing them speak or at least try to speak like they’re really native speakers of English was a plus point in itself.

I was really proud about how my students fared. This time around, they learned R-E-S-P-O-N-S-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y. Finally! Thank God… You are really working! Hahahaha…. Kidding! Let me just say, I am JUST a PROUD TEACHER---proud to have shared how it is not to settle for the ordinary. TG!