Language is the number one form of communication; I want to bring the English language to others to further the global connection we are working toward. As a native English speaker there is such a rewarding experience in helping someone achieve their goals in being well educated whilst being multi-lingual. I am passionate about education and will arrive in South Korea as a representative of my country and as an educator who desires to teach and be taught.
My teaching philosophy has been influenced by the ideology of Howard Gardner. Gardner is of the belief that every person has multiple intelligences, that every child has the potential to be gifted and that this can exhibit in a multitude of ways. As a teacher it is my responsibility and privilege to be able to identify and adapt to the learning style that best suits the student’s needs, providing the tools for each student to utilise their full capabilities.
To highlight my enthusiasm for teaching EFL I undertook the 150-hour Premier TEFL Course, the most hours offered by the company, so as to be prepared as possible for the beginning of my TEFL career. During the 30-hour classroom aspect of the course I learnt to plan, prepare and deliver TEFL lessons with lots of fun hands-on activities; learning by carry out, one-to-one with a teacher. The classroom portion, alongside the online course, have given me a great understanding of the theory of TEFL and of what makes effective teaching.
As Audre Lorde said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is out inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.” Being raised in London has granted me the opportunity to learn and experience cultures from all across the globe in various environments e.g. school, work. Meeting and working with people from different and diverse backgrounds compared to mine has given me the scope and ability to recognise that the key to mastering cultural differences with grace and poise is all a matter of the mind.
Cultural differences or culture shock can be difficult for many, and I’m sure that given the opportunity to live abroad I would face similar issues. It would be naive to think I would not encounter culture shock on some level, however I think my experiences in the culturally diverse environment I have been raised and the fact I have moved and lived without seeing familiarities for significant periods have laid a solid foundation in my ability to cope with difference and change. Overall, I feel it would be most wise to not be daunted by the fact that I will enter a foreign culture as largely ignorant, but simply excited and ready to learn.
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