Week of 1 August: fleshing out your action research plan

Hi there, I hope you're all having a nice Sunday! Here are my reflections about my further development as a teacher. It was not easy to be objective and pin down my thoughts, but I gave it my best shot!

I believe my main strength as a teacher is the ability to tap into my students’ emotions and actively listen to them. I am usually attentive to their needs and responses, but at times, I feel overwhelmed due to having eight/nine classes and a significant amount of paperwork to handle. As a relatively new teacher, I am empowered by enthusiasm and fresh ideas stemming from my recent studies. Yet, when faced with hurdles, I sometimes feel helpless and discouraged, causing my initial enthusiasm to wane. Striking a balance between personal ambitions and the real classroom situation poses a significant challenge. To address this, I must constantly rephrase and reshape my goals and objectives.

Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked in a different field, and I believe this experience contributes to my unique approach to teaching. Having worked in international cooperation projects, I find it extremely beneficial to establish contacts with organisations that can help deepen our understanding of specific topics. For example, last school year, my students studying agriculture engaged in online discussions with organisations focused on water management and climate change adaptation. This provided them with the opportunity to interact with international experts and use English for authentic conversations related to their future profession. Though I take pride in these initiatives, I often find a gap between my expectations and the actual outcomes of my work. Addressing lack of engagement and disruptive behaviours in the classroom remains my most significant challenge. Despite devoting ample time to lesson preparation, I often receive feedback that is frustrating, leaving me feeling like I struggle to effectively convey my enthusiasm and connect with my students.

Regarding my untapped skills, it was a challenge to explore them, and I even sought my partner's help to identify them. One skill I believe I possess is the ability to discuss and delve deep into a topic, fostering opportunities for dialogue. However, my shyness sometimes holds me back, stifling this spontaneity. I have contemplated taking a theatre course to develop self-confidence, but with limited time available, I need to set priorities. Therefore, in the short to mid-term, my main focus is to gain more familiarity with the ESP (English for Specific Purposes) areas I teach, particularly mechanics and agriculture. Additionally, I plan to engage in a preparation course for Delta Module 1. This course has intrigued me since I completed the CELTA, as I believe it can provide valuable tools to enhance my confidence and teaching skills. I take great pleasure in continuous learning and discovering new areas of improvement, and I am determined not to lose this joy.

Thank you! ❤️ 

What is your greatest challenge right now?

My greatest challenge right now is striking a balance between my personal life (I am about to become a mum) and my professional life. After working for several years in the Spanish private sector, I realised that most academies and schools work in the afternoon shifts, something that is conflicting or even incompatible with family life. Extensive, irregular or inflexible work hours can take its toll on everyone, but specially on your children. For this reason I am broadening my horizons and searching for more flexible options as an educator. 

In which 2 areas would you like to focus on as a teacher?

I have noticed that parents and teachers complain about poor reading and writing standards. Unfortunately, this hurdle is imposible to address without institutional and parental involvement respectively. Communicating with families can be intimidating and emotions can run high when we are dealing with someone’s child and their lack of literacy skills. This why I would love to find a way of fostering students´ appreciation for books and writing and also having parents on my side. 

Which resources, skills and routines might help me deal with my challenges and areas of growth?

I am currently reading about different ways of incorporating writing tasks to children and advanced students respectively. The book “How To Write Writing Activities” from the author Rachel Roberts seems promising and I am looking forward to reading it soon. Last year I read activities from the book “How to write a story” from the author Simon Cheshire and most of them are easy to adapt to the English classroom. Finally, I created worksheets that link writing tasks to visual literacy in a way that is attractive and encouraging for kids. 

Amazon.com: How To Write Writing Activities (Training Course For ELT Writers Book 20) eBook : Roberts, Rachael: Tienda Kindle

Amazon.com: Cómo A escribir una historia: 9781408866573: Simon Cheshire: Libros

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/LIFTED-BY-PIXAR-Lesson-plan-for-ESL-students-edited-6495251

Hello. Here are my reflections on the assignment questions.

What are your greatest strengths as a teacher?

I have a passion for lifelong learning, and that is something that I see as my strength. Continuous learning and professional development deliver invaluable insight, and it does not matter whether I am learning about a specific topic, communication styles, or experimenting with new teaching methods… I never feel satisfied with how much I know. Openness to experiencing new things and exploring new ideas will hopefully stand me in good stead.

In addition, I am very flexible and able to adapt, and adaptability is essential in this ever-changing world. We need to continuously evaluate what’s working for us and our students — and even more importantly, what isn’t, which inevitably creates a dynamic and engaging learning environment. 

What are your untapped skills?

I haven't discovered them yet, but there must be at least one somewhere within me waiting to be fully realized. Once I discover and harness it/ them, I am sure it/ they will contribute significantly to my individual and organizational success.

What is your greatest challenge right now?

(It’s not really a challenge, more the harsh reality☺) 

Roll on September (that was sarcasm☺) Another school year in a state school is fast approaching and that means using course books and dealing with administrators who leave me not much freedom to do things my way. I am a big opponent of course books. For a teacher, it is the easiest thing to come into class and finish a textbook lesson. It doesn’t take much planning, nor do you need to use your creativity or knowledge. It also gives everyone a false sense of accomplishment after the students have completed all the exercises in the textbook. Not to mention the English that you see in textbooks; it’s questionable if anyone speaks like that (recently I have heard the term ‘museum English’ which I do like, and which refers to English that is usually perceived to be real English, but it's fake, ‘synthetic’, and which is found in textbooks). 

