Today, I had to find simple words to explain to the idiot I was tutoring that "1/4" is not of a greater value than "1/3" just because the denominator is bigger. FML
Collection
Wild Nights Out
Last call, bad decisions and 3 a.m. texts you'll regret until noon. Cheers.
Today, one of my students corrected the problem I had solved on the board, explaining that you do multiplication before subtraction. I teach the second grade. FML
Today, I was babysitting, and a little girl asked for help with her homework. I cheerfully began an explanation, only to freeze mid-sentence. I could not for the life of me remember how to do long-division. I'm about to graduate from Cornell University, and her little brother had to correct me. FML
Today, I had someone place two separate to-go orders, so that he could use two of his "25% off" coupons. He couldn't understand why it wasn't 50% off his total bill, no matter how many times I plainly explained it to him. FML
Today, disappointed with my results on a mathematics test, I went over it and realized my teacher had added up the marks incorrectly, leaving me with 17% less than I earned. The person who's supposed to be teaching me math can't even perform basic arithmetic. FML
Today, I was asked to dumb myself down so the people I was training could comprehend what I was saying. FML
Today, while home from college for the weekend, my sister started whining about how I keep using "big fancy college words" and making her feel bad. My sister is 27 and teaches elementary school. The word I used was "ludicrous." FML
Today, I was teaching a class when a student pointed out that I'd used the wrong "your/you're" while writing on the board. FML
Today, I handed a middle-aged woman her change of $0.75 with three quarters. She looked at the change bewildered and threw the coins down, asking if she thought I could get away with only giving her thirty cents. I had to explain to her how much a quarter is worth. FML
Today, I was helping my kid with homework after work. I tried to Google “third grade long division explained simply.” Autocomplete filled in “because I don’t understand it either,” which I read out loud without thinking. My kid stared at me and said, “So… who’s teaching who?” FML
Today, a McDonald's employee had to correct my math after counting out $2.37 in change. I'm in AP Calculus and am currently learning how to find the derivative of an inverse of a logarithm. FML
Feel like sharing it with the other FML users?
Thanks, your FML was submitted, and will appear in the moderation queue soon!
Top comments
makaramiracles 18
Well, there's a reason why you're tutoring them.
iShanny 13
Those little pie pieces always helped me. Try using real pie or pizza.
Add a comment · Reply to
You must be logged in to be able to post comments!
Comments (107)
saadifti 11
no one is an idiot if he/she doesn't understand fractions. A tutor will find a way to make him/her understand. That's the art!
thatcoolguy123 14
What grade is he/she in? And you sound like a rude tutor tbh...
vivaellefashion 14
Wow you're a horrible tutor! There's a reason why he needs your help. Calling him an idiot doesn't help.
cdawgtate 9
Use pizza ask him which he wants he'll learn
alanamarieg 18
1/3 being less than 1/4 is a common misunderstanding. I know when I was first learning fractions I thought so too.
neuroticallyyour_fml 17
How do you know he isn't learning disabled? Dyscalculia is a math learning disability. I have it and at 27 I still have to work very hard to retain simple concepts like the one mentioned. Doesn't make the person you are tutoring stupid. He's probably exceptional in other areas which is sometimes the case with people with learning disabilities.
Kriiistenn 14
I had a lot of trouble with fractions for a long time before I understood it. In my mind, the fact that 1/4 is bigger than 1/3 made perfect sense. Please don't say he's an idiot just because he's having trouble understanding
TurquoiseJesus 15
whether the person is dumb is dependent on what OP is tutoring them in. If he/she is tutoring them in Calculus 3, it is generally accepted that you can do basic fractions, and I wouldnt expect OP to be required to teach that.
HawaiiThad 14
Referring to your student as an idiot shows that you should not be tutoring.
Annlon 9
I don't believe it is fair to call the person an idiot for not understanding. "Naive" perhaps for being not yet educated in that particular subject, but certainly not an idiot. As a tutor it is your responsibility to show patience with your students and remember that the students can be equally as frustrated and embarrassed for not understanding a concept that their other peers may already grasp. Remember to put yourself in their shoes next time you become flustered, otherwise you may not be fit for tutoring.