My Experiences In Teaching...So Far

              For the past ten weeks, during the final quarter of my senior year, I taught English to 15 students at the Intermediate level from various countries and backgrounds through Ohio University. I am about to graduate from OU with a major in Linguistics and a TEFL certificate. In order to complete the TEFL certificate requirements, students must take a series of classes which prepares him/her for their future as an English teacher. The class was an English for All or EFA class which allows adult students from the Athens area to learn English from students participating in the teaching practicum as their teachers. As a student teacher I learned so much from this experience, not only the positive aspects of teaching and all that come with them, but also the not-so-easy parts of being a teacher.

            I had never thought about the hard-work, time and dedication that go into being a teacher. Each lesson took much longer than the simple 2-hour time block spent with students, but materials had to be created and lesson plans written. This practicum taught me time-management which I had never been able to really handle before. If I did not prepare for my lesson, not only did I struggle with teaching and became flustered when things did not run smoothly but my students suffered as well. This was probably the most challenging aspect of the practicum; to make sure that I fully prepared each lesson and predicted problems that could arise. There were a few times where I realized I was explaining an aspect of grammar that I did not fully understand myself. Teaching a language that you are so familiar with is not as easy as it sounds but it is definitely rewarding.

            I was lucky enough to have students that enjoyed learning. To me, they were the perfect students. They asked questions when they did not understand and more when they did. They had no obligation or incentives to come to class, they did not receive credit or gain anything besides knowledge which is something every student should strive for. I was excited as a teacher to have students that wanted to be in class and had unyielding enthusiasm and I felt gratified helping them achieve their goals. It feels good to watch people learn and succeed, but dare I say it, even more so when you are the one aiding them. My style definitely changed too. It improved and I grew. I began to look at things with the eyes of a teacher; thinking about different ways to explain difficult concepts and everyday objects that I could possibly use in my classes. It was exciting to test my creativity and share it with my students, seeing how they reacted to my different presentations. I never wanted my students to feel bored or overwhelmed because that is not the atmosphere that a classroom should have. Students should feel relaxed and at ease which is the sensation I tried to project when they walked in. I wanted my students to have fun and the more I grew as a teacher and became comfortable myself, the more this feeling was attained. Looking back at the practicum I was nervous to even begin when I had never done anything close before, now I already miss my students and cannot wait until I get the chance to teach again.

Sincerely,

Marie Palisky