Teaching is the kind of job where learning and training never really end. One of the first lessons I learnt is that I don't always expect students to be the level I am told they are, and I make sure that my lessons can be modified/adjusted according to the students' true level and needs. Another lesson learnt is that it is impossible to anticipate every question you could possibly be asked, and if you get asked a question that you can't answer, it's okay to say “I'll let you know tomorrow”. It's better than getting yourself into a bind before or during the lesson, or guessing the answer, sometimes incorrectly.
In teaching, you never really stop learning. I believe this is especially true if you seek out opportunities for professional development by presenting at conferences or doing action research. Doing these activities is what gives a teacher experience. Through action research, I managed to get to the bottom of a motivation problem faced by a particularly difficult class of mine, and I even conducted some often seemingly 'crazy' experiments like teaching a lesson for which I was completely unprepared! So, why do I conduct action research? To help me notice what my students really do, rather than what they think they do. I also get feedback as to the success or failure of what they are doing. This helps me tailor teaching and learning to my learners’ needs.
Presenting at my first conference and giving teacher development workshops was intimidating at first, but it really is very rewarding. Teachers love the chance to get together to try out activities and discuss their problems and issues. A career in TEFL requires that you fall in love with teaching and are in it for the long haul; then, there are several options. Continue regular teaching and become a Senior Instructor which will probably involve carrying out extra responsibilities, like teacher training or mentoring. Then, a teacher can also consider writing a course book or publishing articles in esteemed publications.
I am a believer in reflection which means looking at what you do in the classroom, thinking about why you do it, and thinking about whether it works, which is a whole process of self-observation and self-evaluation. By collecting information about what goes on in our classroom and by analyzing and evaluating this information, we identify and explore our own practices and underlying beliefs. This may then lead to changes and improvements in our teaching. Reflective teaching is therefore a means of professional development which begins in our classroom. As a result of reflection, I may decide to do something in a different way, or just decide that what I am doing works well given this particular teaching situation. And that is what professional development is all about.
Finally, I want to thank all who read my blog and all who took time to respond and communicate via this rich site. I have learnt a great deal as I self-reflected to write this blog and as I self-reflected to respond to your comments.
- Rania Jabr's blog
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Comments
Dear Rania,
When I have read your final comments about being a teacher, I feel you mean to say 'A TEACHER IS ALWAYS A STUDENT'. A teacher may be a trainer,mentor,resource person or expert.Your blog also reminds me of Rabindra Nath Tagore who says 'A TEACHER CAN NOT REALLY TEACH UNLESS HE/SHE IS CONTINUALLY TEACHING HIMSELF/HERSELF.' I have read all your blogs which help teachers, trainers, mentors, resource persons or teachers at anylevel any where in the world. You have been a source of invaluable information and professional help for the english teaching fraternity across the globe for nearly a month and a half. I thank you on behalf of all the english teaching faculty in the world. I do not know whether I deserve to do it or not though. The British Council needs to be complimented on inviting guest teachers of your calibre and stature. May you continue to grow professionally, academically, intellectually and spiritually! May God bless you if you are atheist!
yours sincerely,
JVL NARASIMHA RAO
ANDHRA PRADESH
INDIA
I really have a better view after reading what you wrote. I couldn't be more agree than you because every student is unique.
Dear Rania
Great thanks for your blog and sharing your ideas. I liked your idea that is is better "'to say “I'll let you know tomorrow” than getting yourself into a bind before or during the lesson, or guessing the answer, sometimes incorrectly".
I fully agree with you that reflection, including self-reflection, is crucial for further development if not to say a drive, though some of my trainees called it a tool, which can be used by teachers, who want to develop professionally.
Be sure, you were very helpful, I think, not only for me :).
Irina
I agree with you, for if we as teachers stop learning, we will not evolve or grow as teachers. Burn out then will kick in and that would be disastrous.
Thank you for your kind words and I value your feedback and comments.
Yes and they are also different in how they take in your comments and feedback. Over the years, I have come to realize that a good strategy is to observe and monitor your students from day one. The goal is to find out the weakest students. Then, focus would be on working with them to have them blend in and not lag behind the rest of the class. If you succeed, then you have made great progress.
Thanks for your comments. I am glad that you have found my ideas useful and agree with me that self-reflection is key. I also would like to add that by reading more about teaching whether in journals or sites like this ones, we teachers can continue to be in the know and evolve.
By teaching you will learn.
I have been an English teacher for almost 7 years, teaching at course and corporate. I have learned a lot. I am a person who really like challenge, doing something new that`s why I left my previous office then became part-timer for several corporate traniings. I learned a lot, from how to deal with difficult people, deal with schedule and so on. I have taught people from different background, from drivers, government employees, medical students, hotel employees and so on. Some of them become my friends too.
Sometimes I have difficult moments too, like what you say, when I was faced with difficult questions, I said the same thing like you, well, we`re human beings as well, right? Even my former trainer, who has been teaching for almost 30 years, sometimes makes mistake, and it is fine. By teaching I realize that learning process is a never ending process. We keep learning and learning, from our experience,even from our students too. Some students in my corporate are much older than me, and I remember one of my students, who was a driver for a multinational company. He was like my parent, and I was so sad when I heard that he died from cardiac failure. Well, so many great experience when I was teaching for companies..
The beauty of teaching is that we have the option of regenerating and reinventing ourselves at the beginning of each semester, term, or even year. At the beginning of any new period we can think of how to do things differently and/or to do things better. This means trying out new activities or experimenting with new texts. This makes us gain experience and evolve. It is also a shield against burn out.
Hi Rania,
Wonderful philosophy. The fact that teachers have to keep themselves updated and recharged each new year shows that the "student' in them never leaves. First a student, then a teacher, always... Plus, it is always a give and take, especially among technology savvy students who sometimes surprise us in class with their inputs and discoveries.
Keep up the good work.
Cheerio
Having only this year started teaching Business and General English to students in Vietnam (although with many years of business experience behind me) I have found your articles totally inspirational. Thanks so much for your blog - I will miss all your extremely useful advice which I have passed on to several of my Vietnamese colleagues. Teaching in Vietnam has been a great experience for me and I feel I have finally found my "real" career path. Your articles have motivated me to continue with my teaching career when I leave Vietnam.