Teaching Philosophy - the Rough Rough Rough Draft

As a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL), I believe that it is my duty to create a safe, comfortable, positive, and productive environment in which all students can practice and learn English and life skills, as well as to provide students with effective instruction that is based on cutting-edge research and practices. I accept that some students will arrive already viewing ESL class as a beneficial, enriching addition to their lives, while others might initially view it as a burdensome and unnecessary hurdle. My goal is to give the students who recognize the benefits of my class every opportunity to engage in learning, discovering, and practicing, while also encouraging the more reluctant students to find value in their lessons through meaningful, appropriate, and inspiring activities. I also recognize that no two students are the same and that every student learns in his or her own unique way. To address the individuality of every student, I incorporate as many different types of activities into class as possible. This allows students to acquire language through various means, increasing their exposure not only to the material, but also to the diverse situations in which language occurs. Today, technology creates another avenue for learning, and also plays a huge factor in communicating in many parts of the world. Students are conversing through text messages instead of in person; friends are sending emails instead of dialing the phone; and educators are disseminating information through the internet instead of traditional lectures. As an ESL teacher, it is a challenge and a responsibility to have a thorough understanding of the technology that is available to me and my students and how that technology can enhance my ability to teach, as well as their ability to learn. The internet itself, as well as the multitude of language learning applications on the market today, create a bottomless mine of learning possibilities - some effective, some ineffective. Striking a balance between incorporating effective technologies into my lessons and not inundating students with trivial or ineffective applications for the sake of technology makes up a large part of that challenge. Although technology has a lot to offer educators and learners alike, it should always be used to enhance a lesson and a language point, and never vice-versa. Because of the various means of educating that are popular today, teachers have a formidable task in deciding what to teach, how to teach it, and when, but I have come to also view this task as an exhilarating one. One that allows for continual exploration into ESL research and teaching strategies, and growth as an educator. To me, being an ESL teacher means putting the students' educational needs first, never relying on one set way of teaching, and continually exploring, learning about, and applying information from this expanding and fascinating field.