Today’s
post is related to something strangely unusual that happened to me. Last Monday,
before starting to teach at the secondary school where I work, we had a short
but concise conversation with the math teacher; the secretary was also present.
I only see them once a week so we don’t have a very close relationship, but the
atmosphere of the day contributed to talking about how he felt about teaching at a
secondary school. It was rather surprising that this teacher openly stated his
opinion as regards his profession. He was extremely disappointed about the
students’ pessimistic behavior and attitude towards studying; he claimed that
he only came to school because he was obliged to, but he didn’t feel the same
energy he did when he was younger – and he is in his late forties!
It
is m first experience as a secondary teacher and I can say that it hasn’t been
all roses since I started last July. The time I started working coincided with
the time they received their first computer ever, so I tried to make allowances
for some of my students’ apparent lack of interest. I felt really sad to hear
such a confession, because being a teacher might not have been his real
vocation in life, which does not let him find a way to solve his problems in
the classroom. Even though it made me feel a bit sorry for him, as soon as I
went past the door, my class and the future ones did not look bleak. Surely there
will be difficulties, but also rewarding moments.
Maybe
those students are able to see this teacher’s negative point of view, and they
just go with the flow and answer back with the same attitude, or at least, they
turn passive and don’t feel much interest. I think that his saying was due to his
personality type, more than an actual educational problem. I hope that in ten years
I don’t find myself in this poor teacher’s situation.
Yes Fer. It is a matter of attitude. When we, Nadine and I , observed the group we were going to have in our Practicum we judged them and said they were not a good group. They didn't feel like doing anything and they were really disrespectful. Then I realized that the attitude of the teacher in charge was to blame. When I taught, they really behaved and they were (they are) AN EXCELLENT GROUP. It is our attitude the one that determines their response. :)
ResponderBorrarAbsolutely Girls! I think a teacher's attitude affects the students' performances. If they feel that this teacher does not want to teach, therefore, they won't learn. No matter how excellent is his/her level of language or knowledge, he/she won't motivate the students!
ResponderBorrarI agree with all of you and, at the same time I understand this teacher. I've been teaching at Secondary School since 2008 and, fortunately or not, I have witnessed how teenagers have changed. They are disrespectul and sometimes you actually do your best and try to talk to them and nothing works. I think that being a teacher is not always easy. But I also believe that you have to try to give and do your best in the classroom. For example, I feel how my energy changes when I teach in my Practicum from when I teach in the School I'm working at. It is amazing how relaxed and how much more I can enjoy teaching in my work and, maybe I even apply all the things that seem to slip my mind in my Practicum. As I said: it's a matter of trying to do your very best! =)
ResponderBorrarI'm terrified of becoming one of those teachers who always complain and who don't want to teach anymore but that don't have other choice. I hope that in the future, if I get tired of teaching, I will find something else to do instead of tormenting my life and the others. I don't understand how can they live being so unhappy!
ResponderBorrar