As part of World Teacher’s Day on Friday 5th October, we wanted to chat to some of you awesome teachers out there from all over the world who inspire us every day.
Meet Rossana
Rossana Modolin is a freelance English teacher who is currently based in Brazil and has taught here in Cambridge. She has an MA in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching from Nottingham University and is currently studying for her DELTA. Rossana’s interests are in Second Language Acquisition and research in this area. She recently gave talks for Braz-TESOL and Seven Idiomas on the gap between SLA research and classroom practices.
What do you love about being a teacher?
The first thing I love about being a teacher is that it gives me the opportunity to connect with people and learn from them. Every time I start teaching a new student I get to know their personal history, values, and opinions, so I get in touch with realities I would never be able to experience otherwise.
The second thing I love about my career is that it allows me to watch my students grow and develop as they become aware of their real potential. It is really rewarding to see them becoming increasingly more confident about using English to communicate, and to watch them go further than they have ever imagined – by getting a promotion at work, a scholarship, by delivering a successful presentation in English, or even by moving abroad. So being a teacher allows me to witness my students’ dreams come true.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you?
There are several teachers that have inspired me, and it would be unfair to name some but not others. However, I think all these teachers had three things in common: They were all deeply passionate about their subject, they were all enthusiastic about teaching, and they were all willing to go the extra mile to help students who needed a hand – or a shoulder to cry on. I am sure these amazing teachers are the reason why I have become a teacher myself, and I hope one day to be as passionate and inspiring as they are.
Is there a resource you would recommend to other teachers?
As teachers, we need to constantly think about our continuous professional development. This means working to improve not only our technique, but also our knowledge about the language. So one book that I frequently refer to, and which I highly recommend, is the Cambridge Grammar of English. It offers a really comprehensive description of how English works, with plenty of real examples of both spoken and written discourse. It never fails to give me a detailed but easy explanation about any language point I have questions about.
Meet Deeya
Deeya Menon lives and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she teaches at the British Council. She’s been a teacher for nearly 10 years and has just added to her MEd by completing the Delta.
What do you love about being a teacher?
I love interacting with the kids, particularly the Very Young Learners and the 16-17 year olds. It’s also very nice when you see something you’re teaching being used accurately and fluently … the satisfaction of a successful lesson!
Is there a teacher that has inspired you?
I had a teacher in secondary school who was the reason I wanted to be a teacher. Not only was she a good teacher, she managed to handle the pastoral aspect of teaching with complete ease, making her approachable and giving her students a teacher who was so much more than just a teacher.
Is there a resource you would recommend to other teachers?
Global English course books – content is well-laid out and visually attractive. The subject matter is well-pitched, in sufficient quantity per unit and at an accurate challenge level.
Meet Tom
Tom Payani is the Head of Teaching and Learning at the Institut auf dem Rosenberg, Switzerland. He’s currently studying for a MA in TESOL, Education and Leadership and before working in Switzerland, Tom has taught in Barcelona, London and Cambridge.
What do you love about being a teacher?
I realised (in a totally selfish way) that the road to happiness was being able to contribute in some way. I knew that I needed to find a profession that fulfilled me. Whether that was a doctor, nurse or teacher, etc. was taken out of my hands. My family is full of teachers so I never really had a choice. I love the variety in the work, being able to have a tangible impact on people’s lives, and most importantly trying to affect my students in a positive sense both educationally and outside of the classroom. The reward of a student letting you know you have helped shape them for the better, or them telling you that they appreciate your belief in them, really gives me a lot to be grateful for.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you?
It sounds cheesy but my Dad. The way he cared about the students in a human sense was really special to me. It wasn’t about just getting them through exams, it was about supporting them as people. He was a father-figure to many students in my town, and observing the affect he had on people was very humbling. As well as being a teacher, he started youth clubs and community groups, often in the areas that needed them most. I thought if I can be 10% as successful as that I’d be happy.
Is there a resource you would recommend to other teachers?
In our classes we currently use the Think series as our core textbook. I really like this series as it focuses on soft skills such as empathy and compassion which I think is often missing for academic EAL books. As teachers it is our duty to try and make students more rounded human beings, not just more proficient English language speakers.