Make a Difference Movie

The first time I watched the movie "Make a Difference, I was moved to the point of
crying. Even when you asked us to re-vision it for the second time with some
questions to focus on, there were still some passages that occasioned deep, within me,
a strong feeling of empathy and compassion. For a moment I had a sort of flash back;
I had a friend long time ago, who was an orphan, and lacked the tenderness and
affection of parents, and mainly that of the mother. Yet, she was lucky to have the
attention and support from our teachers. In feasts and celebration as "El Aid", they
used to collect money and buy her clothes.
My father, who is now a retired teacher, used likewise to help the destitute among
his students. He used to collected money with the contribution of his colleagues and
bought school belongings to those students.
The story of that little boy (Teddy) really broke my heart. There is one special
sentence that caused an earthquake deep inside me; it is when Teddy said," you smell
just like my mom used to at Christmas". I pictured what my life would have been like
if the same misfortune had occurred to me; lonely, neglected, lacking maternal
affection and care, but above all feeling that no body seems to care about your grieves
and agony, not even the teacher. In addition to feeling some empathy towards that
little boy, I likewise put myself in the place of the teacher, and imagined how remorse
and regret would gnaw me at my soul if, as she did , I discovered the carelessness and
apathy I have been guilty of. However, what truly touched me is the fact that that
teacher was good and human enough to react and completely changed the ideal she
had about teaching, as said in the movie, "she stopped teaching, reading and
writing ...,and started to teach children". She was such intense and emotional that
Teddy regarded her as the best teacher he'd ever had. More than the teacher; she
procured him the tenderness and care that are so vital for his development and that his
mother would have procured him if she had been alive.
As a student-teacher, this movie introduced me with a core principle in the art of
teaching; that of never forgetting about one's feelings and heart and always keep them
as reminders to the mechanical mind
Benyoucef Radia

I Like the Movie

I really like this story and I also think that it has touched many
students who have watching it for many reasons: First, it goes
straight to our hearts. Second, maybe because it reminds us of all
the special persons who have made a difference in our lives. More
than this, it teaches us how we can transcend the need to use force
to counter unacceptable behaviour and this was a universal
message especially for future teachers.
At the beginning of the story, Miss Thompson didn't help Teddy
but when she understood the reasons of Teddy's behavior, she
decided to change the life of this child by making him feel
important (the power of compassion to change life).
The sentences that affect me:
Teddy said, "Thank you for believing in me, thank you so much for
making me feel important and showing me that I could make a
difference."
Miss Thompson, " I didn't know how to teach until I met you!"

Taibi Karima
.

Teddy's Story
I just wanted to say that the story was beautiful and inspiring that really touched
me. I learnt that each one of us can make a difference in someones life, because we
all have the power to affect the others.
The teachers play a major role in the development of the students and the
society. Students consider their educators as mirrors or images that they would be one
day.
This story makes you realize that children are special and make you think about what
the children want from the elders, and that they are always watching what the other
people are doing. Teddy was a special learner that unfortunately Ms. Thompson did
not understand at the beginning and she prejudged him. Maybe because of his
appearance, unknowing his situation, she treated him with neglect, although that she

said: I will love you all. But the point of change comes when she examined the
notices of his previous teachers; she realized that Teddy was a brilliant kid suffering
because of his mothers absence. Then she started caring and Teddy at the same time
exploded his potentials and began walking on the road of success.
At the end of the story we see how one teacher can make a difference. Although the
years had passed, they did not forget each other. There was a mutual exchange of
feelings and great respect and trust.
I understand that just one friendly look at someone can make a difference in his life.
Finally, everyone is someones hero, and everybody has ahero. Each day we
learn and teach one another whether this be in a classroom, at work or at home, no
matter where, there are always lessons to be learnt and practised. And I believe we all
must well behave, because there is someone out there watching us, and consider me or
you the one that he/she wanted to be someday.
Charef Abousoufiane

A Deep Feeling Inside me.

