Future seminars that I am working on...

Very often, during or after a lesson, I get inspiration about exploring a certain topic...I reckon I need to write them down, perhaps as a reminder for myself, but maybe to provoke some feedback from any readers ;-)So, here goes...

Driving in Czech Republic:
I really think that such a topic is worthwhile, especially considering the apparent lawless attitude expressed by many drivers here - speeding, dangerous manoeuvers, selfishness, impatience, arrongance... Is the driving a reflection of the Czech character?

Why do students cheat?:
Indeed, why does anyone cheat? :-) What does cheating prove? Logic tells you 'nothing', only that you can cheat (though some are not always good at it!) - what does it profit a student if they cheat their way through their studies, get their diplomas etc...and then what? Everything is so false... Is there no actual value in studying anymore? :-)

The Soundtrack of your Life:
As I grow older, I realise that various stages of my life are connected with a certain song or piece of music. I think this would be a great lesson, even for young people, in which to express themselves in an imaginative way...maybe it's the tune, the lyrics, or just the 'feel' of the song at a particular time...? My sister, Gail, knew she was going to die (of cancer) & chose 3 songs for her funeral service, and believe me, for those of us who knew her, it WAS powerful...

Laziness:
Not just from a students point of view (though that is where I see the biggest evidence of this malaise!), but generally. What, if anything, can be done about it? Why is it so hard to fight it? To date, I've only ever heard one man (a preacher, and he was very good!) speak about it...and it touched a nerve in me & I believe such a message is important, especially for young lives...

There might be more ideas floating around in Clive-Space...but these will keep my juices going for now...I've got something to work on! :-)

When a man loses the will to live...

With each of my classes, I always begin the lesson by asking 'Tell me something interesting...' - some students struggle to find anything of interest in their lives (though sometimes with a gentle 'squeeze' from their friendly English teacher, something comes out of the toothpaste tube that is their memory!), some tell me something funny...and once in a while something 'hits you'. Such was the case this week with one of my younger classes. A young girl told me that her grandfather had died...at the age of 65. I commented that is was a fairly young age to die. She related how his wife had died back in August of cancer...barely 2-3 months ago. It seems that his whole world literally fell apart, for he took to drinking heavily & his health deteriorated...and then suddenly died.

Hearing this sad tale, I was reminded of something my wife told me from her job. When a man is told that he has cancer, the majority of them seem to give up completely and die without much fight...whereas women show more grit & determination & often live much longer than they were expected to. Indeed, I've come across such stories in some books too.

No easy answers...but I wonder why that is?