Best Way to Keep Yourself Sane and Happy with the Classes You Hate

Some classes are truly awful; you hate the students, you’re bored by the lesson content and you’re stuck with them for a whole three terms. Unfortunately, you can’t just pick and choose the classes you want to teach, and ignore those that you don’t. However you feel about a particular class, it is up to you to remain professional at all times. Instead of dreading your least-favoured classes, do as much as you can to make your times together fun and educational.

If you really do hate a particular class, be aware that it is highly likely you are giving off “hate vibes” which your students will pick up on. Emotions can be contagious. Any hostility you have towards the class will only be mirrored back towards you. Not only that, perhaps if you stop and consider why you hate the class, you may find that it is really only a few individuals who annoy you the most, rather than the entire bunch.

Keep yourself sane and happy by always putting a positive spin on things. Remember:

• A professional is a skilled practitioner and expert. Always remain focused and conduct yourself in a professional manner, regardless of how you may feel inside!
• It is easy to get angry and wound up. It is much harder to remain calm and clear-headed. Don’t succumb to negative emotions just because of a few, silly individuals. Always focus on the positives and the ‘good’ members of the class.
• Don’t harbour grudges; start each day and each lesson with a clean slate. Especially do not take a personal dislike to individuals however much they might wind you up.
• If it is the subject content that is making you stressed out, ask for help and advice from other teachers who are teaching the same or similar subjects. Try to find new and different ways of teaching a ‘boring’ subject. Don’t forget, if you’re bored by what you teach, your teaching styles are no doubt boring too. This in turn will equate to a very bored, and most likely disruptive, class.
• If you have been lumbered with the class due to supply or cover duty, keep in mind that they are not your usual class, and that after a specific time period you can walk away and forget them!