My Teaching Experience

I wonder where to start because I stared teaching very early. From the time I was in preparatory school and may be younger. I was very influenced by my mom who was a French teacher. I liked how she looked and how she corrected her students’ papers. I love the smile face she put in her students’ paper when she is satisfied by their answer. Similarly, I loved my teachers except the math teacher, who I never loved and I will not even now if I see her. She made me hate numbers and hate schools. Though she was the reason why I studies English. This bad teacher always made me feel that if I were a teacher I would not do this or that. From the young age I could see myself as a teacher whose students love not the opposite.

Time was afternoon when my young sister was crying wanted to do some homework as me. I was five years older so I was very much confident and independent. We were very hungry and mom was cooking the lunch. Mom told me to do anything so my sister won’t cry. I had to use my little brain to entertain her. Then the idea flashes. Ok. How about if we study English: I said.

Honestly,  all what I know about English that time was A: Apple B: Ball and mom was the one who taught me them in addition to some phrases.

I wrote a three big As in the top of the paper in a new shinny note book and I drew some lines so my sisy could follow.

Day by day I enjoyed the fact being my sister’s teacher and became very demanding  by asking her to memorize the words then I check the spelling for her.

At later stage and even before I graduated from the university I got a job offer to teach English in high school. And I accepted the offer and my first day was very funny as usual:

It was so calm in the school and I was looking for my class which was room 3. I was shivering inside and trembling as if I have never meet strange people before. I was shaken till I could hear my heart beat beneath my chest. I came closer and closer to room 3.

I opened the door and everyone was quiet. They were looking at me. I closed the door and left pretending that I am still looking for room 3. Them I asked: is this room 3.

The students replied: yes. Come quickly and sit with us before the teacher comes in.

Me: what? What teacher?

They: the English teacher. She is coming at any time.

I laughed and I think this laugh released part of my stress and calm my heartbeat little bit. I told them that I am their teacher and they were all surprised by this.

Honestly, this first time teaching was not as good as it should be. I relied on what my English teachers did with me and I applied the same methodology with the new generation. I was very traditional. I explained the grammar rules by writing them on the board and I was drawing some pictures for objects to avoid using Arabic. Simply I was very very traditional. However, my students liked that as far as I still remember. They were active and very involving and they did very well in tests. After I finished that semester the Ministry of Education in Libya forced us to take a training course if we want to get a job as English teachers. The same time I applied for a GA in order to get my Master. Nevertheless, I had to take the course for my own benefit.

The course was amazing and it shaped my teaching experience. The first five months we were trained by local teachers where we learned everything about teaching theories and second language teaching. Then the next six months we were trained by British professors who were sent from Garnet company.  In those six months I learned what does it mean to teach a second language. We practiced all sorts of knowledge about teaching. We applied the theories of the first half of the training course. I learned what does it mean to teach listening by using songs. I learned how to make teaching creative and useful. I learned to understand my students’ problem and deal with them instead of ignoring these problems. I learned patience, involvement, using visual and audio aids, and how to make the bored source of knowledge and fun.

My later years of teaching became more successful and colorful. I was very active applying everything I learned. My students were  grown up with internet and music in their ears all the time. They were watching English movies and knew a lot about foreign actors and actress , therefore, my job became easier and more enjoyable.