Teaching experience by Sean
Thursday, September 7, 2006
Name: Sean Irving
Nationality: Canadian
Present teaching place: David’s English Center, Taipei, Taiwan
Teaching experience: I have been teaching in Taipei for the past two years. My first job was at a kindergarten and it introduced me to the teaching world in Taiwan. While there, I managed to find a second job at an adult school. I stayed at the kindergarten for a year, but the adult school ended quite abruptly when they filed for bankruptcy and had to close, leaving the teachers without an explanation and without 2 months’ salary. My two steadiest jobs have been with Joy school and David’s English. I have been with Joy since I arrived here and at David’s for over a year. I have also had several short term and private teaching responsibilities. Despite not having any formal teacher training in Canada or Taiwan, the hands-on experience I have been exposed to in the past two years has completely changed my perspective on teaching and learning a second language.
I feel that most employers are honest and just want to find the best possible person for their needs. But it is necessary to be cautious and not say ‘Yes’ to the first job offered. Taking a look around and understanding what is out there first can only benefit the new and prospective teacher. I have mentioned that one of my schools filed for bankruptcy and just up and vanished one day. The reason most teachers were surprised by this unbelievable act was that the school had had a good reputation and seemed to be doing quite well. My point is, if you find a school that you believe to reputable but down the road start to notice some strange behavior, either try to figure out what is going on or just leave. It is possible to find websites on teaching in Taiwan< and the experiences of other teachers. Just have a look around before committing to a school.
The students here are quite willing to learn and once the new teacher excitement-phobia has dissipated, the classes will tend to go quite smoothly. The success or failure of a class usually falls on the shoulders of the teacher. Just because you can speak English does not automatically qualify you to teach. There are some days when I wonder what I am doing teaching a language that I don’t completely understand myself. Of course, there are those people who naturally teach well, but even they need to prepare for class. But that is the point, they do prepare. Preparation is the key to becoming a prosperous teacher, well, preparation and a good sense of humor. Don’t take yourself too seriously in the classroom. Most students want a teacher that is different from the traditional school type. They want someone who will make them laugh and learn at the same time. A patient attitude is indispensable as many students won’t speak up in the class, even when asked a simple, straightforward question. You will have to push them to speak. Finally, don’t let the role of teacher go to your head. I feel that many new teachers find the attention from students overwhelming and maybe, in some cases, addictive. Just be yourself—your students will thank you and your sense of well-being will remain intact.
