I still remember the first day in one private school in Jordan. It was a funny experience for me. I was interested and enthusiastic to teach English to adults students. It was a listening class where I have to take the students to the computer lab. I took the key from the principal and informed him that we had a listening class. In the lab as usual I started with an introduction on how to use the computer. A little while later I noticed that two students were not paying any attention to me. I went to see what was going on. I was surprised to find that they were playing games - The two students were staring horrified, so I decided not to scold them and take it easy.
I started playing the game and asked one of them to join the challenge for two labs. At this moment the whole class gathered around us and started backing-me-up saying: TEACHER! TEACHER! TEACHER! Their sounds were too loud but I couldn't recognized that because of my full concentration on the game, before I crossed the end there was a silence, then I jumped happily in the air saying: YES! I DID IT! I WON THE RACE!
I turned my back to see the principal staring with rounded eyes at me. I didn't know what to say? I was embarrassed then he said, 'What an efficient listening class.'
After the class he called me at his room and started blaming me for what I had done, my face was totally red.
This was unforgettable event in my teaching experience.
From Jordan

First day slip up

It was my first working day in a very prestigious secondary school. I was rather nervous. I was young and looked quite childish so many students pushed me in the corridor mistaking me for another student. I tried to look serious, checked all my buttons, hair and bravely entered into the classroom. Everybody stood up staring at me, trying to guess what kind of teacher I was - a good or a strict one?
Then, something terrible happened. There was some water on the floor and while I was treading towards my table I slipped and fell down with all my books and other teacher's stuff. I felt terribly embarrassed and all the students were silent - they did not know what to do since they didn't know me.
I quickly stood up, collected my belongings completely red in the face and said: "OK, it is not a good start, but I hope it will get better!" Then, everybody laughed and we were ready to go on with our lesson.
From Croatia

It is more than ten years ago now but I’ll never forget my first day teaching. I am a Chemist but I had worked as a financial adviser in London.
After my marriage I came to France and had a daughter. I started looking for a job in vain. One day I saw a mother who said her daughter’s English teacher was leaving and there was nobody to replace her and she gave me the name of the person recruiting. I phoned and had the interview and she said you start tomorrow. And gave me the books and the address of the school.
I went there but the person who recruited me wasn’t there and the parents started leaving their children aged 5 and 6 and going. I said are you leaving me alone? They said of course you are the teacher. What a stupid question!
I was terrified never ever had thought before But I was a member of English speaking community and taking my daughter to the play groups. My daughter was 4 or 5 too and I had brought her alone to the first lesson as I couldn’t organise the baby sitting at a short notice. The children were sitting and looking at me and I didn’t know what to do.
But my daughter very calm took her puppet rabbit out started a puppet show I carried on with that. Children loved it and then my daughter started singing and the children sang along. I was relaxed by then and I did my class like a playgroup.
Thanks to my 5 year old daughter I succeeded my first day teaching. Now I’m a very successful teacher my daughter is 15 and I teach young teenagers. My daughter always inspired me how to teach. Because she knows how she’d like to learn.
That was my first day!
From France