Please share with us your views on the questions below.
- What do you like most about being an English teacher?
- What are the challenges in your opinion?
- What advice would you give to those who want to become an English teacher?
Looking forward to reading your posts.
Cheers,
Ivone Dezaneti
Brazil Community Coordinator
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Hello everyone, and many thanks to Ivone for opening this very interesting thread! :-)
I’m a public school teacher of English. For several reasons most of my students cannot afford to study in a private language school; therefore, I feel that I’m in a way giving them the chance to learn a language that will ultimately help them participate more actively in an ever-increasing global community where English is the lingua-franca. That’s what I like most about my job – this feeling of being somewhat useful for my own community.
There are many challenges in my job, just to illustrate, a public school teacher has to work with minimal resources and s/he is expected to always be successful. The number of students in class is also one big challenge we have to face daily.
If I were to give a piece of advice to those willing to become teachers (English teachers), I would say, “Remember that you’ll be teaching people a language.”
Best,
Bruno
Hi Bruno,
Thank you for being the first one to share. I couldn't agree more with your words.
It is really rewarding when we feel that we are doing our part in order to help others, especially those with less opportunity. Thank YOU Bruno!
See you around.
Ivone
Hi, Ivone! Hello, Bruno!
Funny enough I was asked this very question only yesterday by one of my students. In a practical way, what I enjoy most is talking with learners. In my opinion, there's a lot of energy in conversation: it's a give and take activity with a transforming power.
Like most ELT professionals in Brazil, I resent the low status quo of teachers in society which I try to counter as often as possible. So, when someone asks me, "What do you do for a living?", Great-heartedly do I reply, "I'm an ENGLISH TEACHER." ;)
What advice would I give to those who want to become an English teacher?
I would possibly answer with the words of Erasmus to a discouraged teacher: "Being a teacher is next to being King. In the opinion of fools it is a humble task, but in fact it is the noblest of occupations."
.
Fernando Guarany Jr
Natal : RN
Hi Fernando,
Thanks for sharing.
I agree with you that we don't have the recognition and in order to change this we need to make the TA's and communities stronger.
I loved your advice! :)
Cheers,
Ivone
Hello Ivone!
Re: "we need to make the TA's and communities stronger."
Yes and yes! Or even start TA's where they don't exist, like in RN, for instance. I'll be discussing that with colleagues over the week. ;-)
Have a nice week.
Fernando Guarany
Natal : RN
Hi, I am teaching English at hospitality industry. Everyday I have to teach the employee of the company. I am thinking to do the midtest for my students measuring their improvement and their understanding about the lessons, but I want to do the test in fun way, so my students don't get bored with the test and fun. Could you give suggestions for me what kind of activity that I can give to my students?
Thanks
Aurora
Hi Aurora,
You may adapt some of the ideas of the links below according to your students level.
- set a situation and ask students to do some searching on the web:
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/activities/www-reading-task-holidays-web
- role-play/dialogue
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/activities/staged-role-play
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/activities/interactive-listening-speaking
Performance tests can be fun and useful for students to demonstrate their skills (i.e. hospitality in this case).
For more ideas and tips check the Language Assistant.
Cheers,
Ivone
I wouldn't say what some may state, that it is a priesthood. It is a profession which has its peculiarities. You feel the drawbacks of having chosen such a tough and devalued job, but once you are passionate about the whole thing, you can't leave it.
I teach at a public school and confirm what our mate said before. Things are really discouraging, and teachers struggle to keep their sts on a meaningful learning.
I would advise the future teachers to do their best whatever reality they work in.
The rewards of being a teacher are much more than a huge pay check. It's witnessing our sts gaining confidence and expressing themselves on a second language.
Alberto Guerra
Pernambuco
Hi Alberto!
It's great to see you joining this discussion forum... especially as I know you've always been a very active friend of the British Council in Pernambuco.
I hope to have the opportunity to meet up with you personally again soon... but until then... I look forward to seeing your regular posts here!
Have a great week!
Graeme.
Hi Alberto,
Welcome to the community!
Great to meet someone from Recife, a very special place in NE Brazil.
I couldn't agree more when you say that "the rewards of being a teacher are much more than a huge pay check." We have the power touch the lives of our learners in so many different ways and help bring about much needed change in our nation.
I am looking forward to interacting with you online.
Cheers,
Fernando Guarany
Natal RN Brazil