Enthusiasm

• Kindergarten to grade 3: students automatically enthusiastic
• Grade 4 to grade 9: students rarely enthusiastic
• Grade 10 to grade 13: students either raring to go and working on university and career, or spiraling downwards into McJobs and teen pregnancy.

Aren't sweeping generalizations fun?

I don't believe any of that, by the way. My original plan was to create some clear trend line that led up to explaining my students today. But I couldn't find the trend.

I am teaching a course (my last course, by the sounds of my new job's responsibilities) called Help Desk Analyst. It's designed to target the Help Desk Institute's Help Desk Analyst certification. It's fun, and requires no computers. It's all about improved communication and like. Problem is, it requires enthusiasm and participation.

I only have four students, in a course where it's common to split students into groups of four or six.

Two of the students are enthusiastic, totally into it, and are cooperating. Two however, are not terribly into being here. Not negative, just not participating or positive either. Not following instructions, and it feels a bit like pulling teeth to get answers to questions from them.

It does not help that the course is a little flutey. "Now tell the same story about a vacation, but only use 'sound' words." These guys are from National Defence, and just don't respond well to that. It's a stereotype for a reason, I guess.

Oh well, c'est la vie.

Martinis

Attention, attention: I am not going for martinis tonight. I'm tired and cranky*. That is all.

* Yes I know that calls for a martini. But whatever.

T

On Saturday, walking down Barrington Street* with leapfish, I spotted a t-shirt that made me laugh a lot, and once Vin had it explained, made him frown a lot.

I weigh the same
as a duck

* yes, the one in Hello City.