Marion: My classes are quite good at the moment. I'm enjoying them. I work in a junior high school and high school together, so my students range from twelve years old right up to eighteen.
Todd: What do you teach your students?
Marion: It teach them English.
Todd: Really.
Marion: Yeah, so communication basically.
Todd: OK, so are they good students? You got nice kids?
Marion: I have a mixuture so, but mainly they're quite good children. They're mostly very nice, but there are always going to be a few who are a bit naughty.
Todd: So what do the naughty students do to be naughty?
Marion: Well, in my class naughty students don't pay attention when I speak sometimes, or they talk to their friend next to them when they should be listening or writing or doing something else. I don't mind if they talk to each other about what we're doing but if they are talking about what was on TV last night so something like that I don't like it, unless they do it in English. If they can that's fine.
Todd: Well, what do you do if your students are bad, are naughty? How do you discipline them?
Marion: I hit them....No, I don't.
Todd: You do not.
Marion: I'm joking, I'm joking. Well, I have quite small classes, so it's quite easy. I'll just either call their name or walk down to their seat and if everybody is working on something, I'll talk to them about their work and see what they're doing, if they have any problems, that kind of thing and then if it gets worse, then sometimes they have to stand up, or if they are really, really naughty, and don't do any work, they'll have to come back and see me after school, and finish their work, then.
Todd: So are you a strict teacher or a friendly teacher?
Marion: I'm more of a friendly teacher, but with a couple of classes, I've become a strict teacher because I have to be, but mostly a friendly teacher I think.
Todd: Who are easier to teach, the junior high students or the high school students?
Marion: Probably the junior high because their more enthusiastic about English. They get quite excited about coming to our classes, and like I said they are small classes so it's easier and better for them to because they have more chance to speak and to use English.
at the moment
My classes are quite good at the moment.
The phrase 'at the moment' is similar in meaning to 'right now'. Notice the following:
- I am quite busy at the moment.
- He is not here at the moment. Can I take a message?
range from ... right up to
My students range from twelve years old right up to eighteen.
Here, the word 'range' means a set of things from the lowest to the highest number. Notice the following:
- Prices range from a 100 dollars a night right up to 1,000 dollars a night.
- Salaries range from $35,000 a year for a clerk (right up) to $75,000 a year for a supervisor.
basically
I teach them communication basically.
The word 'basically' is used when we talk about a main idea, not about details. Notice the following:
- This letter basically means you must appear in court.
- I quit my job basically because I was bored with it.
naughty
There is always going to be a few who are a bit naughty.
Naughty children don't listen to their parents or teachers. Notice the following
- My brother was always naughty in school.
- If you are naughty, you will not get dessert.
to discipline
How do you discipline them?
Here, 'discipline' has the same meaning as 'punish'. Notice the following:
- The class was disciplined for talking. They were given extra homework.
- Reseach shows hitting children is not an effective way to discipline them.
Vocabulary Quiz
naughty • discipline