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For my final task, I chose to do my essay on the role of a language teacher. The teacher is arguably the heart of a classroom dynamic. Their role over the ages has remained almost unchanged. In essence, every teacher plays multiple roles during the day--the counselor, the mentor, the enforcer and friend. Our role as language teachers is to give our time and knowledge to our students for their betterment .The short hour every day that they spend with us should not only leave them feeling empowered by new language abilities, but also excited for more. Through my experiences with my own professors and as a volunteer teacher in a private middle school, I believe the role of the language teacher is vital and unique for those who don’t have any way of learning the language naturally. In recounting my past encounters with language teachers, the most noteworthy are those I had with college professors. I remember my professors sacrificing their Saturday afternoons to meet with me regarding final projects, or requiring us to meet individually with them to discuss progress. They continuously took time outside of class to assess what they could do to help me reach my language goals. This passion to see students succeed is what I hope to invest in my students. The teachers who invest more in their students establish rapport and trust, which combined creates an atmosphere for students to thrive in. This is especially true in a language classroom as students typically have stronger motives to learn in this setting than with other subjects. Second languages are applicable in almost all areas of professional and personal life. This powerful motive means language teachers must give more to their students to help them succeed. I have had a very short personal experience as an English teaching assistant, but this short time taught me much about the role. In 2016 I volunteered to be an English teaching assistant with a program called Lattitude Global Volunteering. There were many challenges I faced in those six short months in Poland. To begin with, our selected school had never had volunteers before. In the beginning this caused tremendous frustration and confusion as my partner and I were constantly sent to different classrooms with five minutes notice. We were often treated as unpaid substitutes (which was a legality, as we didn't have the proper qualifications) and given full control of classes without any guidance or materials. We were often thrown into a role we weren’t allowed or prepared to be. Perhaps I am painting a nightmare scenario for some--which, I admit, it did feel like one at the time--but looking back now I realize the hidden lessons on being a teacher. Without this dismal first experience, I would not feel prepared to teach future students. Additionally, I now know how I would improve those experiences for the future. To begin with, I would make sure to establish rapport with each class. Unless there is a harmonious relationship between the teacher and the students, the class becomes difficult for everyone, as I have experienced. Since the students already knew each other (we came in the second half of the year) I would focus on establishing my role as an instructor and ready source outside of class time for questions. I would also ensure the students gave me their respect at all times, and to gain authority within the very first session. As mentioned in the course, it is much easier to loosen the reins of control than it is to tighten them. I would also discuss problem students and behaviors with the appropriate authority, such as a fellow teacher in hopes for advice, or the principal if the behaviors continued. Finally, I would sacrifice time to meet with students individually to discuss their goals, just as my professors did for me. Thanks to this course and my own teaching background, I am armed with the knowledge necessary to tackle my first class on my own. While it will be difficult, especially when helping students through hard grammatical aspects, or dealing with disruptive behavior, I hope I will be able to not only establish rapport, but to prove to my students that I am a tool for them to utilize as they pursue their language goals. When learning English naturally isn’t an option, language teachers become vital alternatives, and I hope to be the most effective alternative I can be.
