Occurred to me recently that in many ways some of my EFL colleagues down the years can be likened unto footballer types - see if you can recognise any of these:

The David Ginola/Matt Le Tissier

So talented the sod could saw it off in spades. Effortless classroom management skills and has the students rapt in awe. The guys love him, the birds fancy him and mere mortal TEFlers are constantly narked by the squeals of laughter from his classroom. Lazy bugger though, doesn’t do a stick of prep. Everything’s internalised and slick. On form, he’s a dazzler. On an off day, or confronted by a squad of unamused Swiss students, you’d have to wipe him up off the floor when the laughter stops…

The Gary Neville

Completely the opposite of Le Diveur or Le Tiss. CELTA or DELTA hard earned by graft and relentless masochistic dedication. Complete personality bypass compensated for by rigorous prep and has the photocopier burnmarks to prove it. Few complaints from the students though, unless he has the misfortune to follow on from a course delivered by the flair players like those above.

The George Best

Slight variation of Le Ginola when he turns up. Brilliant in the classroom, the life and soul down the pub and chatter-upper of gorgeous women par excellence. Just make sure your cover teacher is on red alert…

The Bryan Robson

DoS’s wet dream. All Gary’s industry and a fair bit of Davide’s charisma. Your school is just a stepping stone to greater things. Enjoy all those positive feedback sheets while you can and hope he’ll give you an honourable mention in the first of his many publications.

The Jean Alain Boumsong

Slipped through the net, this one. Good refs, nice CV and talks a good game but hopelessly crap and must be a friend of a friend of the Boss..

For anybody who read one of my earlier posts about Sandy McManus and tried to click on what are now dead links both to his former site and also his hilarious post on summer schools, I am happy to report that the ace blogger is back and back on form! You can find the address below.

He has reposted the article I mentioned on his new site and does me the honour of inverting my last post on how to do DoS observations (cheeky sod!) to illustrate how these obs sessions are actually performed by many! Having been given a few scorchings in my time, reading this brings back a few painful memories….

Sandy’s New site:

http://tefltradesman.blogspot.com. Or just click on Sandy McManus on the blogroll down a bit and on the right of my blog.