Just an interesting tidbit of gossip for your enjoyment.

I have a Japanese student who comes with her 4-year-old daughter to class, and as 4 year olds go, she’s a good girl, but it can be distracting to have Mommy manage her daughter and try to concentrate. So recently The Boss has been teaching another new Japanese woman, who brings her 3-year-old daughter. I always see the daughter running rampant around the office, The Boss’ daughter laughingly following. So I thought kind of snarkily, hah, cool to have a babysitter, eh?

Not so. Boss’ Daughter is “teaching” the girl English. Her mother is paying for lessons for the daughter to “learn” English with Boss’ Daughter. Who has a degree, just not any ESL teaching experience, any ESL qualifications, anything. I found this out when The Boss tells me through email not to let the daughter of my student out of the room during the lesson, that the other girl’s mom is paying for lessons, and it is simply inappropriate. I think that was The Daughter’s call, since I asked her at the time if it was OK, and she said, “Sure, no problem.” No one mentioned being paid for “lessons” until I get the scolding email.

Maybe I should work retail. Even people in my field are cheapening the value of an ESL lesson. Why didn’t she give the hours to me? Another injustice to note on my long list of reasons to get OUT of there.