Problems facing educators

2010-03-22 - Steve Brooks

The new teacher on his first day in a classroom abroad; he introduces himself, tells the students where he comes from, and then asks them what kind of picture they have of his country.

Silence…

Eventually the new teacher asks one of the students for his opinion. Again, silence; but this time accompanied by a silent resentment that the teacher has picked him out for special treatment; a resentment, furthermore, shared by all his other classmates. First impressions count, and this new teacher must now overcome a certain residual hostility next time he comes to take that class.

What went wrong? Did the teacher make a mistake? Well, yes and no. His approach may have been perfectly appropriate for a classroom in England or America. But in a culture where students are not encouraged to ask questions, and where their opinion on anything has never been canvassed before, perhaps his approach needed to be modified.

This scenario is typical of some of the problems facing educators in a foreign country. In this case the students had very different expectations regarding the role of the teacher. The teacher was expected to dispense information, not engage the students in a dialogue.

What, then, can the teacher do? To understand these kinds of cultural nuances needs time, patience and a willingness to learn with an open mind. Not much help, perhaps, to our unfortunate teacher trying to plan his next lesson with that very same class tomorrow morning! In the meantime, he must seek out advice from other teachers who have faced these cross-cultural dilemmas, and then work out for himself where to go from there.

These are the kinds of challenges that face a teacher venturing out abroad for the first time. No-one should underestimate the problems involved. On the other hand, there are many rewards too. Eventually our new teacher will come to an accommodation with local norms. He will understand how to work with his students’ very different styles of learning and study, but will at the same time try to introduce his students to new modes of independent and creative thought. In this way, through teaching, he will gain an education himself into how other peoples and cultures see the world.

Qualifications for teaching abroad vary. Some countries will accept teachers armed with only an English teaching certificate. Others require a university degree and some prior teaching experience.

A Big Career Change

2010-03-22 - Jon Ford

In recent times there has been a spectacular increase in the numbers of those looking to change careers and enter the teaching profession. While the global economic downturn has undoubtedly played a part in this, as people seek work with more long-term security, there can be no doubt that a career in education offers a level of job satisfaction rivalled by few other industries.

Anyone considering leaving their current employment to become a teacher should consider the range of options available, and the kind of qualifications and training they will need. This will vary depending on the age of the students they wish to teach, for example at primary school, high school, college or university level. Anyone aiming to teach at high school level or above will also usually be expected to specialize in a particular subject area. The training required for such qualifications is a serious undertaking and can normally take at least one year to complete.

That being said, those who have made the decision to switch careers often find that skills and experiences learned in the workplace can serve them well in the classroom. Communication is of paramount importance in the teaching profession, as well as the ability to rise to new challenges on a daily basis. Those who enter teaching from other industries can draw on their background and experience to help them become effective educators and impart their hard-earned wisdom to their students.

As teaching becomes a more competitive industry it has become better remunerated, and many of those entering the profession from other sectors are surprised that their salaries do not suffer as much as expected. In addition, teaching offers opportunities for career progression that are unrivalled in almost any other industry, with good opportunities to progress rapidly to senior management. Teachers also typically enjoy a more generous holiday allowance than other workers. Although they must work very hard during term time, most teachers would admit that the kind of lifestyle allowed by longer holidays is one of the major bonuses of their profession.

Job satisfaction, however, remains the most overriding and compelling reason for people to change careers to teaching. This satisfaction comes from helping each student to unlock and achieve their potential, and enabling them to learn and understand new skills and concepts. While it can undoubtedly be a challenging profession, it is highly unlikely that any other career can offer the same level of fulfillment as a career in teaching.