I texted an ex-colleague about feeling exhausted after teaching a mature student, because she kept mis-hearing the sounds, so I had to shout down the WiFi line.
The ex-colleague said to let the student make the mistake 10 times before correcting her — such is her own experience with teaching elderly students.
I replied that I worry if I let them say the wrong thing 10 times, it might stick.
The ex-colleague said, “Don’t worry, I found they can’t even remember the wrong version😂😂😂”
(London, 2021)
PS: This same student used to live in Notting Hill until Brexit spooked her and she moved back to Paris where she has family to look after her, so I’m pleased for her. A few years ago, I said to her, “I’ve got to the point in my life where it takes me about a day or two to recall something.” She said, “At least it comes at all!!” As an American student once said when I told him I was looking after my 84-year-old ex-teacher, back in 1996, “It’s tough getting old!” Yes, I can certainly empathise now…
