Job Discussion Forums

[moneyoriented]

Can an introvert (intellectual, anti-social type, as someone put it) be successful and happy as an ESL/EFL teacher?

Do you know anyone who fits that description? How 'bout you? Are you an introvert or an extrovert, and are you happy with your teaching career?

[denise]

I'm not sure I'd say that introverts are anti-social. I think a surprisingly high number of teachers classify themselves as introverts (no statistics to back me up--it's just something I've heard said a few times).

I'm an introvert, and I am very happy with my job. And so far I've been successful. Maybe introverts are suited to teaching, or at least EFL/ESL teaching, because we're less likely to put ourselves in the spotlight.

d

[Deicide]

[evolving81]

I'm introverted as well, which is why I think I would be ok in a boring Saudi job.

[johnslat]

I'm a Jekyll/Hyde: an introvert outside the classroom, an extrovert inside it.

I think this is also true of some actors - introverts off-screen, extroverts on-screen.

Regards,
John

[naturegirl321]

I'm an introvert, and anti social, but I think it helps me. Here's why.

I don't use lots of TT time in class, so students practice more.
I don't need to go out to discos or bars, am happy to stay at home and read.
don't need tons of friends, I'm happy with two or three close friends.

[Deicide]

[evolving81]

John,

It appears that I am the same way. After being observed by my mentor she was surprised at how extroverted I was when taking on the role of instructor. Maybe it will pay off for me in the long run.

Mitch

[naturegirl321]

[surrealia]

This is a topic that I've thought about quite a bit. Every psychological test I've taken has categorized me as extremely introverted.

It was a struggle when I first started teaching, as I didn't like being around so many people. Gradually, I grew to enjoy it and appreciated the opportunity to develop the extroverted part of my personality. However, sometimes I feel as if I'm putting on a mask.

I agree with naturegirl321. Not wanting to be the center of attention, not wanting to dominate every interaction, means that as a teacher, your students have more space to speak up. I've seen some extremely extroverted teachers who want to speak during the whole class, not giving students many opportunities to practice.

I also agree with what Johnslat had to say. I can be quite extroverted and outgoing in class, especially with super-quiet groups of students. However, outside the classroom, I prefer to be alone, read, relax.

If you haven't read it already, you might want to read over this humorous and informative article:

Caring for your Introvert by Jonathan Rauch

[denise]

Based on that article, I am an extrovert! I definitely prefer company to being alone, but small-ish groups of people I already know--not a party full of strangers. Waaait... maybe I am really a shy extrovert...

d

[Chris_Crossley]

[Mike_2007]

I'm quite introverted but I have really enjoyed teaching. However, 99% of the teaching I've done over the years has been 1-2-1 or very small groups, which I'm obviously better suited to amd enjoy a lot more than teaching large classes.

[surrealia]

Another challenge to introverted teachers is meetings. As Laurie Helgoe points out in her book Introvert Power, introverts tend to find meetings intolerable.

A few years ago, I switched jobs from a school where meetings were rarely held and teachers were mostly left on their own, to a school with frequent meetings and where teachers were expected to participate actively. In addition, the administration held teachers who were outgoing and articulate in high regard. I had a lot of trouble adjusting to the new environment. I felt exhausted at the end of meetings (especially the all-day ones which were held twice a year), and soon learned that I was being criticized behind my back for not speaking up in meetings. I did pretty well in smaller groups and interacting individually with my boss, but I was extremely uncomfortable in larger meetings. Anyway, I'm back working in the first type of school and it feels like a much better fit.

Some reading for those interested in learning more about introversion:

The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney. A good place to start, although I find her writing style a tad annoying, and some sections of the book are too superficial to be of much help.

Introvert Power by Laurie Helgoe. Better written than the first book. The author has a more interesting writing style and more to say on the subject, although the last few chapters of the book didn't hold my interest.

Introversion (PDF file) by Jill Burruss and Lisa Kaenzig is a good article about dealing with introverted students.

There are also two more articles on introverts by Jonathan Rauch on the Atlantic website.

[sarahg]