Rio de Janeiro: 30 degrees, hot and sunny.
It is extremely hot, hotter than usual for this time of year. Yesterday, it was unofficially registered at over 40 degrees; today, it has been no different.
I had a dentist appointment for six in the evening, I had to cancel three classes for this appointment as it would be the last session with the dentist before travelling. However, his secretary, Malu, sent me a message at the last minute cancelling. I tried to reconfirm the cancelled classes, but I think nobody wanted to have them as it is the eve of the second of three bank holidays this month.
I don’t like cancelling classes! If a pupil needs to cancel a class, it is their prerogative, not the teacher’s. Over the years, I have observed that many teachers do not work in a professionally organised manner. They start well, delivering classes and doing everything right, but after some time, they begin to relax by missing or cancelling classes, arriving late, or lacking the same motivation and discipline as at the beginning.
It is easy to start with a new pupil; however, keeping that pupil for a long time is much more difficult to maintain the same level of professionalism and discipline. I have pupils who have been with me for years and years, and even though we have formed a friendship, I still know the limit, the line where if we pass everything becomes unclear, which results in losing the pupil, and in turn, money.
I have based my classes around three parameters over the years: entertainment, quality, and reliability.
- Entertainment is essential since everyone desires to be entertained and engaged, even while learning. Thus, the class must be engaging, humorous, enjoyable, but not boring.
- Quality is found in the class and the teacher, either in the methodology, style, or the quality of the teacher’s knowledge and craft. It also encompasses the execution of the class, and the didactic materials used.
- Reliability in a teacher entails being dependable and professional, ensuring that students are never let down. This includes punctuality for classes, seldom cancelling lessons, and delivering what is promised. It is illogical to be regarded as a good teacher, providing valuable lessons with effective material, while lacking reliability; if a teacher is unreliable, their pupils cannot trust them.
Maybe these teaching guidelines can be used in other areas of life, but it is a question of good common sense, and this seems to be lacking more and more in the modern world today. The funny thing is that people always have an excuse for not using it! There are always excuses to go or do or commit the opposite of common sense, tending to want to do the wrong thing.
If common sense is logical and obvious, then doing the wrong thing should also be evident and apparent. However, people often overlook this aspect, avoiding accountability for their mistakes and concealing their inclination to act wrongly, accompanied by a lack of transparency and falsity.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where common sense, pragmatism, and the basic principles of doing what is right are less clear than in the past.
Having been a teacher for many years has greatly assisted me in navigating the challenges of living in Brazil, a country that can be quite aggressive. At the same time, it has allowed me to fulfill my responsibilities as a father to my daughters. This experience has taught me the value of humility, discipline, and the importance of using good common sense to work and thrive.
Common sense serves as the foundation for every aspect of our lives. Without it, both our personal and professional lives can quickly become chaotic. When we discuss intuitively making decisions or solving problems, common sense is a crucial factor. In its absence, even simple tasks, like changing a light bulb, can become challenging.
Unfortunately, I know some highly qualified academics who lack common sense, which sometimes makes them complicated or difficult to work with. Although we may be extremely capable in terms of earning power, this can make us less competitive and efficient in an ever-evolving society.
Never be afraid to demonstrate, use, deploy, and apply common sense when you feel it is necessary. Not only does it benefit yourself and others, but many lack it, so don’t hesitate to use it.
In the late evening, it started to rain heavily and continued for quite some time. Typically, after very hot days, there is a tropical shower either in the evening or at night. Sometimes, this shower helps cool things down, especially for the following day. If we’re lucky, the cooling effect can last all day, but usually, it only lasts a couple of hours before the heat rises again, as if the oven has been turned on.
Nalva cooked a risotto before going to bed. I hadn’t planned to eat anything, but her risottos are delicious. Yasmin is still being complicated with me; I don’t know how long this will last. Sometimes it hurts, and sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s just how it is. We’ll see what happens!
In bed by 9.15 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
