Job Discussion Forums

[some waygug-in]

I have been told this by several people and I am a bit unsure what to make of it.

I am kind of a reserved person, not very extroverted. But that doesn't mean I am shy or that I can't speak up when I have to.

But I have gotten this a few times and I am just wondering what other people think of this.

I was told that "you have to change your personality".

You have to become an outgoing person.

I don't know whether to be insulted or just ignore it. Is this even possible? Not everyone can be Jim Carry (sp).

I have been teaching for 5 years and I usually get comments like this when I am applying for jobs..........like now, so I am wondering if I can fake being some bubbly bubblehead for an interview or two. Is it even worth thinking about? Do I really want a job where they can't appreciate me for who I am?

What do you people think?

Thanks in advance.

[PAULH]

[denise]

I agree with PaulH.

I am introverted, too, but it has never hindered me in my teaching jobs. There are some teachers who are loud, boisterous, etc., and if that�s their style and they connect with their students, fine. There are other teachers who are less so, and if that works, then great.

When I was in grad school, one of my professors observed me and commented that I seemed very approachable. Maybe us shy teachers appear more accessable to the students because we�re less dominating in the classroom? I took it as a compliment. If my students see me as approachable, then I must be doing something right...

I wouldn�t worry about trying to change your personality. You may find that it changes on its own! This job can do that to you!

d

[eng]

kind of difficult to give advice on this one as i don't know you. hmmmm....while i don't recommend that you act all bubbly for an interview if that's not you (let's say you get the job based on who you act during the interview...is that bubbly behavior something you'd be able to keep up?), i do suggest that you try to see how you can change for the better. i'm not saying you've got a problem--there's always room for improvement, right? just make sure that any change (let's hope for the better) is REAL change. not just an act. you'll just wear yourself out if you pretend to be something. and bear in mind, some students might prefer a softspoken teacher. you don't have to be loud...maybe you can find a way to be more personable/approachable/whatever it s you want to be without being jim carrey (i'm not sure how that's spelled either).
and it might not be able having to change your personality...you might just have to adjust it. you do still want to be YOU, don't you?
i just wanted to add something on "being outgoing". one reason why people think teachers should be outgoing: they think the students will be too shy to talk. and i guess 95% of the time, students are too shy to speak up and a teacher with a bubbly personality would be good at getting them to talk. but you can also get a shy student to talk even if you're not bubbly. i guess you could also ask yourself how you can make your personality work for you instead of changing your personality

[lajzar]

I find that often an extrovert personality can just make a shy student withdraw even further, as the student simply can't relate to such a personality properly. Extrovert works great when trying to engage the group, as that is where the extrovert students will naturally congregate. But to engage the introvert students, the best approach is to try and create a little bubble where it becomes almost a 1:1 situation (works best during pairwork activities). This works a lot better if you can project a quieter persona.

[some waygug-in]

Thanks for your responses. My question was refering more to job interviews than actual teaching.

It seems that schools here prefer talkative, out-going, energetic teachers as these types of people attract more students. I wouldn't say they would make better teachers, but ........ well, schools here are in it for the money.

Usually once I get a job and people get to know me, there is no problem.
I usually don't have problems getting students to talk, unless they are extremely shy or very low level, in which case it's better not to try an push them, but to make them feel relaxed and comfortable.


It's just the initial first meeting/interview phase where I always seem to face this same thing.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

I'm a pretty quiet person in general, too. I find that if can actually be helpful in small classes of adult immigrants in English speaking environments (but as others have said, it is about getting people to talk).

In large classes of junior high school students and especially in large elementary classes in EFL settings (at least in Japan where I am) it can be a problem. I have become outgoing with the students in class, but still don't act like a 'clown'. That can be a problem here because to a large extent that is what is expected from ALTs. Japanese teachers are usually the "grammar authority" (even when teaching rules that are no longer used in English speaking countries and making grammatical mistakes in speaking and writing). ALTs are expected to fill in the fun part of class because in order for the JTE to do that, they would have to lose a bit of the lecturer personna (which works so well as evidenced by the astonishing level of English aquired in only six formal years of study ) . The issue of "but the last ALT could~" comes up every now and then, as does "but the last ALT couldn't~" as if it's really surprising that two different native English speaking people from different English speaking countries can actually be two different people.

I also find it very hard to be outgoing in interviews (after two and a bit years here, I still find it hard to approach people in the staffroom, but they don't really approach me, or really anybody else, either). I haven't really found any solutions to it yet, other than faking outgoingness by pretending the interviewer is a student doing a practise interview, or that it is almost a casual talk at a pub or whatever- pretty much anything other than what it really is. You have five years of experience. There are more than a few people who drop out of this line of work in under that time. Make the most of your experience by thinking about (and possibly telling) the same kinds of student-centred stories that happen in class that you would if you were telling someone back home about the things that have happened while teaching. I find that that by concentrating on the students I start to worry less.

[valley_girl]

Personally, I don't believe that introversion or extroversion has any impact on teaching ability. That is, unless you have some type of anxiety disorder and hide under your desk when the students come in.

Interestingly, most teachers (professors included) that I know are introverts, at least by the Myers-Briggs personality assessment. I'm an extrovert myself, but in some situations I can be rather reserved and even perceived of as shy. If I am in front of a peer group (other teachers, for example), I become very nervous and find it difficult to orate. In front of students, I am calm and confidant. It's purely situational and I seem powerless to change it.

You are who you are. Tell people who want you to change who you are that it's neither desirable nor possible...or you could just tell them something that ends in "off". However, if it is a potential employer you might want to exercise a bit more discretion.

