A LETTER TO A TEACHER Dear Mrs D I write you to hell because I'm sure that's where you are now, after having tortured generations and generations of math pupils I'm sure you'll remember me My maiden name was Silvia P., one of your favourites, as you told my father But let's start from the beginning Every day you entered the classroom, the whole class stood quiet That was our greeting Then, when you ordered, I sat, eyes down I wanted to vanish, I always hoped not to be noticed You looked around I was behind my desk like a little mouse waiting for the attack of the cat "God, let her not notice me, let her call another girl to the blackboard", I prayed Then the thunder: "P to the board" I began to shake, my eyes filled with tears, but you didn't care There I was, at the blackboard, ready to fight with my enemies It wasn't fair, there were two against one: The formulas and YOU who should have been my ally to master the numbers and the problems I felt betrayed You were on their side and they defeated me systematically Vanquished I got back to my seat, crying And you didn't care The funniest thing is that you said to my father that you did all this because you loved me, because you found me intelligent and that this was the only way to make me understand and love math You were wrong Not only I hate math, but also am I unable today to perform the easiest math problem Do you believe that I can't solve an equation? And now comes my surprise Against all the odds, I'm a teacher now, and I think a pretty good one Don't be afraid, I'm not a math teacher, but a language teacher "So, will you ask yourself " why hasn't she written to her French teacher whom she must haven taken as a model?" I'll answer you dear Mrs D You have been my model You weren't successful with maths, but I have learnt how NOT to teach! And I 'm really thankful Sincerely yours Silvia Answer the question about the text Why you think the author is writing to her former teacher? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… How does the author characterize her math teacher? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Why was the author afraid to be called to the board? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… What did the teacher tell Silvia’s father? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Did the pupil learn to solve the math problems? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… What is her occupation today? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Why does she thank the teacher? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Giaoandethitienganh.info Answer the questions about yourself What was your favourite teacher when you were at school? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What did (s)he teach? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Why did you like that teacher? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Was the subject (s)he taught your favourite one? Why? Why not? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What subjects were you good at? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What teacher didn’t you like? Why? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Did you have problems with a teacher? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What kind of problems? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What is or job today? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Have you ever considered to be a teacher? Why? Why not? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Write a letter to one of your high school teachers It can be a beloved or a hated one Giaoandethitienganh.info ... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What is or job today? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Have you ever considered to be a teacher? Why? Why not? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Write a letter to one of...Answer the questions about yourself What was your favourite teacher when you were at school? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What did (s)he teach? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Write a letter to one of your high school teachers It can be a beloved or a hated one Giaoandethitienganh.info