My Teaching Philosophy

When I talk about my philosophy of teaching, I feel great. My Philosophy in teaching means the power of practice and communication and using certain techniques in order to send a certain message clearly and smoothly to my students. I read a very interesting and effective definition for the word philosophy from dictionary.com: the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being. I tried to come up with a unique definition for my teaching philosophy but I need a hidden power and a strong spirit in order to come up with the suitable definition for the philosophy of teaching. I do strongly believe that any profession has its own philosophy but they can share some aspects because they all serve the society. I think when a person has a philosophy in his career, he feels strong and confident enough to do his duties effectively. Let me start talking about my teaching philosophy; teaching is an art, a teacher should be an artist so that he can act, draw, dance, sing, demonstrate, elaborate, and facilitate while teaching. I would like to mention to you this great quote: “It’s the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge”. –Albert Einstein. “The five steps in teaching an employee new skills are preparation, explanation, showing, observation and supervision.” – Bruce Barton I am trying my best to follow certain points during, before, and after teaching: Try to be a facilitator not a teacher. • Give the students the freedom to learn, communicate, apply, practice, create and reflect. When students feel free while learning they can use their language effectively and productively. Besides, they won’t have the barriers in using the language when they communicate. I feel great when students produce and apply what they learn in their daily life and try to prove that they can do it. • Provide constructive feedback to the students’ daily activities so that they can avoid mistakes. Regarding feedback, it is considered one of the best ways that a teacher should use. In addition, when the students get the feedback, they feel save and they try to develop their skills accordingly. They will also realize the differences and improvement on their level gradually. This supports them and encourages them indirectly to keep up with learning and acquiring the language. • Observe students and write down the weakness they have then plan the lessons to improve their skills. When I observe the students I experience and live their daily practices and understanding their needs so that I can have clear ideas on what I should teach next. I will do my best to include more materials into the lesson in order to develop a certain skill and improve the students’ weakness in certain skills. • I believe strongly in change so I keep using different techniques every time I go to class. Change is the key to success whenever I start my class I like to start with a new activity to make the students ready for the new lesson. Whenever I feel that the students are starting to get bored, I change my style and use different one. Change makes students ready for any task I introduce and give them the chance to understand and be creative. • Keep asking myself questions before and after class e.g what I am going to teach? What went well and went wrong? It is crucial that I ask myself questions before, during and after teaching. These questions make me feel save and be sure that my teaching, my students and all the activities I am using in and out of class are productive. I should keep asking questions in order to discover the lack and the weaknesses I have so that I can come up with solutions. • Offer help and support my colleagues in the field of teaching. Try to communicate with them regularly in order to discuss teaching problems and find solutions. It’s a must that I offer help to my colleagues in order to build up a productive community in the school. We have to work together, support each other, exchange ideas and help each other in order to end up with a certain strategy that help our students. • Inspire the learners every time you see them in class. Inspiration is a gift from God and we should be thankful that we have it. I have to keep inspiring my students. Be the reason of making them work creatively. While teaching I might use a certain strategy that leads the students to be creative in writing, reading or speaking. • Use technology in and out of the classroom as an essential tool to attract learners. Technology is everything for me, I love it very much. Although I face lots of difficulties and barriers when I try to use technology in my class, I keep insisting in using it. Technology helps students to be creative and facilitates learning. Students feel happy when they are challenged and have the freedom to use technology in and out of the class. This increases their chances of learning new ideas and practices. They have the chance to learn through fun and grasp the lessons easily and effectively. I would like to mention the following quotes: “It’s not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings” “A good teacher can inspire hop, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” – Brad Henry Teaching is something sacred so everybody must respect this profession. When I was a student, I used to see my teacher as a perfect icon for me and till this moment I do respect teachers for their great work they do for others. I teach, I forget the world around me. I only see my students, the board, the activities, the materials I am teaching and the tools I am using. Teaching for me is my life. If I stop teaching for a week, I dream that I am teaching almost every other day. When I teach I feel that I own the world. Teaching means I help, support, facilitate and motivate the students. A teacher is the source of the class and power that makes the class energetic and lively. The students also play a major role in the teaching and learning process. I teach to live and I live to teach. This is my last words to say about my teaching philosophy. My skills need to be sharpened from time to time. I keep joining training courses to learn more and more about teaching techniques and learn about the latest teaching methods. Training is my top priority during my life career. I keep attending online courses about the use of technology in the classroom and other courses discussing theories and applications. I would like to mention something that I keep using while teaching it is the use of technology in and out of the classroom. I like to keep using collaborative work among the students. I assign lots of projects and group work in and out of the class. I try my best to keep students busy communicating with each other in and out of the class. They find it fun and practical so I keep using it a lot. I would like to mention the following quotes: “ A teacher who loves learning earns the right and the ability to help others learn.” – Ruth Beechick “Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.” – Dalay Lama XIV Teach, produce, create and give different materials using the simplest theory or way so that students understand the materials once they receive them. A teacher is the key to the learning and teaching process. As soon as the teacher is ready to deliver the materials. Each one has his own philosophy. I have my own to apply everywhere in and out of class. My Philosophy of teaching travels with me everywhere I go. I don’t stop thinking of teaching. I keep thinking about my philosophy of teaching in order to apply it in my teaching style and in my preparation of lessons, and other several activities. I am positive that my way of thinking helps me learn and improve my students’ skills gradually; this enhances the power of the students’ understanding the materials. I am trying to follow different strategy in each stage in my class according to the skill I am teaching. I would like to draw this diagram to show you my philosophy as an English teacher in class. support question understand interact In class act perform analyze demonstrate Finally, I do really feel great and I owe the world when my students learn something new and use the time in class wisely. The students’ success is my success and whatever is excellent I can do for my students I will never hesitate to do it and make them learn eagerly.