[Will.]

What is meant by their phraseology is that you would not fit in very well in their school. It is an opt out clause ...we like you but...
Would you really want to work with people that expected you to change your personality? that invented excuses to say no!
Relax You are better off not working for such close-minded types.
You have taught for 5 years that is probably longer than they have been in their job. Stick at it be yourself.
you could ask them to elucidate on their reasons for requiring bubbleheads in their school as opposed to serious practitioners.

[ls650]

[chinwubachu]

Yikes, I have had the same, I used to be terrible, in fact I couldnt speak without going red and found crowds really difficult.

Everyone is unique, you and me, that means no two people `should` be one thing. you CAn gain confidence, thats for sure as I have, it comes with a little practice and feeling better about yourself. If you are a bit down in the dumps or depressed this can play a major role in personality traits also. I have had pretty bad bouts of clinical depression in the past which played a big part in my confidence. However some people are really happy but just shy.
theres nothing wrong with that at all. Often people who talk too much are fairly shallow on the inside and many people who you `think` are very confident are really quite unstable. So don`t worry.

look at this::
The wise old owl who sat in an oak...the more he heard the less he spoke. the less he spoke the more he heard, why cant we be like that wise old bird....

[chinwubachu]

tip: are u woman or man?

if u are female. do something NEW for you, new clothes, new hairstlye
not for others but for yourself. ( diets are a waste of time)

sometimes we look in the mirror and its the `same old dull you`....why not try a new style, or change your hair coulor...if you are female it can really help change a lot of things...including confidence.

Remember also that you are just as important as anyone else just because u are a little reserved does not mean you are any less. if you work with adults go out for a drink or meal with them after work one evening maybe and they will all love you!!

[Guy Courchesne]

As I read through this thread, I find myself surprised at the answers. I agree that one should not be expected to perform a radical personality overhaul, but I can understand the interviewer's stressing of the importance of being 'outgoing' in the classroom.

I don't see outgoing as meaning edutainment, or clowning around, but simply as being engaging in the classroom...able to connect to students in a way that isn't so lecturing, if I can use that word.

There are always extreme examples of personality in the class...too introverted, too reserved, too extroverted, bouncing off the walls, etc. From my experience in working with a variety of teachers in Mexico, I think that of course confidence in your abilities is number 1, and that tends to take care of the rest.

[been_there]

We all have different aspects to our personalities. When I walk into the classroom, I need to be able to respond to students in a way that is different than I would in the outside world (I can imagine: "Why, THANK you officer, that is a VERY well-written speeding ticket. You have EXCELLENT penmanship, oops, watch your spelling here, i before e, remember? I'm going to put THIS ticket up on the wall!").

It's like being in the zone. Try to think of what you need to be to accomplish your goals, and bring forward that part of your personality.

Like having multiple personalities.

Everyone is different, and I wouldn't force my own brand of madness on anyone, but it works for me.

[Gregor]

I agree with Guy, in that I'm surprised at the responses to this thread.
Everyone is addressing your problems as a teacher. But you say you don't HAVE problems as a teacher. Your problem is with job interviews. This has NOTHING to do with being extroverted or introverted. This has to do with showing your potential employer confidence. That is 100% of the problem.

When you have an interview, do this - act like you know everything there is to know about teaching English. You can do this. Anyone can, because the truth is something that 100% of Asians and 98% of ALL people do not know, and that is that NO ONE knows how to teach English effectively.

I'll explain myself in a minute. First, a short fix. When you're in the interview, talk about what you do and why. Just make stuff up. Better yet, try to remember when YOU learned English. It doesn't matter. For example,
"Students need to learn how to read properly. They can't just look at a word and remember it! They have to learn how to read the syllables and sound it out. On top of that, they need to learn how to communicate with a native speaker, without using their own language. Sure, it's more difficult for them that way, but learning a language is difficult. I am an experienced and trained teacher who knows how to form a bond with my students. I make them want to communicate with me, and, since I don't know Chinese (or whatever), they have to communicate with me in English. I am trained at bringing this out of them. Using a language requires their creativity, and every student is capable of this."
And so on. Carry on with that line. Again, it's not a question of extroversion, it's a question of confidence. That, and passion. If you sound pasionate about teaching English, you will come across as professional. Everyone in the world wants to hire a profesional.
This will get you the job. Every flippin' time.

I have been studying this language and the teaching of this language and the teaching of this language to foreigners for a LONG TIME now. Here is what I have learned:

No one knows anything.

Sounds harsh? I know all about Task-Based Learning, the Communicative Approach, Student Centered Learning, and on and on and on. Jesus. The theories regarding second-language learning go back to the 19th century. It's crazy.
And what happens? Same now as ever - some students excell and others just suck. Most fit somewhere inbetween. And it has little to do with the theories. it has everything to do with TWO THINGS - the student's motivation, and the teacher's connection with the student. In other words, does the student want to learn? No? OK, next case. Does the student like the teacher well enough to want to communicate with him or her? Yes? Cool. You have an effective teacher.
Many - maybe most - teachers have no idea why they are effective. Again, I'm trained up the yazoo, and I'm pretty damned effective, BUT! One has almost nothing to do with the other.
It's not cool to admit to this, but I will - I have had classes that I hated SO MUCH that I TRIED to get rid of them by sucking as a teacher, and the class STILL balked at losing me. Lesson learned - it's all about connecting with the students.

And none of this has anything to do with getting the job in the first place. I tell you this because you need to have confidence to get the job in the first place, and there is ZERO reason not to show confidence. That is all there is to it.