Job Discussion Forums

[SaratheSlytherin]

I'm worried about my future. I can accept an honest answer, but not a mean one!! I just really need to know!

My question is this: If a person lacks a natural gift for teaching, is it possible for that person to be successful, or is it a question of you either have an innate gift, or you fail? In other words, do you have to be born with natural talent in order to be successful as a teacher?

Suppose someone isn't good at teaching. Can that person BECOME good at teaching... is it a question of "you either have it or you don't?"

For example, I play the guitar but don't feel that I have any natural talent. In spite of that, everyone says I rip... everyone is impressed with me. I practice until my fingers bleed, though. Natural talent helps one to play an instrument well, but if you practice and practice... something good is bound to happen. You have to learn the techniques and use a metronome but you will learn!!

Singing is different than an instrument. I guess almost anyone CAN sing, within their range, but innate abilities carry more weight. I sing okay I guess, I sing well enough to sing solos, but I'm not Whitney Houston and I never will be. You can find your voice, your range, and learn how to use your diaphragm, but the abilities you're born with will by and large determine your success as a singer.

That's just an analogy. I didn't mean to digress but... Which category does teaching fall into?



My other question is: How do you know if you have the natural talent? How do you know if you have what it takes or if you're gonna fail?



I just got my Tefl certificate about a week ago. I did my Trinity certificate course at Oxford House in Barcelona, and I really enjoyed the course. It was really intensive but the trainers were professional and helpful.

I want so badly to teach English overseas, and I was really looking forward to it, but I'm back in the USA for the time being (I need to save up some $$$ before I can go overseas) I've been substitute teaching in USA and some things have happened that have undermined my confidence in my abilities and made me very fearful for my future.

There's a world of difference between substitute teaching in USA (a nightmare!!) and teaching English abroad (I love it!!) but these things that happened to me sub teaching have made me worry that I'm not good at teaching.

I don't want to go into details on public forums but I will clarify that I didn't do anything bad (I'm certainly not a pervert; I didn't hit any of the kids; I didn't swear or use racial slurs, or anything of that nature). I've just been criticized for having bad classroom management skills. I can't remember what was said verbatim, but apparently a lot of people have gone behind my back and said nasty things about my ability to manage a classroom. This bomb was just dropped on me yesterday. I nearly got fired, and everyone thinks I have done a really terrible job managing the classroom.

This frustrates me. I feel so frustrated when I try hard at something and fail. I'm not lazy or stupid, and that's just what leaves me scratching my head... what did I do wrong?. The district is NOT professionally run, and I certainly don't think I did a horrible job, but I did struggle with discipline problems. My district is really rough and I have been dealing with some really rough kids. A lot of the time the class is out of control and nothing I do seems to work.

No offense to my fellow Americans, but American schools are rough and kids are really nasty and disrespectful here!!!!

You're thinking... sub teaching... this post isn't about EFL!! But my point is... I'm worried that this stuff that happened when I was subbing in the public schools sets a precedent.

I want VERY badly to have a successful Tefl career abroad. I'm so worried that I'm not gonna be successful, and this experience in the US public schools has undermined my confidence. I'm so scared I'm not good at teaching. I'm so afraid that I'm not smart enough to be a teacher and I'm terrified that I'm gonna fail in the EFL profession. I'm thinking, what if I go to Korea, or Mexico, or Spain... and I suck at teaching EFL and fail miserably and get fired? What if I fail so badly that the EFL profession is closed to me for good?? I'm so afraid that all this stuff here in USA sets a precedent and that I'm gonna fail. I really want to teach EFL but I'm so afraid that I just don't have the natural ability to succeed.

I read in my Jeremy Harmer book that some people who apparently lack natural talent still manage to become successful, effective teachers through experience and intelligence. But... are there just people who aren't good at it and never will be?

How do I know if I'm one of them?

Don't get me wrong. I don't doubt my trainers at Oxford House. It's a professionally run school and a good environment and it was worth the money. There are things I would change but overall it was a great experience and I would recommend it. It's just that I finished the course and had that heartwarming glow of self-confidence and accomplishment and then my return to the USA and experiences here have tarnished it. I'll also admit, I'm a chronic worrier. I'm not sure if my worries are justified and I would like an objective opinion.

I can accept an honest answer, though.

[lostdegaine]

Substitute teaching kids in North Carolina public schools is nothing like teaching overseas. You will be fine. Don�t doubt yourself. People do become better teachers. I once had a colleague in Japan who arrived straight from a seminary. He had no idea what to do in the classroom. Two years later he was one of the most popular, professional teachers at the school.

Also, it sounds like you have already had a positive experience overseas, so think about what made you successful there. Were you teaching adults? Was it your own class? Remember how we all behaved worse with our substitute teacher than our �real� teacher.

[SaratheSlytherin]

Thanks lost, for the sincere answer.

