I’m following up our last guest post with words of wisdom for new teachers from another of the Literacy Coalition’s outgoing AmeriCorps members – Fiona Meeker. Fiona spent last year working with AVANCE here in Central Texas.
Although I had been a private language tutor for many years, this past year was my first time teaching a full classroom, and many of my experiences as a tutor weren’t relevant in a class of ESL students. As a tutor, I had been merely reinforcing concepts already introduced in a classroom. As a teacher, I was now responsible for introducing those new concepts and ensuring that my students understood the material, hopefully, eliminating the need for a tutor.
Once I began using the English Forward curriculum, much of the stress surrounding lesson planning disappeared. The stress that remained was a reflection of my perfectionist tendencies to believe that classes should unfold without a hitch. It wasn’t long before my fantasy was shattered, as students showed up late, forgot homework, or struggled to understand the material. This was quite the awakening!
My advice to first time teachers is this: don’t stress too much and learn to think on your feet. You will make mistakes- either forgetting classroom material, or not making enough copies of an activity, or any other error from a long list of various scenarios that can occur in the teaching world. When this happens, learn to roll with the punches. A little quick thinking can save the situation, and students often won’t notice that the activity wasn’t quite what you had in mind. What’s most important is that they’re learning something new and enjoying themselves.
As a tutor, I was also accustomed to students simply needing a different approach, possibly a slightly longer explanation, to understand a concept, something that I could often remedy in a few short minutes. As a teacher, I now had the more challenging task of introducing a new concept and explaining it in such a way that students could understand and link the concept to a previously presented one. And as opposed to tutoring, where there was only one student needing an explanation, I was now in a class full of students with various learning styles, all needing me to communicate a concept in their own learning language (so to speak.)
Hereby, my second piece of advice: don’t get discouraged. Some students will take longer to fully grasp a concept, while others will simply need an activity that presents the idea in a different way. Be patient and recognize that each student has his own process, and the speed of his learning doesn’t always correlate to your ability as a teacher. It may have more to do with a student’s previous education level in his native language, or a learning difference. Students learn at their own speed, and most will come to understand the material.
Reflecting on my first year of teaching a full ESL class, I’m proud of my students for their progress in mastering the English language, as I am of myself for becoming a better teacher (according to my students!) I now have a new level of respect for teachers as I better understand their struggles and the commitment they make to their students. Teaching truly is one of the most fulfilling careers a person can choose, helping make a positive impact that can last and inspire a student for a lifetime.