I spent most of my career teaching languages in one of the most deprived areas of the UK. It came with enormous challenges. In my first couple of years, it was tough — very  tough. There were Friday evenings when I went home in tears, wondering whether I’d chosen the right career. If this is you right now, you’re not alone. And it’s not that you’re doing things wrong — it’s simply that your students haven’t yet understood what you’re made of. That takes time. Over the years,