Speaking of a real challenge, I would like to work for myself, although I lack courage and entrepreneurial skills. Self-employment comes with a long list of pros and cons, and although leaving secure employment now seems daunting, I am aware that this fear should not be a reason not to make the leap. 

In which 2 areas would you like to focus on as a teacher?

I would like to further improve my teaching skills, especially ones relating to lexical and task-based approaches in language teaching. To do so, I plan to attend workshops, conferences, and training related to teaching them. It will also help me stay up to date on the latest changes in the education field. 

Which resources, skills, and routines might help me deal with my challenges and areas of growth?

First of all, I regard my career as a continuing learning process, and that is a good starting point for growth. There is plenty of room for improvement since there is always some skill to sharpen or some didactic issue to solve. But, the path to self-improvement is not a fixed one; it is different for every one of us. Therefore, this personal journey has to be preceded by deep reflection and careful planning before setting our own professional growth goals. What I am trying to say is that I am fully aware that change and evolution require self-awareness, and that is a skill that might help me deal with my challenges. I can see myself clearly and objectively through reflection and self-analysis. This way, I see what is happening around me, learn from the situation, and can make the necessary adjustments.

On top of that, I have an organized personality, which enables me to manage my time and tasks effectively.  Habits and behaviors in my life and work are ordered and planned; I rarely procrastinate. Having established a routine, I have created a sense of structure and discipline in my life, which gives me a sense of control. I am of the view that this skill allows me to increase my productivity and reduce stress.

Which resources, skills, and routines do I already have that I can take advantage of or revive?

I believe that students can sense my passion for the profession and that they are aware of my constant need to read more and know more. They can feel that I want the best for them, and try my best in each lesson, as well as change approaches to meet their needs, which motivates them to also try hard, or at least to stay disciplined.

Thanks, Sean, this activity has been very useful and I have used it as a way of professional self-discovery (it reminds me a bit of the Japanese concept of “Ikigai”)

What is your greatest strength as a teacher?

I am a goal-oriented and student-centred teacher. I practice active listening and I can assess the needs of my students and help them to improve their language with specific and customised resources. I am a creative teacher who likes to improvise depending on the student´s mood and needs using the different topics, issues and ideas that come up during the class to enhance the student´s learning process. I like to co-create practical, intense and dynamic classes with my students based on their different learning styles, skills, and strengths. I am good at giving realistic and positive feedback that helps students to find their inner motivation and keep moving towards their goals.

 What education, knowledge and experience make you unique as a teacher?

My education, knowledge and experience are highly humanistic, eclectic and diverse (contrary to a niche). I am a  recent neuro-language coach who studied Forestry at University and got the C2 Cambridge Certificate after migrating to the UK. I have worked in around 10 different fields ( from CEO of a company to sandwich man), and I have taught totally different fields (from makeup artists to vets). I have also lived in different countries (from the UK to Uruguay).

I guess that this variety of experiences makes me unique as a teacher. On top of that, I learnt English pretty late when I was 33 years old ( I didn´t like English before)  because I needed it to get by in London. I believe I use my own experiential learning process to help my students.

Untapped skills

I love self-development, personal growth, psychology, meditation and coaching. I spend most of my free time learning about myself through reading, listening and journaling. I believe I could apply this knowledge to help my students to make maximise the value of our sessions.

Challenges

I can divide my challenges into two aspects of my job:

1. Teacher: I need to improve all the areas of my English. Since I mainly teach B1-B2 students and I live in a Spanish environment I have the feeling that my English is somehow stuck. I need to improve my pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. I also need to gain more confidence when I deal with higher levels and to be able to give them value. On top of that, the high level of my colleagues in this course has also highlighted the significant room for improvement that I have.
2. Freelancer:  I wonder whether finding a niche would help me. I definitely need to improve my marketing skills to share my student´s feedback and reach out to more people. Forming groups or increasing the session fees for one-to-one classes could be a good way to make ends meet.

Areas would you like to focus on as a teacher

I would like to focus on communication. Helping students to communicate in a second language (express themselves, their feelings, thoughts, dreams..) even if they don´t have the perfect English. Assist them in navigating English, handling mistakes, and leveraging their available resources.

I would love to teach Spanish professionals related to environmental issues or to self-development.

Resources skills and routine might help me with my challenges

Time is likely the most invaluable resource that I require, particularly in relation to my dual roles as a teacher and freelancer. Enhancing my skills as an entrepreneur could grant me more time to further develop as a teacher.

Resources - It might help me to have a pronunciation lab (resources related to pronunciation to practice in my free time), updated vocabulary-sentences used in real context (How to know which register or expressions to use in different situations) and a marketing strategy (finding a niche?). 

Skills - organisation, strategic planning, taking risks

Routines- goal setting, developing a roadmap for my students that includes both short-term and long-term goals, planning my lessons better, and giving my student´s a sense of achievement (tools to measure their evolution).

Resources, skills and routines I already have

Resources- Classes I have prepared by myself.

Skills- Improvisation, going with the flow, ability to connect with my students.

Routines- Maintaining a record of emergent language used in class, a good feedback system in place and a class structure (ice breaker-content of the day- review).