COVID has been going around my household. I have had both vaccines and have not been lax about this, but this was somewhat impossible to really avoid. With me, it is just a bad cold so far. The main reason was that my 84-year-old Grandfather was hit kind of hard yesterday. No respiratory problems, but he had a fever and was very weak and tired. He eventually was checked into the hospital last night for several hours to be assessed and get what he needed. I never would want to miss a lesson for anything, but it was best I went ahead and rescheduled and let my tutor know what happened instead of an emergency happening at the last minute. My tutor is a kind and understanding person, but I have some OCD and anxiety-driven guilt eating at me only because I’m not violently ill. I am also self-conscious about being on live with a runny nose and cough – I learned that in Japan it is also off-putting for people to blow their nose around others. I also get worried about having an upset stomach and being embarrassed to death. The biggest reason I felt like I had to postpone this week’s lesson was because of my Grandfather in case something goes wrong. I hope that this reason was good enough considering it being via video call instead of in person and it going on for just 1 hour – I would hate for it to be awkward, annoying for me to be constantly clearing my throat, coughing, or having a runny nose(thus, making it embarrassing). Otherwise, I never would want to miss a lesson for anything. COVID is not stopping me from continuing to study as much as I can. Is it okay for people to reschedule lessons for these things?
2 comments
Tutor here – if your tutor can’t be accommodating and understanding, then find another tutor.
If you’re cancelling, give at least 24-hours notice, if you can. If it’s the same day, except in the most dire emergencies, still try to contact your tutor about being absent or late (just don’t make it a habit on any old whim).
A student can’t perform well when they’re sick or worried. Whether or not it’s online or in-person it’s besides the point. You need to be functioning decently well to have a good session.
People are also human with the normal range of human functions to take care off.
If you sneeze or cough, excuse yourself – especially if wearing a mic.
If you have to blow your nose, excuse yourself, mute the mic and dip off camera for a moment.
If you need the restroom, excuse yourself, mute yourself (maybe turn off the camera) and go to the restroom.
Japanese isn’t that important.