TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
The ability to learn is something that is ingrained in the mind of all human beings. Both young and
old, we are all able to learn. The aforementioned process has been studied for centuries and still a
great number of questions continue to go unanswered. It is for this reason that each and every
educator in the world has adopted various teaching strategies based on their personality and
experience in the classroom. Using and updating tools and methodology is simply part of the job, as
educators must also be learning constantly to ensure the effectiveness of their approach(es). In the
case of EFL learning, the presence of a native speaker in the classroom stands as one of many
potential innovations providing students with a multitude of opportunities for growth. As an
educator, it is imperative that one be aware of one’s own approach to and understanding of the
learning process including the classroom atmosphere, freedom of creativity and the flexibility of the
teacher in the classroom.
When an individual is asked to describe what a good teacher is, it often happens that the
individual recalls many desirable attributes of their favourite teacher as well as many more to the
contrary. It is most definitely true that one teacher’s approach to teaching may not be acceptable to
all students, but it is necessary for educators to strive to find a method that is acceptable to as many
students as possible. In a language classroom, it is absolutely imperative that students feel free to
express themselves in a relaxed environment. If the students feel that errors will anger the teacher
or bring ridicule down upon themselves, they will simply be silent and proceed to learn very little or
nothing at all. If all the students feel this way, one is easily faced with a predicament. Teachers of all
subjects must be aware of the fact that human beings have only ever learned by making mistakes.
Most adults remember the teachers that made learning enjoyable by making them feel comfortable
and helped them to improve through practice. This atmosphere must be established before any
other, more serious learning can be done as, from my observations, fluency comes more naturally to
students in this case. The presence of a native speaker in the classroom can give students the
confidence to express themselves in a foreign language. The authentic experience, though daunting
at first, often reinforces their knowledge and confidence. Knowing that you are understood in a
foreign language is both empowering and motivating. It is with this that a student’s confidence
grows. Although a certain amount of discipline is vital to every classroom situation, students cannot
learn when they are terrified to take risks. It is a part of a teacher’s job to help them understand that
it is a justifiable and necessary step towards future success.
Creativity is crucial in the language classroom, long gone are the days when a teacher could
simply provide exercises and drills and expect the students to sit quietly and study on their own. A
language learning classroom should rarely be a quiet one! Students tend to practice their verbal
language skills more frequently if encouraged to participate in something creative even if it is nothing
more than a debate or discussion. If the atmosphere is more on the relaxed side (of course, not
straying into a total lack of discipline!) a discussion can give students a chance they rarely get: to
express their own point of view. In this case, the professor hands the reigns over to the students
allowing them to lead conversations, present arguments and consider certain concepts that they may
not be concerned with otherwise. This in itself is capable of increasing students’ interest in an
activity. It is also of great importance that group work be used in combination with creative
exercises, so that weaker students are not forced into awkward situations, but instead allowed to
slowly include themselves in the activity and build their confidence. I have personally seen students
come out of their shells when in a situation that supports their knowledge and freedom of
expression. Having a native speaker to communicate with is also motivating as students feel
compelled to ask questions about the foreign teacher’s culture, regardless of their level of English.
Their curiosity tends to drive students to make themselves understood. In my experience, such
activities seem to facilitate learning without the student even being aware of it.
Another quality of a good teacher is the ability to be aware of and adapt to the specific needs
of your students. This is true not just of special needs students, but of all students as they all learn in
different ways. In many cases, students also benefit from a variety of approaches as opposed to the
same old work sheets day in and day out. Half the battle is simply being aware of the various learning
styles including visual, logical and aural just to name a few. Preparing lesson plans that include as
many different styles as possible can be crucial in a large class. As it is impossible to give each student
in a class of thirty the individual attention that they require, the next best thing is to attempt to
provide for as many learning styles as possible to reach the maximum amount of students. Keeping
this in mind, students of all types require a regular change of pace. Simply because a student is more
of a visual learner does not mean they won't benefit from a more physical lesson. If nothing else, it
provides a break from the usual routine, which can produce a rather dull classroom atmosphere as a
result. Native speaker teachers frequently are the break from the norm as students generally expect
a ‘different’ type of lesson based upon the alternate perspective offered by a person of another
culture. Certainly, a variety of perspectives can be uncovered on any issue when people of different
cultural backgrounds work together towards a common goal. Such opportunities are invaluable to
students, particularly in large classes. In a best case scenario, all students would receive individual
attention and learn at their own pace, but as such a concept has yet to be realized, it stands to
reason that teachers of all subjects should do their best to accommodate their students and their
needs whenever possible.
There are many factors that need to be taken into account in order for learning to take place, but, in
my opinion, the three that matter the most are the atmosphere, creativity and the flexibility of the
teacher’s approach. Although a certain level of discipline and control are crucial, students benefit
greatly by feeling that they are allowed to make mistakes, be creative and are understood. Children
and teenagers are continuously developing into who they are going to be as adults and we must try
to realize the role we, as teachers, play in that development. Fear tactics and the “copy from the
board” mentality are not effective in the case of learning acquisition or in the case of confidence
building. Native speaker teachers can function as a vital element in the development of young people
living in a multicultural, European environment, offering them not only linguistic, but also cultural
knowledge that is crucial to understanding the world beyond their own borders. In working with their
Slovene teachers, we can help them to better prepare for what the future holds.