Job Discussion Forums

[pooroldedgar]

I've been in your shoes, so I can give some pointers that might help.

--In your training sessions, try to practice by doing. Not just explaining. Get them to actually go through the motions of what good teaching looks like. Even if it feels silly sitting there with a 40 year old woman singing Old McDonald, get them to actually do it instead of talking about how to do it.

-- Find that balance between a professional and personal relationship. Remember that you're there to do a job, not just to get them to like you. That said, you need to build rapport for the relationship to work. Find that balance between the two. I've seen teacher trainers edge to far to either side of the spectrum and it doesn't work.

-- They probably won't start seeing why you're there until that see that you know what you're doing. That means either you getting into the classroom and doing it well, or you getting them to do it well in the actual classroom. There really isn't that much you can say or do until then to win them over. They'll be won over when they see their students getting good, productive, enjoyable lessons because of you.

-- Remember that they are the teacher. It's you who need to adapt to them, at least a little bit. It's easy to think of your style of teaching as the way to teach. But it's just your style and everyone has their own. Your goal is not to get them to teach like you, but get them to teach the best way with how they already do it. So work within the framework of who they are rather than trying to remake them.

-- You gotta think a lot about how you teach in a way you probably haven't. You said you recognize the difference between teaching and teaching to teach. They are certainly not the same. It's not just about giving them activities to play. It's about how you carry out those activities, how you implement them. What language do you use? How do you give directions? What's your body language? How do you affect your voice when talking to students of another country? Do you use repeating patterns to teach new language or simple speak naturally? How do you ensure whether or not they understand you? What words do you use to let them know it's their time to talk? This is the stuff that teacher training is all about. These basic concepts and practices that are so fundamental to you you probably don't think much about them.