Activity 4: Reflecting on Concerns/Fears

M4.U6.A4

Activity 4: Reflecting on Concerns/Fears

     I have been teaching English now for nearly 4 years and I feel like I can do a great job at communicating with the students and helping them understand a second language. Since it is their second language it can be difficult sometimes to maintain control, but I do a very good job at noticing potential problems before they arise. I am also confident in my ability to help the students enjoy learning and have fun while studying English. This helps the students stay engaged rather than disrupting their neighbors. I keep them engaged by having them participate in various activities and games. When I sense the students are getting bored of learning grammar, spelling and pronunciation (a typical English atmosphere lesson) I will switch it up and we will have a math or science lesson in English. In an ESL setting, Science is a little more difficult to teach than Math but both help keep the students entertained and they are learning English while doing another subject. I also feel confident in my ability to maintain classroom management and not let the students do whatever they like.

     As a teacher I have a strong passion to see students develop and when I see that they get it and I was the one who helped them get there…. that is such a gratifying feeling! I personally believe that my students can sense that even though I don’t even speak the same language as them, they know that I care for them and wish the best for them. I truly think that helps with maintaining order and an environment of learning in my class. The students know that I show them respect and care for them so they tend emulate that and show respect to others and to me.

However, I do have a couple of fears:

1.   How to handle parents that are difficult to deal with

a.   An example of what I mean would be if their child is the ‘trouble maker’ or ‘bully’ in the class but at home they are the perfect angel…

b.   As a result, the parents do not support you.

c.    For me, this is a big fear. Trying to establish a set of rules and have discipline in the classroom but the student(s) know that there isn’t going to be any repercussions at home if they get in trouble at school.

2.   Paperwork and other duties that you are not aware of that teachers have to do until you become one.

a.   Being in S.Korea I know the teachers here do a lot of paperwork and often times that takes precedent over the students!!

b.   So, being able to complete the other tasks but never neglecting the most important aspect and that is making sure the students are learning.

3.   When you have that one student that just seems impossible to control.

a.   Or when a student is 100% uninterested in school. There is nothing that seems to work to get them excited or engaged in the learning.

4.   Last and most important one for me…

a.   When you feel like you have failed

b.   When you do not feel as though you were able to make an impact in a child’s life.