Teaching Philosophy
As the proverb goes, “Do not confine your children to your own way of learning for they were born in another time.” The learning methods of future generations will never stop changing. As an English teacher in Taiwan, I have a crucial responsibility to my students. I think a teacher also plays the roles of students’ guide and mentor. Learning English in Taiwan is not an easy task because students do not have many chances to speak English, even while they are in English classes. The problem is also true for language learners of English in countries where English is not a standard second language. The roots of the problem might be also related to the teaching methods that have been adopted in foreign language classes for decades. As many studies have shown, the grammar-focused teaching method is ubiquitous in Asian countries such as Taiwan and China. Therefore, students lack opportunities to engage in authentic interactions in English throughout their school life. Most students simply study English to pass standardized exams, so their inability to produce language authentically comes as little surprise.
This is a problem I have been aware of ever since I was a student. Although I have been teaching for ten more years, I am well aware that my own teaching methods, as well as those of other teachers, need to be constantly updated and improved (e.g., participating in more academic conferences, teacher training workshops, and peer-evaluations). However, learning is endless; how can students keep learning efficiently if their teachers cannot guide them well? In my philosophy, learning English is like climbing a mountain, especially if there are very different systems between the two languages. Thus, students will get tired of learning it if they do not have any chance to use it for functional purposes. My overall objectives as an English teacher are to let students use English to communicate with people who are from different countries. A valuable lesson that I have acquired in this program is to know how to adequately use various methods for my classes, such as task-based learning, content-based instruction, participatory approach, and other methods and techniques that can be used depending on my students’ specific needs in learning English. I have gained confidence since I have already learned more teaching principles and techniques. I can use these various techniques depending on different situations in class. This knowledge also develops my ability to be more creative in my teaching. For example, I develop my own thematic units and pedagogical contribution by integrating many pedagogical approaches and techniques. Therefore, I believe that a teacher with many tools for use in the classroom will be successful in his or her career.
As an instructor, I need to be a good role model for my students, so I always cherish every learning and teaching opportunity. I think a teacher of English as a second or foreign language must be equipped with various teaching methods, so I like to use authentic materials in my class like newspapers, magazines, etc. These materials not only facilitate my students’ English learning, but also they help my students learn more about the world so that they can easily follow international news, different cultures, and so on. I’d like to include cultural issues in my class to help students become more culturally sensitive and develop their cultural competence. Additionally, raising students’ motivation of learning is my pedagogical foundation. English should be taught as a communication tool, not just a subject for tests and assignments. By establishing an immersive English environment, my students would be able to learn the language subconsciously as well as consciously. I would fill my classroom with English posters, books, and play English videos in class. When using these authentic materials, I also must carefully consider my students’ abilities as well as goals. In order to succeed in my teaching career, I would motivate my students both intrinsically and extrinsically by using all the teaching methods I have acquired. Furthermore, conducting a proper assessment in class is also crucial for an instructor to be able to check his or her students’ learning status. For example, I can incorporate performance-based assessment to require that students demonstrate their language knowledge and communication skills in the classroom
In conclusion, I firmly believe that there can be no authentic output of speaking and writing without adequate input of listening and reading. Students should learn English through frequent usage. Motivation is also of the utmost importance and I emphasize it as I help build my students’ confidence in using the language. As professional teachers, we must be patient and allow students to make mistakes, and we must not make our students overly anxious and stressed in the classroom. Furthermore, by seeing students’ mistakes, we will understand what students are lacking. A teacher is not just an instructor. He or she should strive to play a role of a mentor, a guide while teaching and assisting students in reaching their goals and fulfilling their potential. I believe these elements help us to establish specific goals to continue our professional development throughout our teaching career.