My main objective as a teacher is to instill in students the capacity and desire to become independent and lifelong learners. Education should give rise to good learning habits and skills that a student can use throughout life in educational, employment, or personal contexts. I believe teachers and students co-construct knowledge to arrive at shared understandings of reality, with the teacher acting as an expert facilitator who guides students towards their own expertise. A teacher should inspire students to extend their knowledge and experience, imagine possible futures, transform the world, and act justly.
To help students become successful learners a teacher must foster a safe and comfortable classroom environment in which students trust the teacher and one another. Teachers can create such an atmosphere by listening to students and allowing them to express their desires and needs. Teachers who learn about their students’ prior experiences and aspirations as learners can provide differentiated instruction targeting their specific needs. It is of paramount importance that a teacher take the time to understand the educational and cultural backgrounds of students when teaching language and literacy skills.
Though it is not always possible to negotiate the policies governing a course or program, nor the methods of assessment, students should feel that they can freely express their views on a course of study with the teacher. Whenever possible, students should be able to negotiate the syllabus and assessment strategy. This is not to say that teachers should be lenient with or tolerant of students who fail to follow policies, rules, and procedures once they have been made explicit. Understanding and following clear and fair guidelines is integral to success.
My teaching philosophy has evolved over the course of my career as a TESOL educator. I have taught in a range of institutions both in the United States and abroad in Hungary and the United Arab Emirates at the secondary and tertiary levels. My philosophy has also been shaped by my own experiences as a student, especially at the graduate level. I have found that understanding where students come from and where they want to go is the foundation of sound instruction.