Marmite is a regular in my classroom.
It's the most effective weapon there is in keeping everyone - from lively kids to gossiping adults - disciplined.
Because they know that whenever the noise rises to an unacceptable level or they're not focusing on the English task in hand, I take the Marmite out of my bag (dubbed the Mary Poppins bag because no one is ever quite sure what's going to emerge next), place it on my desk and unscrew the top.
The effect is instant silence without me having to say anything. And that's not because I put the fear of God into them (though my CELTA teachers might disagree - I was once nicknamed Sergeant Emma or some other Army-esque term. But, hey, that was six years ago). It's because the brownstuff puts the fear of God into them.
They know that if they choose to snog their classmates (yes, that really has happened), apply their lippy or continue to gossip in Italian, I'll place the open jar of Marmite on their desks.
C, who has regularly been on the receiving end of the M-treatment, even begged me to give her some so she could use the same technique at home when her six-year-old twin boys misbehaved.
Is this a sign that Italians are finally beginning to appreciate the salty brown gloop?
Sergeant Emma - I'll have to remember that one! But I'm curious - do any of them actually like the taste of it, or do they all find it repulsive?
PS Great to see you back blogging!
Posted by: Joanna Young | October 23, 2008 at 09:28 AM
They hate the stuff.
And that's even more comical, because while they quiet down, I get to lick the Marmite from the jar.
It's good to be back blogging. Finally. Gosh, it really was a while, wasn't it?!
Posted by: Emma Bird | October 23, 2008 at 01:45 PM