Praise be...

First when she praise your for your every little contributions in front of the whole class, you get embarrassed and scared they think you are the teacher's pet. As day goes, you start to doubt her sincerity. You can't be that good right? After awhile you just get used to it, and it doesn't register anymore.



Then you change class. New people, new teacher, new environment. You are more quiet, less voluntary in contributions. But later, you get comfortable and start to talk more but still less than before. Some how, you feel the standards here are higher and you felt you struggled like you never struggled in your old class. You felt like everyone is better and brighter than you and you start contributing less and less. Every time you contribute, you felt like it's not good enough. You are depressed. Your Japanese sucked.



One day, teacher was sick. Class was replaced by old teacher. You felt happy to see her, even relieved. Suddenly your Japanese don't seem so sucky after all. It seemed you hit the nail every time you contribute. And then you realized, you have taken for granted those little praises that was dolled out generously. It had fed your confidence so much that it is slowing dying in the new class.

Mood

It seem like I am turning into a dog...