english teacher time management
Tune in Tokyo is hosting this month's Japan Blog Matsuri and the theme is living on a budget in Japan.
As an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), time is a precious commodity. Sometimes I have 6 classes in a day which give me little time with which to get on with my own work. To be honest, one of the main perks of an ALT lifestyle is the amount of free time we usually have. So days when I have six classes on leaves me with the feeling, don't they know I've got stuff to be getting on with?!
Today I don't actually have any classes as it's a test day. Nothing like a test to make a kid who isn't all that interested to feel like a failure!
Often on days like these I have ended up being so un-productive it is embarrassing. However, now to avoid just randomly surfing the internet while drinking copious amounts of coffee, at the start of the day whether I have a load of classes or not, I just make a note of a few things I want to work on. If I get anything on the list completed then I have been productive. Rather than be disappointed if I don't complete all the tasks on my list, I am happy if I manage to finish at least one. As I am in the process of becoming more productive, I find success snowballs.
The more you do, the more you get done!
Having a to do list is not particularly original and I don't claim to be. I just find it an effective way to manage my time. When I began my ALT "career" I often felt frustrated at the lack of classroom teaching opportunities I was given. Then I started to realize that I shouldn't wait to be given anything. If I want to do something I simply have to get in there and do it.
ALT time management plays an important part in my job satisfaction. As long as I don't waste time, I can get at least an hour or so of blogging in while at work; keep on top of my emails and stay in touch with my friends back home on Facebook; also there is the benefit of being paid to workout by doing sports at club time.
This productivity of my own stuff while at work is great for freeing up time after work! But that's another story...
18.06.2009. 20:02
Comments
I don't mind 1 or 2 packed days as long I get more free time off
In the past when I've had loads of free time at work if I didn't budget my time accordingly, I could waste a whole day.
Two free periods a day (1st or 2nd period + another one) is optimal for me. Means I can focus during my free time and get things done.
Excellent advice. In our weekly ALT meetings, I always listened to these whinging idiots say how boring school is because they have nothing to do - boredom has nothing to do with your surroundings, it has everything to do with the BORING PERSON who is complaining. Snowballing little things on a to-do list is a wonderful way to get productive, and really there is so much we can be getting on with if we just put our mind to it!
Nicely done. I agree.
This sounds like some of my days at work. Especially during holiday season.
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