Teach English in WusAn Nongchang - Zhumadian Shi

I am a lifelong learner! Encouraging a similar philosophy among all the students I teach. Learning is my passion! Therefore, I take every opportunity to improve myself. Many humans behave like they know everything. This is a misguided perception. Rather, developing a curious mind is better. It is because of man’s desire to know more than we have made many advances. Traveling to outer space, developing communication devices, automobiles, aircrafts the list is extensive. Without curiosity, continuous development, and constant learning, none of which would be possible. We should develop similar ideas in education. Educators should be lifelong learners. This is one reason I completed the ITTT two hundred and forty (240) hour TEFL Master Package course. Personally, continuous development is vital. Trained as a visual arts and design teacher, TEFL is new territory. I needed training in this field. TEFL is a developing area of study, with varying approaches, techniques and theories. It maintains certain pedagogical qualities. These include making lessons more student-centered and less teacher-centered. This practice is most beneficial to the learner, regardless of the subject area. Teaching to the various learning domains is important. Using various educational theories; multiple intelligences, constructivist theories, task-based learning, and content-based learning all form aspects of general teaching and learning theory. These ideas should form part of the lesson planning process. The TEFL program I studied fused all these ideas together harmonically. Admittedly, I was not sure about what the course would entail. No course is perfect, and there is room for improvement. However, after exploring an overview of the course, it looked compact and comprehensive. Providing the right amount of information, activities, and suggestions for further research and training. Having been a part of an ESL program in China, I witnessed how others approached ESL. I could identify strengths and areas for improvement in their practice. Teachers have mixed feelings about TEFL. A French teacher at my school told me that EFL was ‘a waste of time and proves nothing’. She is teaching ESL to grade six students. We are all entitled to our opinion, but I don’t share that one. Having completed the program, I feel more equipped to deal with varying age groups. Giving consideration to teaching adults if the need arises. This program has also reinforced some strategies I have incorporated into my ESL practice. During the summer break, I have had ample time to reflect on my practice. Reflecting on the many positives of my teaching and areas where improvements should take place. Some of these areas include overall class organization, lesson planning, and drilling. I am normally very organized but recognize many ways in which I could improve. Using the ESA technique, for example, is simple but practical. While I used a similar approach when teaching Visual Arts, I use varying approaches when teaching ESL. However, the course presented this technique in a succinct but effective manner. I will enjoy using this and other strategies during the coming term. The online teaching and learning resources were wide-ranging, insightful, and helpful. We should use the Internet with caution. Its information is not always accurate. Having reviewed the content on many of the sites presented in the course, they are useful. The information I garnered, along with books and journals, will become valuable resources to continue exploring this new field. I love new challenges. I have been teaching in one country for over twenty (20) years. While full of challenges, I navigated these with success preparing students for their final regional examination in Visual Arts. There were many systemic challenges. Approaching this carefully and creatively reduced the operational challenges. After some student, I prepared, topped the Caribbean at these exams. This started getting easy. I sought new challenges. Therefore, I started looking for new experiences, exploring teaching positions in other countries. I stepped out of my comfort zone, accepting a teaching position in another country where English was not the first language. I think it is important for teachers to change their modus operandi from time to time. If not, the danger of monotony creeps in. This can lead to lethargy and slow or stagnated growth. I refuse to become a teacher who descends into this trap. Unfortunately, my country does not offer teacher exchange programs as other countries do. This would help change a teacher’s perspective and paradigm, presenting them with new strategies to approach their practice. Exploring new cultures is one sure way to maintain the goal of continuous learning. These are the reasons I studied a TEFL program. Nothing I have learned throughout my life has been insignificant. I have used much of what I have learned in the classroom as many teachers do. I studied graphic design and visual arts. These allowed me to work as a freelance graphic designer working on exciting design projects and to become a fine arts teacher and a fine artist. Having learned to make crafts with a skilled craftsman in my country improved my knowledge of design and functionality using natural materials. I also use these skills in the classroom. While learning these many things throughout the years, I did not realize that they would become as useful as they are today. There is so much to learn in this world, both from negative and positive experiences. Therefore, I am now ready to explore what my newfound knowledge will allow me to share and learn in ESL. The journey of lifelong learning continues. I leave with the following quote: “Persistence, perseverance, and continuous improvement are the ingredients for forming a successful person.” — Debasish Mridha