A LETTER TO A TEACHER

Dear Mrs D.
I write you to hell because I'm sure that's where you are now, after having tortured
generations and generations of math pupils.
I'm sure you'll remember me. My maiden name was Silvia P.,
one of your favourites, as you told my father.
But let's start from the beginning.
Every day you entered the classroom, the whole class stood
quiet. That was our greeting. Then, when you ordered, I sat,
eyes down. I wanted to vanish, I always hoped not to be noticed.
You looked around. I was behind my desk like a little mouse
waiting for the attack of the cat. "God, let her not notice me, let
her call another girl to the blackboard", I prayed. Then the
thunder: "P. to the board".
I began to shake, my eyes filled with tears, but you didn't care.
There I was, at the blackboard, ready to fight with my enemies. It
wasn't fair, there were two against one: The formulas and YOU
who should have been my ally to master the numbers and the problems. I felt betrayed.
You were on their side and they defeated me systematically. Vanquished I got back to my
seat, crying. And you didn't care.
The funniest thing is that you said to my father that you did all this because you loved me,
because you found me intelligent and that this was the only way to make me understand
and love math. You were wrong. Not only do I hate math, but also am I unable today to
perform the easiest math problem. Do you believe that I can't solve an equation?
And now comes my surprise. Against all the odds, I'm a teacher now, and I think a pretty
good one. Don't be afraid, I'm not a math teacher, but a language teacher. "So, will you ask
yourself " why hasn't she written to her French teacher whom she must haven taken as a
model?" I'll answer you dear Mrs. D. You have been my model. You weren't successful
with maths, but I have learnt how NOT to teach! And I 'm really thankful.
Sincerely yours
Silvia

Answer the question about the text

1. Why do you think the author is writing to her former teacher?
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2. How does the author characterize her math teacher?
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3. Why was the author afraid to be called to the board?
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4. What did the teacher tell Silvia’s father?
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5. Did the pupil learn to solve the math problems?
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6. What is her occupation today?
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7. Why does she thank the teacher?
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Answer the questions about yourself
1. What was your favourite teacher when you were at school?
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2. What did (s)he teach?
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3. Why did you like that teacher?
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4. Was the subject (s)he taught your favourite one? Why? Why not?
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5. What subjects were you good at?
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6. What teacher didn’t you like? Why?
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7. Did you have problems with a teacher?
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8. What kind of problems?
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9. What is or job today?
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10. Have you ever considered to be a teacher? Why? Why not?
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Write a letter to one of your high school teachers. It can be a beloved or a hated

one.