I will never forget the first day ever to walk into a classroom full of kids,looking up expectantly at me.I was a complete newbie to the whole procedure.Suffice it to say, I was a nervous wreck.I had no idea what I was doing there,much less teach and discipline the little rascals.They were a rowdy bunch and me being shy did not help ease the awkward atmosphere.At some point I plucked up the courage to start the lesson.It was a total disaster,to say the least.The little ones, sensing they had free range,made a complete chaos out of my carefully planned lesson.I was too young,too reserved to discipline, much less inspire any kid.I doubt if I inspired any inkling of respect then. Fast forward to today,17 years later.I thank God or whatever power up there in the vast universe that made me persist.I still teach and haven't looked back,never felt any remorse.I started out teaching English, but as the years went by,I realised I had another gift,one that is way more important than simply conveying the significance of correct English grammar and vocabulary usage.It felt empty somehow,devoid of meaning or feeling.It became evident that I NEEDED to connect to my students, and did so relatively easily.I realised that by relating to every individual's special needs,teaching became so much easier and the lesson trasformed into a multifaceted process of English,joking,music and most importantly bonding.Being able to create a bond among kids who are so dissimilar, so varied in their backgrounds,emotions and reactions,became a challenge I look forward to.And it makes me immensely happy to say I succeed every single time.To me, that has become the essence of my teaching and the single most anticipated reward,not the grades or the certificates. My colleagues and loved ones know how much I love to learn and English is my passion.The teacher I am today though,craves more.The job market is rapidly changing and the demands that our students are burdened with are more complex and require them not only to have amassed knowledge but to have mastered a multitude of life skills,the skills tomorrow's leaders are made of.The leaders that will inhabit and determine the fate of the Earth of tomorrow.That is what I seek to accomplish.With English as my vehicle,I strive to convey the basic rules of leadership and to keep them informed as to the skills they need to possess.Integrity,sound knowledge,communication,hard work,self-esteem and leadership.No matter where they might end up professionally, these skills will unfailingly get them where they need to go.I am a staunch supporter of this and it is the main axis for my lessons. I genuinely believe that our world does not need any more politicians,but people who truly care for our planet,humanity and possess the will and determination to actually DO something about the state our so-called civilisation is in.Love, compassion and interest in the common good and welfare are some more qualities inherent in true leaders.These are the principles I try to instill,hoping to affect their future even if it is a small fraction.To be more specific,the guiding principles are the following.
1.A leader relies on his humanity to lead,not his position. That entails that no matter how self-confident an individual is, he still has to remain humble and not allow his ego to take charge.A leader seeks to gain loyalty and not compliance.A leader shows respect to all,regardless of their status,education,race,religion or political beliefs.Honesty and integrity are of paramount importance.They walk their talk,meaning they actively apply all that they preach on themselves.Leaders are lifelong learners,constantly thirsting for knowledge and new experiences.Since they have successfully silenced their ego and opened their minds they feel no insecurity in the presence of people who are smarter or more intelligent then themselves.There are added benefits to limiting an inflated ego:one can more easily admit to their mistakes and find ways to tackle them successfully, in a coolheaded way and without becoming defensive.A true leader does not need constant confirmation.He knows his self worth,therefore it is easier to remain humble and focus on the job at hand. 2.A leader dares to connect to people. The speed at which technology is advancing has caused isolation among people.We have become afraid to connect, to reach out.Afraid lest we might actually come out of our stupor and actually feel and get hurt.Don't get me wrong,I'm all for techology.Its benefits are too many and important to ignore or or be shrugged off dismissively.It can't be denied though that as a society we are unconsciously withdrawing within,on a screen.a successful leader will realise the undeniable pros of technology but will actively pursue human contact,connection on a soul level.A person who leads, constantly asks questions to discover other people's motives and desires,respectfully and with understanding.They listen attentively and encourage,pointing out their strong points and virtues,praising their success and offering a willing ear and advice in case of a failure.They use stories,their own experiences to trigger interest and motivate. 3.A leader dares to pursue his dream/goal. So many of us(myself included)have dreams,express wishes of a better future.Few of us actually have the persistence and willpower to bring this dream to fruition.Leaders are doers.They remain loyal to their dream and are more than willing to take on the risks and accept any changes necessary if that is conducive to the realisation of said goal.That of course means that a healthy dose of optimism is necessary to overcome the obstacles ahead or worse,negative people.In this way,they are better able to bridge thatseemingly insurmounatable gap between what is real and the desired outcome.They tackle problems and details head-on.Their enthusiasm and optimism is very helpful in convincing others of the positive outcome of their dream.And most importantly,they don't nag,Quite the contrary.They actually have a blast during the whole process.
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August 2021
CategoriesAuthorI am a passionate English teacher.Aspiring writer and speaker.I take educational matters to heart and hope to bring about some positive change in the field of education. |