Teaching Philosophy
As a language teacher, I would like my students to benefit from three major beliefs I have about teaching. First, I want them to know and feel how I, as a teacher accept each student as a unique individual and am deeply concerned about each person’s learning success. Secondly, I want my students to directly experience my classroom’s learner focus through what they see, what they do and how they interact with others. And lastly, I want my students to feel comfortable expressing their own thoughts and to build self-confidence of using English language in class.
Nurturing Environment
Having struggled from early experiences as an ESL student adjusting to a new environment, I have become more sensitive to the learning atmosphere of the classroom. A comfortable and accepting classroom is the most important to Second-language learners, seeking a place of learning that is warm, friendly and caring. My classroom will be a risk-free environment, where students can make mistakes, get support and guidance to correct these mistakes, and are free to ask questions, express concerns, and state opinions. I believe all students regardless of cultural and linguistic differences or difficulties have their own thoughts and feelings. My classroom promises to acknowledge these differences amongst all students. Each student is recognized for his/her uniqueness in academic and language level, in culture, and own strengths and weaknesses. If the student is at a beginning level of learning English, the student is likely to feel scared and anxious in adjusting to a new school, new teachers, and new friends. Through my ESL experience, I as a teacher will put every effort in being sensitive and understanding of the many cultural differences.
Student Focused Classroom
The second important educational belief for me is the focus on students in the classroom setting, in the interaction with the teacher, and the lessons which are designed to engage all students to use and speak the language in class. When designing classroom lessons, my objectives are focused on students, their levels, their interests, and carefully selecting from real-life contexts. I also believe incorporating communicative language approach in classroom will allow each student to learn English to be able to "use" in a real-life situation. Interactive activity will serve as a perfect exercise for students to develop their own confidence of using English in class and outside of the class as well as to increase their own communicative competence. And finally, providing meaningful, motivating, and engaging lesson will create an effective language environment where students are able to apply the new knowledge in the real-life setting.
Knowledgeable and Competent
The final important point in my philosophy of teaching is my personal aspiration to be a knowledgeable and competent teacher. First, as a teacher I need to avoid using stereotype thinking toward students of various cultures. Since each culture has its own uniqueness and perspective, I must understand and acknowledge learning behaviors and educational backgrounds of each student. Having knowledge of first language background and language use at home, is valuable in understanding these influences on behavior and attitude towards language learning. From my internship experiences at a high school setting, I learned that most of the ESL students were in homestay situations. Thus, it was important for me to talk with the students about their current situation and home learning environment. In one case, a student had a serious issue with his study habits and in-class behavior. The problem was with his homestay family, who allowed the student to stay up and play video games until midnight. Fortunately, the homeroom teacher inquired about his daily home routines, and found the core issue of his classroom difficulties. Secondly, in researching and planning lessons, I need to apply the theories of language acquisition, be knowledgeable of the content to be covered, and develop a wide repertoire of various teaching methods and strategies. And finally, I believe a competent and knowledgeable teacher knows her students best by being a good observer, watching how students are learning during lessons, how they are meeting lesson objectives and how they progress at major points throughout the semester. As a teacher, pursuing success for every student, I consistently try to keep my eye on the students, check for their understanding and, reteach or change my approach to help each student connect.
Summary
My teaching and philosophy will always hold the following beliefs: create an accepting environment, create a student-focused classrooms, and become knowledgeable and competent as a teacher. At the end of my class, I want my students to find their own learning method, to be able to use the language without hesitation, and most importantly to find the enjoyment of learning English.
Nurturing Environment
Having struggled from early experiences as an ESL student adjusting to a new environment, I have become more sensitive to the learning atmosphere of the classroom. A comfortable and accepting classroom is the most important to Second-language learners, seeking a place of learning that is warm, friendly and caring. My classroom will be a risk-free environment, where students can make mistakes, get support and guidance to correct these mistakes, and are free to ask questions, express concerns, and state opinions. I believe all students regardless of cultural and linguistic differences or difficulties have their own thoughts and feelings. My classroom promises to acknowledge these differences amongst all students. Each student is recognized for his/her uniqueness in academic and language level, in culture, and own strengths and weaknesses. If the student is at a beginning level of learning English, the student is likely to feel scared and anxious in adjusting to a new school, new teachers, and new friends. Through my ESL experience, I as a teacher will put every effort in being sensitive and understanding of the many cultural differences.
Student Focused Classroom
The second important educational belief for me is the focus on students in the classroom setting, in the interaction with the teacher, and the lessons which are designed to engage all students to use and speak the language in class. When designing classroom lessons, my objectives are focused on students, their levels, their interests, and carefully selecting from real-life contexts. I also believe incorporating communicative language approach in classroom will allow each student to learn English to be able to "use" in a real-life situation. Interactive activity will serve as a perfect exercise for students to develop their own confidence of using English in class and outside of the class as well as to increase their own communicative competence. And finally, providing meaningful, motivating, and engaging lesson will create an effective language environment where students are able to apply the new knowledge in the real-life setting.
Knowledgeable and Competent
The final important point in my philosophy of teaching is my personal aspiration to be a knowledgeable and competent teacher. First, as a teacher I need to avoid using stereotype thinking toward students of various cultures. Since each culture has its own uniqueness and perspective, I must understand and acknowledge learning behaviors and educational backgrounds of each student. Having knowledge of first language background and language use at home, is valuable in understanding these influences on behavior and attitude towards language learning. From my internship experiences at a high school setting, I learned that most of the ESL students were in homestay situations. Thus, it was important for me to talk with the students about their current situation and home learning environment. In one case, a student had a serious issue with his study habits and in-class behavior. The problem was with his homestay family, who allowed the student to stay up and play video games until midnight. Fortunately, the homeroom teacher inquired about his daily home routines, and found the core issue of his classroom difficulties. Secondly, in researching and planning lessons, I need to apply the theories of language acquisition, be knowledgeable of the content to be covered, and develop a wide repertoire of various teaching methods and strategies. And finally, I believe a competent and knowledgeable teacher knows her students best by being a good observer, watching how students are learning during lessons, how they are meeting lesson objectives and how they progress at major points throughout the semester. As a teacher, pursuing success for every student, I consistently try to keep my eye on the students, check for their understanding and, reteach or change my approach to help each student connect.
Summary
My teaching and philosophy will always hold the following beliefs: create an accepting environment, create a student-focused classrooms, and become knowledgeable and competent as a teacher. At the end of my class, I want my students to find their own learning method, to be able to use the language without hesitation, and most importantly to find the enjoyment of learning English.