This is a typical sentence of a last year undergraduate student. But do not worry, of course you are ready... That's why you have been in the department for four years, and that's why you'll have the diploma at the end of the spring semester. So what is the problem??? Let me guess;
1. You're not sure if you really want to be a teacher
2. You're not sure about your level in English language
3. You're not sure of what you really want to be; a teacher, an instructor, or an academician?
4. Your previous teaching experience as an interm was not as successful as you expected
5. You're interested in a different profession (translator, interpreter etc.)
6. You find it difficult to deal with learners
7. You think you lack appropriate teaching skills
8. You think you lack classroom management skills
Some or all of these may be valid to you, and I am sure there are hundreds of items to add to this list. Let's discuss this together and learn from each other...
Best,
Olcay SERT
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12 comments:
ı have been gıvıng lessons to may chıldren from dıfferent age for the last 3years at weekends.last year ı gave lesson to a student whıch was 11th grade and had 2years(now 1).untıl that tıme,ı belıeved ı could easıly teach any sort of thıngs to any chıld,but ı faıled.ıt may be my personal reasons or the student factor.altough ı know ı havent learnt how to teach or used effıcıently what ı have learnt at unıversıty,the thıngs about beıng a teacher and teachıng have really changed ın my mınd.for the last 10years,ı dreamed of beıng a teacher,then ı met some lecturers that made me feel ı wont lıke beıng a teacher(thıs ıs not you.olcay hocam)actually,because of you and thanx to you,ı decıded on workıng at unıversıty and havıng a master degree and etc. but now,thıs ıdeal have dısappeared agaın.what does a man that's lost hıs ınspıratıon and power of curıousıty do to take thıs back and make them actıve agaın?
Dear Ismail,
It's the case that many of us experience lack of motivation from time to time. One of the reasons to this setback is the attitudes of lecturers in the universities obviously. Teaching is a practical profession, but one cannot isolate it from theoretical background. In presenting the theoretical backgrounds for teaching, the lecturers in the universities are not always good at bridging the gap between the theory and the practice for teacher candidates, which is, I believe, your case.
However, it's great to know that you, indeed, have the intrinsic motivation to be a teacher. The only problem seems to be the lack of appropriate guidance from your lecturers. But this is something that can be overcome by yourself.
To gain your motivation back, you should set long term objectives for yourself, like "I want to be an instructor in a university". Then you should determine the steps to be taken;
1. Studying for the eng. proficiency exam
2. Studying for ALES
3. Practicing your presentation and speaking skills
4. Looking for the appropriate university to work.
What is more important is that you should be aware of your "self power" and increase your self confidence. Be sure my friend, you are capable. And be sure, you will be one of the best instructors or teachers in Turkey, if you belive in yourself!
Best,
Olcay
i really understand you ismail. because i suffered from a similar problem. i used to teach to my friend. he was very bad at english. we were studying together. he thought that i was good at telling something but i lacked something very important: patience. i used to get angry when i told something several times and he did not understand. i am aware that i should learn how to be patient if i want to be a teacher.
dear friends,:)
i have some different ideas about teaching but maybe it is early to say this for me.i think i am good at teaching to children or the beginners but i am not good at doing presentations to the learners equal to me.when i am giving lesson to a student who is not as knowledged as me i feel confident so i think i can be a teacher at a course or at state schools etc.that is i can't teach at the university.
Dear Derya, i totaly agree with you at the point that it is hard to make presentations to students who are equal to you.if we talk about our presentations this year,they don't look realistic to me.Because we assume that the students are at beginner level or int.Nevertheless,so far we haven't taken any course which teaches us how to grade lessons.I mean we don't know how to determine the words and grammar structures to be used durig the lesson.It can be suggested that they should give a course titled as grading lessons.But the main problem in our department is that we don't have enough lecturers and academicians.i have no idea how they will solve this problem but there is something for sure,the existing instructors should help us to teach a subject to low-level students.As you all know there are inconsistent explanations and ideas among our teachers.It ıs really hard to cope with it.Everyone wants something different....For now,this is the basic problem for me to be solved...
hello
i am totally agree with neslihan.there are lots of problems for our department to be solved about the lessons.ant this kind of a lesson may help us both improving our teachin abilities and developing our self-confidence.i have lost my belief about this problems but maybe the next generations may make use of this..
hello everybody,
after reading your comments ı need to say something on my own,too.ı am one of those who voted for the first option in the future-plans poll.but ı'm not sure of whether ı'll keep this plan in my mind until the very end.because besides witnessing some live instances myself(ı mean some of our instructors which make us lead a dog's life) ı am told that ı will make the worst mistake of my life if ı study at h.ü. as an instructor or a r.a.what we lack is completely being encouraged by our teachers.they behave as if they are not really teachers but just as mechanic teach-ers.(merely the people who teach without any emotion)we miss the affecionate high-school teacher model..
thıs was exactly what ı want to say about being an instructor at university.the reason why anyone(at least me) wants to be an instructor in university may be that in univ, you cant stop,you have to improve yourself continously.but the things seems to be discouraging by OUR teachers.they dont behave us as if we will be teacher at primary or high school ,or instructor at unıv.we had two encouraging instructors but they escaped somehow :)
so, the remedy is not at the university.it's at hand!!!we, the present students,should endeavor to change things in order not to dissapoint our own students.let's see and take a lesson.
by the way,considering the vacancies for language teachers in our country, we will most probably take place in a school (as long as we want to overtake this heavy burden)but, our quality should be of question not whether we will have a job or not!!we should try to do our best no matter where we are..in a secondary school, high scool or a university..state or private..makes no difference!if we continue our success with this conscious in mind all the time, ı believe we will be on the winning side..
I have no experience on teachiing something:( even in our presentation in lessons, I choose to be passive as much as possible. I never want to be teacher. I came here just because I want to learn English and some other languages. I love learning language but I hate teaching it. I will do my best to find an alternative job:) if I should be a teacher or academician or something else about teaching, I do not suggest you to send your children to my class.
i still couldn't decide what to do hocaaaam!you shouldn't have gone new castle at that time cause we need your guidance so much. i have nearly similar problems with the others, what should I do then?
Zehra,
first start with setting your goals: what do you want to do as an educator?
Try to talk to people who are currently working as teachers, instructors or academicians.
I will try to post profiles here before you graduate.
Never hesitate to ask questions to people who you think will guide you.
cheers,
Olcay
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