While I was watching the movie and for the first time, I felt that something really
touched my heart and left a deep impact inside me, especially with regard to
negligence and the carelessness of the teacher towards her student's problems.
Moreover, the loss of one parent is a very hard and difficult situation. The most
important point that I learned is to treat and deal with students as human beings with
their feelings and emotions and no more than that.
The sentence that strongly affected me is, and without hesitation, I immediately
chose the following: "Thank you for believing in me". I think when you believe in
someone's capacities, you will give him/her courage and willing, and even a new life
to start again from nothing. Hence, you will simply become her/his hero. So he/she
will never forget you and will consider you as an engine for his/her continuation.
finally, for me my hero is my parents and I love them so much!
lakehal noura

Helping Each Other

This story Make a Difference gives us a message of how to help each other.

Miss Thomson changes life of Teddy in a positive way. On the other hand, Teddy
helps her to be a real teacher.
It's like a piece of advice for us because sometimes, we lose control and we see
everything dark in our life.
Sometimes, we need someone to help us and when you help, you feel that you help
yourself.
Sometimes, small things that we dont give importance may change our life.
Meghiche Zohra

Students' School Files

I deduce from Make a Differece how it is important for a teacher to search the origin of
failure of his students in class. If Mrs Thomson had not rreviewed Teddys school file, she would
not have noticed that he was a brilliant student before.
I wonder if our teachers are allowed to review their students' school files in primary, secondary
and high school. Otherwise, I propose that at the begining of the school year teachers should
spot orphans and children with social problems in the class in order to help them sooner.
Thanks a lot for this interisting pedagogical story.
Bena
bdelmoumene Abdelkader

Knowledge is not Enough!

No one can doubt the greatness, the nobility, and the goodness of teaching profession. Yet,
again, it's not enough to do well, once must do it in the right way. The truth of the matter seems
to be that wise men who learn from other people mistakes, the fools by their own. Here is Mrs.
Thomsons experience to learn from...........
I strongly believe that the interaction between a student and his/her teacher, and the teachers
own values have a greater part in making the mosteffective and successful teacher. Knowledge of
the subject material is very important, but what makes a successful class different than a failure,
uneffective class is how the teacher is viewed by his or her students; the way she/he acts on the
stage is the key of the matter.

Teachers need to make sure that they possess skills such as patience, sympathy, and respect
to each and every one of their students. In return, students will generally do the same, which
makes school enjoyable and more effective for both
Yes it's proved in the Teddy and Mrs Thomson tale.

Madjid Bensalem

Amazing TEFL
I have never been attracted by teaching.TEFL module was, for me, a waste of time. Why
studying about something Iwon't do in the future?
The different lectures I have had so far, made me change my mind. Today, 'Make a Difference'
movie makes me feel something I can't explain! Something inside me! I even cried without tears!
My legs were shaking! What happened to me?
I remembered how sad I was in the middle and high school and no teacher tried to help me.
They didn't care of my situation. I hated all teachers. I hated the profession.
I admire Mrs. Thompson in the movie, and what she did for Teddy, but I admire you , sir, too
for what you did with the student who was ill. You discreetly took medicines from your pocket
and gave them to the student. Believe me, Sir, at that moment I forgot about the movie because
what you did in a very simple way, 'makes a Difference'. I understand that teachers care.
Teddy says, ' Thank you so much for believing in me.'
I would say, ' Thank you so much, Sir, for what you are doing for us.'
Cherifa Benouda

Moved!
Thank you first for this interesting video; in fact, there are no enough words to explain how
this video affected me. This maybe because of being a little bit sentimental; I was about to cry
for pain towards Teddy; unless of being afraid, to feel shame by the presence of my colleagues.
But, regardless to the dramatic feeling, I found that there are some beneficial lessons to pull
out from this story, that could be resumed in the following points:

1- The fact that Mrs. Thompson decided to look out on the past records of her students, is on
my belief , the main fact of Teddys delivery, and I think that such enterprise should be
systematic for every teacher after recording suspicious student's behavior (if such files exist in
Algeria).
2- To be patient and attentive on the social context of each student.
3- Don't let the children laugh from each others because it would create a kind of complex.
4- Consider and treat the students as human beings.
5- To focus the maximum of attention and efforts, on the students that present some difficulties
and weaknesses.
6- As this story proved at the end, 'we all can make the difference by the choice we make.'

