How to Become an ESL Teacher
In the world, there are many different professions that people dream of. If you ask someone to name some of them, they probably would say something like a doctor, teacher, singer, and so on. When I was a child, my dad wanted me to become a teacher. He thought that becoming a teacher was a great job. Not just him, but many other people also thought so. It has always been like that. Back then, I was too young to understand the reason. But now that I have become a teacher, I am starting to realize why my dad and everyone else liked it.
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate OTGONTSETSEG S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
When Do You Become a Teacher?
Every individual needs someone to point them in the right direction in their life. That special someone could be their parents, teachers or friends. It's often the teachers who are the ones who influenced them most. So I believe being a teacher is a beautiful privilege to impact someone's life other than their parents.
When I graduated from college, I thought. Finally, I am a teacher now. But I was wrong. I had my diploma, but I was far from becoming a natural teacher. I thought knowing your subject well is all that matters. Yes, it matters, but it is not the whole thing.
There is much more to being a teacher than being knowledgeable in a subject. Teachers play several roles, such as guardians, caretakers, instructors, learning facilitators, mentors, inspirations, etc. A good teacher teaches the knowledge and helps her/his students build a moral foundation in their lives and discover future potential. Because of mainstream culture, it is often hard to gain confidence or acceptance of our self-worth. Sometimes it takes a long time for people to understand their self-worth and to gain confidence.
Many Responsibilities
I firmly believe that one role of a teacher is to be a positive influence. Once a teacher builds an authentic relationship with her/his students, the students can open up and share their hurts, reveal their feelings, be honest with their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, and acknowledge their weaknesses. I understand that not every teacher earns their students' trust. Probably some people would not agree with my ideas about teachers' roles. That is fine. It is just my opinion.
In my life, I had a teacher who had a significant impact on my life. I was a young woman without a purpose. I only wanted to learn music from her. And I did. But more importantly, that teacher helped me to find myself and discover my strength. She is just an ordinary teacher, yet she helped me to live with a purpose. I learned from her about self-discipline. I think she was a sage teacher. She helped me realize that it is never too late to learn. I did not become a musician. Instead, I have become a teacher. She speaks different languages, and she influenced me that way as well. She made me love learning new languages.
Are you ready to teach English abroad or online?
Now, I get excited whenever I have new students in my life. I always enjoy being a private tutor. It gives me a chance to be part of my students' lives and be a positive role model. I am confident that even a short amount of time with my students can make a big difference in their lives.
Apply now & get certified to teach english abroad!
Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad!
Send us an email or call us toll-free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today.
Related Articles:
- Top 10 Cities in Europe with the Highest Demand for English Language Teachers
- 5 Reasons To Take A TEFL Course Right Now - Even If You Are Not Leaving Yet | ITTT | TEFL Blog
- All the Documents You Will Need to Teach English Abroad
- The Impact of Positive Motivation on an ESL Classroom
- You’re Never Too Old to Change Your Life and Do a TEFL Course | ITTT | TEFL Blog
- Getting Student Placement Right - The Best Desk Arrangements for EFL Students
