I’ve done a lot of writing, literature and film courses, all of which have been within my comfort zone to a greater or lesser extent. However, I recently signed up to an Italian beginners course.

As I haven’t been able to find enough time to practise what we learn, I spend the whole of the lesson in abject terror that I am going to be asked a question. This has brought back all of the horrible memories of my high school days, when I spent almost every lesson in every subject feeling terrified. The only exception as I recall was English.

As a teacher I always, of course, chose kids at random to answer a question — especially if I thought they weren’t listening or, more benignly, when I wanted to check their understanding.

I now remember what it feels like to be that kid who doesn’t feel confident that they understand what’s going on.

This new-found (or reawakened) knowledge won’t change my behaviour as a teacher of course, such as in a blogging course I’m teaching soon. Perhaps, though, it will engender more empathy, even sympathy.

If you think you may have forgotten what it’s like to “be that kid”, I thoroughly recommend signing up for a course in which you can’t just “wing it”!