“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
As an educator, I believe there are many strategies to effective teaching but that ultimately certain characteristics are fundamental to engaging students and connecting well. I strive to be a teacher who listens earnestly, exercises compassion and understanding with my students, and meets students where they are. While it is essential to hold students accountable and to a high standard of excellence, I also have learned from my prior teaching experiences that we often have to adjust our expectations in order to reach students and inspire them to their individual levels of growth. This perspective values a process-driven, student-centered learning atmosphere.
Each student enters the classroom with differing needs, strengths, fears, and aspirations. My job is to get to know every student and foster an environment that is inclusive, safe, comfortable, and fun. Education is a dynamic, interactive field that requires catering to a variety of learning styles and preferences, differentiating methods and techniques to appeal to a wide range. Diversity is at the heart of learning, and I seek to celebrate and honor the dignity of every student. Within the school environment more broadly, teachers work in conjunction with one another, collaborating to best serve students. I am a teacher who wants to exercise mindfulness towards my colleagues’ ideas and struggles, building a coalition of empathy and dedication to progress.
I believe professionalism as a teacher is a high priority, and I strive to model a genuine character for my students that entails a commitment to integrity, humility, and kindness. In a language-learning context, particularly, my objective is to allow students to try and make mistakes. Speaking, writing, reading comprehension, and listening in a foreign language is challenging and at times frustrating for students. However, it is a beautiful, enriching skill to know other languages and connect with people from other countries. I want students to feel empowered and confident in the language-learning space because without that foundation of security it is difficult to grow and improve.
“A los niños me ha dado y sólo para ellos guardo mi salud y mis bríos. […] El futuro de los niños es siempre hoy. Mañana será tarde. […] Todo lo di, ya nada llevo.” -Gabriela Mistral
Read more on my teaching experiences abroad on my “Teaching Across Cultures” site, created as part of my language assistant renewal at my school.