charlottegelin said:

English and Mandarin Subtitles?

It sounds like the stock reports on CNN where you have text and numbers flying by in lightspeed both vertically and horizontally in multiple lines.

I'm surprised you could even tell it was The Lion King you were watching.

I'm very very much like you... and when I find myself in this situation the reason I proctastinate is this: I'm afraid of change.

When you have worked long and hard on something, like your education, it's easy to feel uneasy of what is to come next, even if you know that something is good.

Just force yourself to do it.

Well, retina-pie... Here are my suggestions.



Discipline. You should sit yourself down, tell yourself you're going to do something, and eliminate the distractions as best you can. Perhaps you should tell yourself, "OK, I'm giving myself two hours to finish this task, and after I'm done I will call my friend," or just whatever.

Does that make sense?

Also, I found from my university days, I need to go away from all distractions... TV, computer, whatever. I used to go to Noel's house (he didn't have cable tv) and I'd go outside and sit down in his backyard so I wouldn't have the computer or anything...

Sweeny79 said:

You mean you'd be afraid to end your education because it's become so familiar to you that it makes you feel comfortable and at ease? Sort of like a reluctance to eat anywhere else other than McDonald's because although you know it's kind of disgusting it's a disgusting taste you know and are ready for every time you go in to a McD restaurant?

If that's what you mean, then no - I can't say I can relate to that. In other contexts sure, but in this one? No way in hell. I finished the rest of that education years ago and it's dead and buried in my mind. Now I just want the final death certificate.



Easier said than done, but sure; I'll try.

retina said:

ok I was wrong

and it's not that hard, you just sit your ass down and do it.

As for the reward/discipline, I have to use that all the time. I'm pretty hard on myself when I fuck up anyway... I fear my own wrath.

Back in my uni studying days, I'd sit out in the swing in the backyard with whatever books and assignments I had, and refuse to eat dinner until I was finished. The TV, the computer, Noel... inside, cozy and cool...

Anything can be a reward, really. Even the simple fact of, "Okay, if I sit down and do this and get it done, I don't ever have to think of it again."

Sweeny79 said:

You weren't really wrong. Like I said, I would have agreed with you in many other contexts. It's just that this one is a special case. Thanks for your comment!

Hey! I have the SAME EXACT problem. I have an undergrad honors thesis I was supposed to have been writing for the past three semesters. Now, I'm down to the final semester, the final wire...and I still can't get my ass to do it! It really is frustrating, because besides this paper, I am a diligent student, and I always make good grades. I am also very good at writing academic papers. But this one...the most important one of my education...is just not getting done.

I need to produce a rough draft in approximately three weeks. I've started the first chapter, but am not even nearly skimming the surface of the work I need to complete.

My advice? Go to www.phinished.org. They have some great resources from people like you and me who are trying to finish their theses or dissertations. There is a message board full of people trying to get their shit together, of people moaning about how much work they have to do, and of people motivating others to work "with" them - sending out productive vibes (hey, I'm up, you're up, we're both writing our damn papers even though we're miles away)...that kind of thing. I've found it really helpful...although I'm still procrastinating like HELL, the site has given me the push to do the work I've actually completed. The trick about the site is that you have to actually go there. I find myself avoiding it when I have free time and instead heading over to THIS org with you cronies.

Good luck...now that I'm down to the wire, I'm buckling down and trying to work really hard. When it's all said and done, it really comes down to pushing yourself.

What is your paper about? And what kind of job are you doing in Japan? The JET program, by chance?

retina said:

Nero said:

That last reward you mentioned isn't good enough for me. I have to make it concrete to have an effect. But if I decide to not have dinner before I'm done I'll most definitely starve to death.

I can really relate to fearing my own wrath though. That's a powerful driving force that maybe I should use more. I'll try to put up little incentives too. Maybe a big bowl of ice cream at the end of the day.

Thanks!

retina said:

It's the best idea I've got, dear. Hell, I used to lay in bed next to Face and read, and I'd swear off touching him until I finished reading the chapter I was on. It resulted in completion for me, slight frustration for him...

..but you know what? It worked. Not that I guess that one will work.

Incentives are nice.

I'm probably the worst procrastinater in the world. So I'm picking up the tips here, rather than having any advice to give.

thescandalouslife said:

Interesting! I just hope people aren't witty and funny over there so that I'll get stuck chatting with them. I'll definitely look into it.