North Carolina is VERY rough. No offense to anyone from here, but it's a horrible place!!!! We moved here 15 years ago, and I STILL haven't adjusted to the culture. Labor laws favor the employer, screw over the workers, the public schools are ROUGH and they are not professionally run, and the schools are a nightmare... 99 percent of the kids are brats, violence and gang activities run strong. I've been threatened with SERIOUS bodily harm, called every name in the book, and slandered.

It's counterintuitive that I can't adjust to another state but I've lived in Mexico and Spain and I instantly felt at home there.

I was subbing to save $$$ to move overseas but it's true that it's NOTHING like my teaching practices. I taught little kids in Mexico; I was an assistant to a classroom teacher. The first-graders misbehaved, like first graders are gonna do, but they weren't mean or anything. Nothing like the crap that goes on in North Carolina. I did my Tefl training in Spain and I taught adults... it was like a vacation. My trainers were really professional; they gave feedback right away and told me what to work on. I can't go back to Oxford to "refresh" now but I've been looking at my notes and texts and might tutor some people privately.

I just don't wanna fail... but your answer is really heartening and encouraging. Thanks!!

[Kiels]

Every teaching experience is different. Whilst your current experience may not be the best, it will give you skills and help you mature as a teacher even if it doesnt feel like it now! But don't let it make you doubt yourself. I worked in Thailand last year; I'd had an amazing time in China previously teaching English but the school I worked for in Thailand was hard work. I doubted myself and had tough tough days. Yet now, looking back, I'm proud of how I coped and know I learnt valuable lessons.

One of the best skills a teacher can have is to be a reflective teacher. Even great teachers have bad days, bad lessons, but what is important is that you can reflect upon such issues without beating yourself up. Learn from them and use those experiences in the future to adapt to a new class or lesson. Learn, grow and evolve as a teacher. Nobody is born with innate skills to be a teacher; good communication skills and a genuine passion or care that their students are learning and inspired are the most fundamental. As a teacher, you encounter new situations, problems and students every day and in my opinion, every day a teacher should learn something new about how students learn, behaviour management etc etc.

From your post, it seems you genuinely care about being a good teacher which is great. If you care, you will genuinely strive to be a good teacher; understand your learners needs and try your best to improve their learning and this often means adapting yourself as a teacher. One person once said to me, and it's quite a belief of mine that if children aren't learning, it isnt their fault. You as the teacher have ultimate responsibility for ensuring understanding is gained and engagement with the learning is priority and if you need to readdress misconceptions; go back over more fundamental work or whatever it may be, then as the teacher you must gauge this and help your learners achieve. Aspire to inspire!

Go out, teach abroad and have an amazing experience! Good luck.

[Justin Trullinger]

Okay, time to get an EFL job overseas! Cause only then, I'm guessing, are you going to be able to stop worrying about it!

Kids are rough everywhere. (And funnily enough, you and I know a lot of places in common- Mexico, North Carolina, Oxford House in Barcelona...) First year teaching is going to be rough. There's a saying amongst teachers that if you had to do your first year twice, there would be no career teachers. Classroom management is something you can learn a lot about in theory, but it's like playing the guitar- until you practice, all the knowledge in the world won't get you there. It just takes practice, and in this field, real practice means with real students, nothing else will do.

BUT, I've been in this field for ten years. I teach, train teachers, and supervise teachers. There is no such thing as that magical, talented, "does it right from the beginning" teacher. That is a myth. You get the occasional odd one who is popular from the beginning, but that's just charisma. Teaching well is a skill, and like all skills it takes practice to develop.

Here are my criteria for the likelihood of success of a new teacher; and I've seen a LOT of new teachers:

Do you WANT to do this? (It's hard enough that without a real desire, you'll drop out in a year or two.)

Can you learn from mistakes and hard experiences?

Do you care about other people, such as students?

Are you stubborn? (In the sense of sticking to something when the going gets tough?)



That's really about it- if, as I sort of suspect from your posts here, the answers to these questions is "yes," then you can do this, and do it better each year than the last.

That's really all. Go get'em.


Justin

[Glenski]

1) Natural talent is one thing.

2) Getting the proper training needed to overcome one's inadequacies is another.

Recognizing the need for #2 is essential for becoming good at teaching (or anything). Acting on it is the hard part for some.

[denise]

I'm sorry you've had such a rough time!

I agree with a lot of what has been said here. Each situation really is different, and you've been unlucky enough to have a horrid situation. I've been teaching for 10 years, more or less successfully, I hope, and I think I'd just wilt in the situation that you've described!

I also really like the comments about being a reflective teacher. I've heard a few friends and colleagues over the years say things like, "I must be the crappiest teacher!"--followed by a tale of a nightmarish class. My first thought is that anyone who is capable of thinking that about themselves is on the right track to becoming a good teacher. (My second thought is that they're giving themselves way too hard a time... That's an awful thing for someone to think about him/herself!) Bad teachers are the ones who don't reflect on what went wrong and who don't wonder if they've got the ability. They blame the students or they just don't care enough even to think about it.

