Teach English in Pantang Zhen - Changde Shi

I remember the first day as an ESL teacher at a government school in Thailand. I walked into the gifted, 6th grade classroom and 36 curious students greeted me. At that moment, I realized I was totally unprepared. Four years later, I would like to think that I have become wiser and more experienced as a teacher. There were days where I experienced the full spectrum of human emotions. But we are responsible for managing and cultivating the right qualities in becoming more effective teachers. I personally focused on being responsible as a professional, having a learner’s mindset, and being emotionally intelligent. I believe these are important qualities that new teachers should develop throughout their career. Being a responsible professional means conducting yourself appropriately in the work environment. The three aspects of professionalism I focused on were being punctual; maintaining the proper image as a teacher and being well prepared. Being punctual means showing up on time for school obligations, arriving early for class and meeting deadlines from your employers. Punctuality reflects your character and integrity. Arriving late and not being able to meet certain expectations will deter any future advancement or responsibilities by your employer. The next important aspect is maintaining the proper image of a teacher. In Asian countries the teaching profession is a respected and admirable profession. The way a teacher presents themselves is important when interacting with faculty, fellow teachers, students and parents. The proper attire for my school is a buttoned down shirt and tie with black pants. Attention to detail is also important. The teacher should have proper hygiene and grooming. This should be common sense. Teachers lead by example for there students and they should put their best foot forward. First impressions last forever. Students also see how teachers are dressed and can tell right away if their new teacher is capable or a mess in a matter of seconds. The third final aspect of professionalism is being organized and well prepared. This goes without saying as ESL teachers may be teaching more than one class. Once worksheets, notebooks and student projects come in, the teacher should have an effective workflow to grade and record everything. I try to clear my desk of student work by the end of the day. I also spoke to other teachers and learned how they managed themselves. Its also essential to be equipped with extra activities in your "teacher’s toolbox" when the unexpected occurs. Schedules will change, interruptions occur, and there will always be the inevitable technical failure in the classroom. Carrying a small notebook and pencil is a great way to jot down quick notes or write down a new idea for teaching. I recall teaching class using the computer on a particularly heavy rainy day. The generator shorted and I was stuck in a dark classroom with 36 terrified students. I took out two markers and had the kids play a whiteboard game until electricity was restored. Expect the unexpected. Now the second quality teachers should have is being curious and having a learner’s mindset. Learn something new everyday and you keep your mind in shape. Obtaining knowledge keeps the mind active. Understanding how the world works around us makes us better teachers and well-rounded individuals. This learner’s mindset can be applied to personal and career focused knowledge. The personal relationship the teacher has with acquiring knowledge themselves will affect the way they approach teaching their students. Personal knowledge reflects the individual’s own interests and passions. I learned as much as I could about Thailand before I arrived. I learned about their language, culture, traditions, customs and worldview. I spent hours scouring travel and teaching blogs, books and informative video diaries. Before I was an ESL teacher I also studied as a graphic designer and as a chef. I still have a passion for art and cook for my friends. It is also important to stay updated with current events of your host and home country. I will keep active playing basketball and exercising. I believe that it is important to keep both the mind and body active to stay healthy. Acquiring career-focused knowledge directly affects your progress to becoming a more effective teacher. Research and development of pedagogy is essential. Not all methods may work for you and it takes time to customize them to your own style or preference. Many teachers are constantly tweaking and improving themselves. They take additional courses and gain higher accreditation for their career. Teachers also apply new techniques in real classroom scenarios. Constantly improving, we learn to recognize the classroom dynamics and what methods to apply. I have mentioned before about the "teacher's toolbox" and in this toolbox are all the skills and techniques the teacher has acquired through their experience and training. The major parts of this toolbox may be grammar, conversation, reading and writing. The teacher will also have a large assortment of warm-up activities, ice breakers, time fillers, group games, sing along songs and whiteboard games. The more equipped the teacher is the better prepared they are. The final important quality a teacher should have is emotional intelligence. This is the ability of recognizing one’s own emotions in a given situation and responding accordingly. Becoming an ESL teacher in a new country and a new school is daunting. Teachers will come across unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations but that is a sign that you are growing as a person. You are moving away from your comfort zone. Teachers need to allow themselves time to adjust. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. Allow yourself to make these mistakes and learn from them. I find the best way to adjust is to establish good daily routines whether big or small. Another way is to create a positive support structure of like-minded teacher. But the most important thing is to be patient and calm. As teachers and students alike, we only grow when we have positive support and feedback. These are the important qualities a teacher should have. Now the last lesson that ties everything together I learned from my students. Early in the morning, in Thailand. students sit in their seats quietly. The designated student leader alerts the other students and everyone closes their eyes. In the four years teaching at the same school, I have seen students meditate for five minutes and say their prayer chants daily. I now meditate for five to ten minutes daily as well. It relaxes and quiets the mind from all the internal dialogue. It focuses on the moment with no worries of the past or future. This brings all the other qualities in perspective. Whether its fellow teachers or my students, you learn something new everyday.