The Essence of Teaching Profession

1. A profession's 'Calling'

This is the most crucial issue for me currently. Accepting that someone may be doing this job purely for the benefits and perks, without true dedication, is hindering my goal of improving teachers' professionalism. How can I train educators to have a genuine passion for their work? Is this an achievable goal?

2. Expertise in the professional field

Many believe that professional knowledge is demonstrated through tests like TKT or CELTA. Understanding various assessment types and mastering the present perfect tense are seen as key indicators of competency.

For teachers, possessing professional knowledge is a source of pride. In some cultures, local teachers strive to improve their English skills and often look to 'native teachers' for clarification on outdated concepts. However, I personally do not place much emphasis on this aspect. The days where an intelligent teacher imparted knowledge to an ignorant student are long past.

3. Characteristics of an individual

Despite the common perception of teachers as frustrated actors or clowns, the important personal qualities of honesty, emotions, intelligence, reliability, enthusiasm, and curiosity should not be overlooked.

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These qualities define effective learners and when shared by teachers, increase the likelihood of students achieving their goals. Additionally, creating a productive and mutually beneficial working environment is more beneficial than trying to compete with entertainment like watching Friends.

McEwan (2002) emphasizes the importance of being aware and engaged in the classroom in order to succeed in the first three weeks of school.

This is an exciting addition to the list. The essential skill of being able to envisage possible classroom and curriculum events.

Planning with an awareness of the objectives and the conditions. This is definitely an acquired skill that you can get better with every new year, school, and group. This is why every employer should be wary of teachers who do a year or so and then move on regularly. They will not have this understanding of their actions within the bigger picture. It’s arguable of course how important this is, but if we see education – especially public schools – as a continuum with precise expectations, it is important to have teachers who understand them. This is especially true if we want to liberate teachers from prescribed teaching materials and expect them to develop customised tasks for their students.

5. The Effectiveness of Instruction

Being a successful teacher requires effective teaching, which demands a high level of flexibility and a wide range of expertise. What may be easy with one group of students can be extremely challenging with another. Even if the lesson is planned the same for two different groups, they should never be identical. It's all about trial and error, what works for one group may not work for another.

6. The ability to communicate effectively is a valuable skill.

Effective communication is essential not just for students, but also for teachers, managers, and parents. It is challenging when communication is not always straightforward, leading to a vicious circle where feedback can come from various sources. Mastering the art of conveying your message effectively in all directions requires a bit of skillful juggling.

7. Savvy about navigating the streets

Understanding your students is key. Some may argue that having local teachers or those from a similar context can be advantageous, but I believe there are just as many drawbacks. There is a perceived camaraderie between local teachers and students in contrast to foreign teachers. However, being a bit of an outsider can have its advantages. I had a memorable conversation with students about gender equality while also taking on cooking and cleaning tasks, which was empowering. Embracing your foreignness can lead to success as you are not expected to blend in completely. Finding a balance between respecting the culture and being true to yourself is important. It's okay if they don't understand or appreciate everything you do, it's part of the experience.

8. Ready to put in extra effort

When closely linked to the first, following a calling leads to going the extra mile. Without this connection, individuals are unlikely to do more than necessary as they are not obligated to do so.

9. Someone who is committed to learning for their entire life.

If you are still excited about the latest book on ELT from Amazon, Russell Tarr's recommended link, conferences near you or online, and the tweets from last night, then we are talking about you. If you find yourself watching a movie and immediately thinking about how to use it in your class, then this is also about you. Many teachers begin to forget what they have learned as soon as they start their education, and may even forget why they are teaching by the end of it. These teachers are known as the life-long forgetters - may students be spared from them. This is not about finding the best method, book, author, or publisher - it's about where you are in your professional development journey. Life outside the classroom is just as important.

Your experiences beyond the classroom are essential and valuable for enriching your students' learning journey.