During my first year of university I taught an after-school debate club at two different secondary schools. Even though some of the students I taught were older than elementary school children, the skills I acquired are transferable to this new ESL teaching role. These include being able to maintain discipline and control over a class, breaking down difficult topics so that they are easier to grasp and building a strong rapport with students.
One of the modules on my TEFL course was teaching young learners. Here I learned the differences that arise when it comes to teaching younger students, from learning styles to life experience and motivation. I am aware that injecting humour into my lessons as well as creating fun and engaging activities is crucial to the learning process of young learners.
For me, there's something special about seeing a student go from having little to no knowledge about a topic, then seeing the light in their eyes as they begin to understand and develop their confidence. This is one of the things that makes me passionate about teaching language.
I admire anyone who is multi-lingual or is learning a new language. As a teacher, this automatically means that I will admire my students simply for making the effort. I know what it is like to learn a new language not just from my experience learning French in school, but because I am currently also learning Korean.
From K-pop to K-dramas, amazing food that fosters a sense of community to stellar skincare products, there's so much to love about South Korea and its culture. The language alone is evidence of how important respect is to the country. While celebrations like Seollal and the recycling system show the peoples reverence for nature and taking care of the environment. It's for these reasons that I cannot wait to fully immerse myself in the rich culture and traditions of South Korea.
I'll be bringing my patience, confidence and optimism to this role. I never want my students to feel bad about possibly not understanding something as fast as others. We all learn at different paces. I will be encouraging and enthusiastic because, even without meeting them, I already believe in their capacity for success. I want to ensure that my students know that what they have to say is valid. I want them to feel heard.
Furthermore, I believe that my open-mind and friendliness will help in terms of relating with colleagues, and in adapting and settling more easily into my new life in Korea.
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