And so the Last Bells have rung for the final time...for 4AB - The Riders On The Storm, The Angry Dumplings, Mr E's Army, and the Clever Sardines...for 8A - The Dirty Dancers, and Error In The Matrix...for 8B - SG-1, and Mary's Strawberries...and for 6AF - The Incredible Jets.
No more lessons. No more class dynamics (of which there were a few!). Certain characters I will teach no more...some, hopefully many, I hope to keep in touch with.
It is a strange feeling for me, personally. I usually only get to know some students for about 2 years maximum, although the introduction of the English Club allows that time to increase a little. But one or two years here at SGO goes very quickly, and before I know it, I'm working with a whole new set of classes.
I guess over the years I must have met easily over a 1,000 students by now, if not well on for 1,500! And there are many who leave their mark on me, for different reasons...
But just to name a few:
Martin Krobot - the English Machine!
Radovan Krejcir - famous for 'What was the question?' :-)
Tomas Zdrazil - who wrote me an amazing poem ;-)
Pavel Lexmaul - who seemed to have the concentration span of a fish at times...and yet is a very talented pianist...
Lada Smejkalova - whose English has improved a lot in the time I have known her, and who I think can become a very good writer...
Petr Gavlik - who also wrote me a great poem! ;-)
Eva Zdrahalova - there are MANY smiling students, but Eva has a sunshine smile! :D
Honza Smejkal - I shall never forget his part in Whose Line Is It Anyway? I think he had lost the plot, let alone his line! :-)
Lucie Bednarova & Hana Cukrova - for the feedback from the Wednesday Lunchtime Conversation theme!
David Novak - and his love for penguins ;-)
Honza Polach - another English Machine - an awesome performance in the ELSA exams, which meant a lot to us as teachers as we had to fight to get it (with a management which is heavily influenced by Maths & Science). Pity he supports such a lousy football club!
Anna Proskova - 2nd only to Honza in ELSA - but a top student & Regent in ISLI :-)
Kuba Zezula - for chuntering away with Honza P in the seminars...a right pair of 'gas bags'! :-)
Vit Zdenek - for his sharp wit, blunt tongue...and his line "Why not?" (he has the copyright for this!)
Karolina Ailova - because I rarely saw her! With an attendance record of 10/26, she is 2nd only to the legendary Martin Lehecka (4D).
Dave Do Anh Duc - because of his respect, enthusiasm, fun & love of life...and because as a foreigner here in CR, we have something in common ;-)
Martin Lach - the Human Labrador - he has almost the same expression for any emotion :-)
Johanka Simkova - who bought me chocolate from nearly every country that she went to during her travels...I don't think any student has given me so much chocolate in my time here! A legend!
Jirka Eichler - another one who used the line 'What was the question?' a lot... ;-)
Filip Harna - for looking like Europe and as if he's going to sing 'It's the Final Countdown!'
Johnny Jorenek - for telling some funny stories :-)
David Bily - for his awesome French accent :-)
Betty Klatova - for being a ball of sunshine!
Pavla Koprivova - for an awesome concert!
Milan 'M' Lancaric - for just being 'M' ;-)
Neo Sukenik - for the story about the T-shirt!! Helped me to understand Czech mentality a lot!
Eva Tichakova - for her love of the Beatles :-) (& also for Alda, who was also a top student!)
If your name is not there, don't feel so bad...I generally have good memories about most of the students that I work with...and I'm amazed that over the years I can still remember people's names.
In closing - this has been another special year for me - top classes! I am truly blessed & privileged to work with such a great number of talented & respectful students.
THANK YOU!!
It makes my job a joy to do.
Mr E
