I believe that teaching is one of the most fulfilling purposes that someone can pursue in their lives. I have always felt a connection to learning and am passionate about passing on knowledge to others either through helping study groups during my time in school or teaching students English as an additional language. I also find building connections with students and other teachers from around the world one of the great benefits of this field. I hope that in my time teaching I am able to create lasting impressions on my students like many of my teachers have had on me. I hope to do so by building connections and by creating authentic experiences for students to take home and reflect upon.
Through my practice, I find that students learn best under two conditions. The first was being in a comfortable class atmosphere. A student in an uncomfortable environment is far less likely to participate in class and may pay less attention in class. Secondly, I believe that the engagement of a student toward the material plays a large role in why a student may not be doing well in the classroom. As a teacher, I believe it is my responsibility to create a comfortable space for students to learn and participate while also providing relevant material for students that they can engage with.
To create a comfortable space for students I find it is important to know our students and for them to know us on a more personal level, from the things they like to the hobbies that they have. Having this information not only helps me build a relationship with my students but also gives me subject material they may be more interested in. Throughout my time teaching, I also find that having students learn in groups not only reduces the pressure of working alone but also allows students to engage in meaningful conversation about the topics that they are learning.
I think it is very important that as teachers we acknowledge that we have just as much to learn from our students as they do from us. Keeping an open mind and learning every day is how to be a good student and also how to become a great teacher. I believe as a teacher I will never stop reflecting on my lessons and how there is always room for improvement.