I would like to share an unpleasant experience I recently had during a seminar for teachers of English about how to use textbooks creatively.
It was organised by the City University of Hong Kong. I was impressed by the large audience the moment I entered the lecture theatre. I am always happy to see teachers keen to enhance their professionalism.
Since I was a little late, I sat on the last row of the lecture theatre. However, as soon as the seminar began at 2.30pm, a few people nearby started eating from packed lunch bags. Then, five minutes into the speaker's address, the group began chatting loudly on matters that had nothing to do with the subject in hand.
At first I thought they were discussing points raised by the speaker, but they were not. The chatter continued non-stop throughout the first session. They talked so loudly that many other participants had given them 'warning glares', but they did not seem to care at all. Nor did they seem to realise that they were being a downright nuisance to others.
The seminar should have been a pleasing and practical one, but I was so annoyed by these selfish teachers.
In the second session, I had to move to another seat. I wonder why these teachers attended the meeting. My speculation is that they had been forced to come by their principals or department heads.