The first thing we did with them was simply watch and learn (Jamie Pennell)

Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash

NZSAS soldier Jamie Pennell in his book Serviceman J is talking about when he was part of a team training local security forces in Afghanistan.

Before they did anything, they got to know the men and women they'd be training. 

I'm most definitely still in a watch and learn phase at my new job (English teacher at Hastings' Boys' High School).

Like Jamie, this is done by spending a lot of time chatting and drinking tea.

It would be impossible to do this quickly and know everybody: who they were; what they did; what their strengths and weaknesses are. I'm four weeks in and still learning about all the roles staff have. The culture of every school, every staff room, is unique. 

I'm pretty relaxed about the amount of time this phase will take - definitely the next 5 weeks of this term at least.

Hopefully, by the start of term 4 I will be more equipped to be more effective, but it might take another term.

Look and learn, soak it up without judgement is the modus operandi for me during this time.