I don't necessarily feel comfortable when in-class chit-chat wanders in the direction of my opinion about other teachers or staff at LBridge. I don't encourage it, but on the other hand, since I am such a firm believer in the core importance of communication in language teaching and learning, I don't always steer conversation away from it, either–especially if the kids seem really interested or engaged in the question at hand.
Anyway, the kids were discussing some of the merits and drawbacks of various of their teachers. I remained non-commital as to what my personal opinions were. But one of my students, Ally, made a remarkably insightful observation in not-so-perfect English about one of my colleagues, who shall remain nameless. She said, "He can only see inside himself." Basically, this fifth-grade Korean EFL student managed to capture, in English, the fact that the man in question is sometimes disturbingly narcissistic and eerily peculiar in his affective relationships with others – a touch of Asperger Syndrome, perhaps. "Plus, he's rude," Ally added, almost as an afterthought.
Of course, I'd hate to hear what they say about me behind my back. But as always – and contrary to what many of my peer teachers believe – I suspect that in some ways kids are more sincere judges of character than most adults, and whatever they say behind my back, I'd be inclined to take it to heart.