specific measure of gobbledygook

specific measure of gobbledygook was my favourite sentence of tonights input session - or SMOG as it is formally known. Who would have guessed that gobbledygook would be a word I would be referencing and reading about! The weeks are rattling past and my learning curve is steep but enjoyable. I'm still enjoying myself, albeit still a tad worried that somehow i've missed out on a panic that should have settled in by now. Schema is another thing we are getting more and more involved in - what are schema, did you know there are different types. before tonight I was blissfully unaware and only churned out the sentence 'to activate schemata' as learnt in my CELTA from the dark and distant past. Whereas this evening I could even tell you the names of four which we discussed this evening. However I've yet to find full definitions for them despite using scholor google search. (cue gnashing of teeth) back to flicking through a mountain of books (sorry.... skimming!) My last post spoke of my PDA lesson observation, since then I've submitted my evalutation and recieved my feedback both in oral and written form. Am I still a good teacher, well yes I am. Are there areas that I could improve on. Definately and I now have some to include in my action plan PDA part 2. Was I surprised, shocked would have been more accurate. It seems my board work is not scrappy as I thought. Although my lesson timings are off as I suspected (or rather not suspected but damn well knew).But I did find I had committed a cardinal sin in my obs, thank god it was that lesson and not my assessed obs that counts towards my DELTA pass or fail. Would I like to get a Merit or Distinction, I would be liar if I said no, but in truth I doubt that I will achieve any - only time, hope, prayers and perhaps a miracle migh be necessary - or am I being too self harsh. As with I suspect most DELTA students I find it much easier to say which parts of my lesson I think were wrong, not good, could be improved upon. But I find it hard to cheer myself on and say this was good, I like that, blah blah... but it's something I can work on. I'm definately going to try taping myself in my lessons and see how that goes. Note to self, include in action plan. I'm now busily typing up my input notes from this evening. Looking at the PDA part two and thinking 'what do I actually believe' and already thinking ahead to my LSA1 and my experimental for my PDA. On a more immediate note I know I am tired tonight and know that having to work 2 jobs, where I'm currently doing 35 contact teaching hours including an ESP 1-2-1, AND a part-time job in retail, AND trying to fit in my DELTA is not helping but hey ho. The Bills don't pay themselves. So I will stop here, write more later in the week, and wish you good night. (N.B. my blog tells me that some people are in fact looking at my pages of drivel. I do welcome comments, as long as they are constructive or encouraging, so please feel confident and send me a line or six).