I know.



I've described it quite thoroughly in one of my posts above.



I wish! Unfortunately I'm not eligible for that since my country isn't participating. You're right about the type of work though; I'm aiming for an English teaching job.

I'm so embarrassed to say this since I'm not a native speaker and my language ability here on the org is limited to say the least. But I do know English very well when I actually sit down and explain it to somebody else, so please don't assume that this is the best I can do.

CarrieMpls said:

Parasite!

DON'T go into English teaching abroad.

retina said:

Retina baby, you write better English than most anyone here.



Don't be embarrassed.

I think you're digging for compliments

Faux said:

Why not?

The important thing is perform each task, no matter how great or small, with the same efficient, determined economy.

As a great sage once said, "When sitting, sit. When walking, walk. When procrastinating, procrastinate. Above all, don't wobble".

Or something like that.

CarriyMpls said:

Don't worry, your procrastination will ramp up.

Nero said:

I'm not digging for compliments. I'm truly embarrassed about this. Especially since I would be quite upset if a non-native Swedish speaker told me they wanted to teach Swedish. I'm very happy that native English speakers have been tolerant so far, and even encouraged me at times. I respect that. It's made me start to reevaluate my own attitude.

And thank you by the way! It means a lot.

2the9s said:

Yeah, why not? Do you have experience in this area, Faux?

retina said:

Anyone can master a language with some hard work. It's not that big of a deal, doll.

I think you'd be a fine teacher. I'd let you teach me better English. And hell, Swedish whilst you're at it.

Nero said:

Start by saying this out loud:

"Jag är en tuff kvinna som har så mycket potential att jag nästan kvävs av den ibland. Det är ett hårt jobb, men en dag kommer jag att förändra världen med hjälp av mina många talanger!"

It's good for you. I'm sure the meaning will sink in even though you don't understand the words.

retina said:

Sure.

minneapolisgenius said:

Where did you get stuck? Have you just started? Are you halfway through?

2the9s said:

A myriad of reasons - other foreign teachers being perhaps the biggest one. They let morons teach abroad too, you know? In fact, I think they encourage them, especially drunks and paedophiles. Also, never go to work for a school with more money than sense, unless you enjoy coming up with phantasmagorical jargon and fancy-shmancy buzzwords to bring about multiple orgasms in your employers.

Me: "I think the best term is 'field-trip'"

Them: "Do we can have the word 'expansion' go in there?"

Me: "Um, ok."

Them: "And do we can use "vision"?

Me: "I guess so, but I think 'field trip' is the best description."

Them: "Ok. Vision and expansion."


Instead of a field trip you end up with a 'Special Vision Expansion Development Activity'. It's fine though. They've read some books, and seeing their new words in action makes them feel happy, and obviously a school with money and impenetrable curriculum wording is a fine school to put your kids in if u're well off. That, and almost weekly Student Progress Development Achievement Demonstrations for the rich parents to come in and watch are what it's all about, surely.

But still...

Me: "How old are you?"

Student: "I be 7 year old"



U mean the custom-made professionally illustrated pop-up 'How old are you?' book didn't work????

Fauxie said:

Did you have to slavishly adhere to their lesson plan though? Wasn't there any room for creativity on your part?

retina said:

I'm sorry, but did you say something about an academic paper?

I have selective chronic reading and I just skim read through your original post. Something about how you procrastinate or something...I don't know...I wasn't really paying attention.

Teaching in a high-school abroad - Matiom 1 to Matiom 6 (12-18 yo)

Me: "Hey, how's it going?"

Other foreign teacher: "Good, good. Hey, did you see Naam today? Man, she's so hot!"

Me: "You mean Naam in Matiom 3?"

Other foreign teacher: "Yeah! Man, I'd like to give her a serve."

Me: "Hmmm..."


Matiom 3 students are 15 years old.

...
[Edited 7/26/05 18:40pm]

retina said:

Some schools allow more freedom than others. In some schools dealing with the other foreigners there is trying, while in others it's the Asian staff who things are uncomfortable with. I've had some good experiences and some bad ones, but in general I've usually have to become pretty introverted and keep myself to myself to get by.

The last school I was at encouraged creativity, but they had all this money and so many fancy ideas that were completely unrealistic. It was hard not to just tell them to scrap it all and just keep it simple. In the end, I bit my lip and went along with it.