For many teachers the question of fitting in to an educational context, an educational culture - let it be the culture of a specific school or a whole country - is a very important issue. This is especially true for those who are entering a classroom in a completely different world, in a culture which is different from the one to which they have been socialized. As this is what I am going through right now, I would like to share my views with you.
Should I fit in? Of course, this is not something that you do consciously but the question is lurking behind all your actions and moves. It is obvious that there is a general human need to fit in and be part of a group or society. I guess there are many people who would like to be ‘invisible’ and just do as others do, dress like the rest of the crowd, and generally be one of the many. They are even willing to sacrifice (or hide?) something deep inside, something very personal, something which makes them who they are to be accepted by the community. This is not easy, though, and for many it is a rather painful process.As an example, I can quote one of my ex-students – a very talented guy – who started teaching in one of the most prestigious secondary schools back in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary. A couple of weeks into his new job he called me and asked if we could meet. He admitted that he had problems at the school as all his colleagues were teaching in the good old ‘tried and tested’ Grammar Translation way whereas he - fresh from college, full of great ideas - taught his classes in the Communicative Approach. As a result, he suddenly seemed to be the odd-one-out, the black sheep of the staff. He did not really know what to do: give up his ideals and do what the others did, or stick to his principles and accept to be the outcast? If I remember correctly he tried to make a compromise and strike a balance between the two extremes which was working somehow, which is a fortunate end of the story.
I don’t know whether I will be in a similar situation soon – when classes start here at NIE. My teaching style might be very different from that of my colleagues, and I am not sure to what extent I should try to fit in, or whether I should try at all! I do not really know how the students will relate to my teaching; would it will be acceptable for them (I heard that Singapore students can be quite demanding!), or what my colleagues may think about the way I teach? I am sure I will certainly change a little since I consider myself to be open - I will probably not be here if I were not like that. The question is how much change is needed? Or rather, how much change – whether I want it or not – will happen?
This is a tough question to answer. First of all, it is quite difficult to change the way one teaches as giving up your teaching style would be like giving up something which ultimately makes you the person you are. Of course, there are arguments that one’s personality and behavior change over time. The behaviorists would happily agree that your actions are the direct outcome of the environment in which you are; therefore, any change in my teaching would be a response to the environmental stimulus which surrounds me. Although I agree with this to a certain extent, I am doubtful that this would be the whole picture. I think this view does not give any place to the values and beliefs which seem to govern our life, whether we are conscious of them or not.
So far I think I have managed to cope with different educational and cultural contexts. Having taught on teacher education courses and giving talks in about 18 different countries I feel I have formed my own professional identity and values which I am most likely to stick to. I think I also developed some interpersonal skills and a cultural sensitivity which are essential for a teacher/trainer to have. These, I hope, will help me over the first few weeks until I learn more about my students and the context here. We’ll see if I am right or wrong in a few weeks time. Till then,
Tamas
PS: I have just seen one of my colleagues’ lecture, Alvin Leong Ping’s, which was brilliant and I think his style is quite close the way I teach (this is not to say that my teaching would be brilliant, of course). The students responded well and seemed to enjoy what he was doing in class. Well done, Alvin ;)
