Teaching in India

As far as I remember, in Germany teachers are well paid, but not respected. In India, this is the other way round. Here, the teacher is the God and what (s)he says is being done. When I enter the class room, with a bright "Good afternoon, boys and girls", everyone jumps up and shouts either "Good evening Ma'am" or "Good evening, Miss". I tried to teach them that I am "Miss!" because I am unmarried, but they have a hard time accepting it. Whenever someone is being called, they jump up. With our new chairs this causes problems, they have a little table attached, so when they jump up, the whole chair joins this procedure and its hard to understand the answer in the general rattleing of the chair falling down (including pen and exercise book). So, I introduced the system of general respect without standing up. Every unasked chat is being punished by a "Frau Peetz" stare with my bright blue eyes. If this doesn't suffice, a HUSH works. My collegues even use their mobiles in class, sending mails, walking out for a call. But I have some dignity left. Ooooh and you would not believe how much I love teaching. The very first time in my life I have the feeling I am changing something, I am teaching those hungry little kids something. If it wouldn't be paid so badly, I would love to stay for a whole year teaching them until their exams. It is such a pleasure to see how they learn, how knowledge emerges and how they soak up information. The reward might not be immediate, but even after 2 weeks I can hear/see/feel that there is an improvement. One girls tries to speak like I do, and I can see her lips moving and repeating every word I say. One of the boys even started to show up regularly. Yesterday, one of the girls came: "Miss. Please, I want to learn English. Teach me more." So, I will offer an additional class in their lunchtime, whoever wants to come. One other girl said, "oooh you not here tomorrow [today], class will bore."
Next week I am going to teach self-defense. Girls and women only, my collegues are very eager to join. I will not be able to do much in an hour, but still I can teach them self-confidence and where the balls are ;). The boys will be taught by Livingston, how to be a good husband ;).