Lyes Mustapha Talbi

The Psychological Side of Teaching

The majority of teachers nowadays are not interested in the psychological side of the students.
Their main objective is to give them courses and leave. I personally have got a negative opinion
on "teaching" I could not imagine that one day I could become a teacher, but since I met you
'"MR LOUZNADJI",my idea has changed because you make this job such an "amazing" job or
in another term your style of teaching has got a "psychological side" if I can say so. Before
watching that movie you have made a difference on me. What I have watched in that movie
really touched me since "Teddy" found in this teacher his "mother"; the teacher that makes a
difference in Teddy's life and here the psychological role of the teacher takes a very important
part since the teacher was not only interested in teaching and learning, but in what made this
child misbehaved.
All in all, to make a difference in one's life is not easy and not any one could make such
thing. Only the patient and the idol ones could.

Yagoub Chahinez Rimel

Maybe One Day!

Well, Teddy story is an emotional and affective one; it shows the impact of people
on each other. The action taken by Miss Thompson -which is not deliberate- while
opening Teddy's present has the great effect on Teddy. She made him feel important
and loved. Though she didnt know that her few simple words will change a whole
life.
But not all of the favor for this, what helped Teddy to grow on the right
path and took by his hand toward the top is, on the other hand, the special attention
and the continuous encouragement.
Teddy had also an impact on Miss Thompson's way of dealing with children. She
did review her past students' records, but she didn't know how to deal with the
students in need for help. She didn't know how to teach as she said. The fact that she
could make flourish a desperate and sad pupil, caused her to see light, and believed
that she could make a difference in this world.
I didn't believe that I can make a tiny single difference in the world around me. But
now I do. May be one day I'll change someone's life onto the best, as I hope, as I may
have already changed someone's life but I don't know!
A Student-Teacher

Missing Aspects!

Frankly speaking before i thought that a successful teacher is one who adopts
interesting method of teaching. whose most students obtain good results and one who
knows how to manage his classroom. And so I dreamt to be a teacher. However, once
I saw the movie 'Make a Difference', straight away, I recognized that there are things
missed in the picture of that successful teacher being in my mind. There are totaly
different things that not all teachers provide to their students. constant teacher's smile
was missed, warm care to students was missed , showing that each individual is
important was missed, believing in the student was missed. Now when adding these
human touches, the paint might be perfect.
Thank you Sir for teaching us all these in just one video . We are grateful to you.

Kenza Ilhem

A magic Box

I was preparing the first term exam one I received Mrs Thompson s story. I understood that our supervisor
wanted to remind us of the value of the movie we watched at the end of the last seminar.
That story marked all my teaching life as I read a book about it many years ago. This is why; I have been too
close to the poor students in my classes. I dont know why I have a particular attention to those students. I
feel as if I dont do my job properly if I dont ask them a question , if I dont care This doesnt mean that I
neglect the others. No, I never do that. The others have another role to play in the classroom. I sometimes ask
the rich ones to bring clothes or help me buy things such school stuff for their mates in need.
I always try to create a kind of solidarity between my students. I always teach, in one way or another, how to
help the other.
I remember, with my students, we had a box in which a student had to put 5 AD when he or she broke one of
the school rules. That box which was shared by six classes was kept by one student-volunteer. The collected
money was given to the poor to help them buy things they need. One year, for example, we could help three
students to pay their Baccalaureate fees.
Some students, who are no longer at school, came to see me and reminded me of the old charity moments they
had in our school. They told me that I had taught them more than English lessons. They are still doing the
same thing. And some of them, who are teachers now, are using that magic box to collect money for the poor.
My advice to new teachers is that teaching is not only giving knowledge, it is supporting, it is caring
You know, my approach is more humanistic (you may not agree with me). I have never changed. I keep on
helping the poor. I feel that I am a TEACHER when I do help the poor. I feel sad, ashamed and I even cry if I
dont support them.
A teacher of English from Oran1