Hello Moneik! I know exactly how you feel. I'm going on in my 3rd year of teaching but it still feels like it is my first. I imagine you must be feeling like I was when I first started; I thought I was doing it all wrong because I didn't know where to begin or how exactly to do it. All I knew was that my students had no clue that I didn't know what I was doing. I teach English as a second language in Los Angeles, CA. I know I'm not an expert but perhaps I can be of some help. You can e-mail me when you have some questions and I will try to help you. What I want you to know is that you are not alone and that it is ok to feel the way you feel. Take care, a friend from afar, Lucia

This year will be my third year as a high school teacher, so I'm almost a veteran! (HA) I'm an American (Texan to be exact) who lives and works in Italy. I studied to become a teacher, but no book ever really prepares you for what you feel when you stand up in front of your students for the first time praying God they don't ask any questions you don't know how to answer! I think that feeling you describe as 'shooting the moon' is common among all teachers, especially the better ones. I would like to be your ePAL and I can only imagine what you must feel like REALLY living out in the boondocks (I was born and raised in an itsy bitsy town). Sincerely, Deena Lynn Furgerson deenalynn@epals.com or deenal_furgerson@yahoo.com

Hi don't worry you are not the only one in this situation. This is my second year of teaching, but I chose Mexico to teach. I am an english and French teacher for primary and secondary. Our job can be so difficult sometime but also very rewarding if we never give up even when we face some child that are really difficult to motivate. Emmanuelle

Hi Moneik I'm a teacher in England - sadly not in my first year - this is my 14th year - very scarey to think where the time has gone. I teach 11 year olds in their last year of primary education - so I have to be a bit of a jack of all trades. My subject specialisms are English and IT. I just wanted to wish you luck and to say I think we all feel we are shooting the moon sometimes! Don't take it to heart. I'd be happy to epal with you if you'd like - I think in this job no matter how long you have been doing it and what experience you have every day brings fresh challenges - but it's worth hanging in there for those 'lightbulb moments' when you see your students finally understand. Hang on in there. Take care Mags Delaney My email is magsrads@epals.com

I am a first year teacher in a small town in South Dakota. I live about 2 hours from the nearest town. This is my first teaching experience so I feel like I am doing it all on my own. I would like to communicate with other teachers who are new to the profession and don't have any experience. I feel like I am shooting the moon some days. Is there anyone out there who would like to be an ePAL with me? Moneik 9-12 English/Spanish/Speech teacher