Hang in there! Seriously, once you get yourself into a better job, wherever it may be, your confidence will come back to you.

d

[scooby doo]

I too agree with...

Kiels about being reflective about your teaching. It is one of the best ways too improve and develop. Formal training is great but what happens after that? Teachers 'work' alone in their classrooms and there's not usually someone around to give immediate constructive feedback. The reflective teacher relies on their 'talent' of reflection to better themselves and it sounds like you already have that quality.

Glenski. His point on taking the steps to get training once you've identified your weaknesses is also quite important. Undoubtedly, you'll find there are aspects of teaching that were never covered in your tefl course and you will need to educate yourself on these new issues. Classroom management skills is an excellent example of a topic that is sometimes overlooked. Your difficult experience highlights how vital it is in the classroom and you're now fortunate to have this awareness. I've seen rather good teachers who for years have 'taught' badly (despite having talent) because classroom behavior/attitude was never properly addressed by them.

I support what Denise and Justin are saying about having the ability to take a long hard look at yourself ("learn from mistakes, hard experiences(and criticism) bad teachers don't reflect on what went wrong and tend to blame the students"). If you have that ability you are a good teacher.

Practical advice - read up on assertive teacher on various teacher websites to gain more background about how to manage classrooms. Once you get this one right, nothing should hold you back.

[Kofola]

I'm not surprised you have had classroom management difficulties. A 4-week TEFL course in no way prepares you to handle classrooms of difficult students. It gives you the barest outline of teaching methods, but nothing on psychology.

It is true that some people find classroom management easier than others, but basically most of us learn it though experience. Half of it is about quickly recognising potentially difficult situatuations and then having a variety of tricks up your sleeve to prevent them from kicking off. It's also much easier to learn it in a well-behaved TEFL classroom than if you are thrown in at the deep end.

Do some reading, find an easier class to cut your teeth on and I'm sure you'll be great.

Good luck!

[coledavis]

I guess this reinforces others' points:
TEFL and mainstream teaching are different things.
Natural talent helps, but hard work and organisation can overcome, especially at TEFL.
Yes, go and get a TEFL job, preferably in an organisation that takes well qualified newbies (i.e. they like Trinity and CELTA) and enjoy the difference from teaching mainstream kids. Remember, the mainstream kids aren't there by choice and they love to make new teachers' lives a misery. TEFL students are generally volunteers and want their teacher to help them.
So, go abroad and try to forget your experience in Carolina.
Good luck!

[powerrose]

I have often had the same thoughts, as my current position is brutal (3.5 months left, woooo!!!)

Being an old JET, there were a fair number of people who freaked out and left (esp those Xmas break runners). It's sort of impressive considering the pain it is to apply. It makes me think that the first step in being a *good* teacher is just being able to step in that class every day.

Classroom management is a nightmare in my school, and I see veteran teachers floundering with things like star charts and time outs just like I do. Actually, I got chewed out for putting kids in time-out in the hall early in the year (apparently against the rules), and now I see the hallways littered with kids every period from almost everyone's classes.

One of the problems in my school is that there is no communication and no disciplinary policy. You can try as hard as you want to be all awesome and Jaime Escalante-esque, but it's near impossible to control classes when kids know that you have little power.

Anyway, stay in there, keep practicing. Contrary to popular belief, you can get control of a class at any point, you haven't 'lost your chance'. Good luck!

[johnslat]

"Ninety percent of life is just showing up."
Woody Allen

"Of the remaining ten per cent, five per cent is getting started, one per cent is following the directions, and three per cent is finishing. The remaining one per cent of life is a mystery." Jay Detweiler

"I had a couple early successes in my life that I thought others were more qualified to do. In the end I was selected because the others self-selected themsleves out of the game by not even showing up. Would the others have done better at the school or job that I took? Maybe and even probably--but they never showed up and I did."
David Miller

I certainly wasn't a "natural" when i began. As a child. I was almost pathologically shy, and the idea of standing up in front of a class of teenagers, managing that classroom, and actually teaching those students something was, to put it mildly, challenging.

During my internship, I'd routinely have to go to the men's room before class to upchuck.

But darn it - I wanted to be a teacher, so I kept "showing up." And, strangely enough, after not too long a time, my anxiety and nervousness
(two main things that mitigate against being able to "handle a class") began to transform into confidence and even eagerness.

If I was able to "metamorphosize" that way, believe me, anyone can. I've had observers in my class tell me, "You're a natural teacher."

HA!!! If they only knew.

Regards,
John

[coledavis]

Blimey, John, I'm impressed by your fortitude.

[johnslat]

Dear coledavis,

I'm a stubborn cuss - just ask my wife.

Regards,
John

[Hod]

I applied for and got a teaching job at the British Council. The interview was tough with searching questions about my leadership and IT abilities as well as entrepreneurship and teamworking skills and possibly a few other important competences I can�t remember right now. The two interviewers were professional, never deviating from their list of questions or asking me about teaching and such small talk. So, if you�re a bit of a flop in front of students but can turn a computer on, try the British Council.