So I want to talk about people attending interviews, not people hoping to get a job as an electrician or plumber, or maybe delivery man...no, I am talking about people wanting to become teachers.
I am really curious what does TEACHER mean to most of us, nowadays. When asked about the reasons for choosing this profession some say it's for the money, some say they are not sure-they just need a job, some say for extra money, some say because they have people skills (the funny things is these so-called knowing-how-to-deal-with-the-others have no coherent speech and no positive attitude themselves).It has been such a long time since I heard one coming forward and saying I want to be a teacher because I love this profession, because I consider teaching my call in life.
It may sound too pretentious but, in fact, a good teacher needs more than being proficient in English (in this case) and filling the class with papers and books and talking a lot, not listening to his own students and praying for those teaching moments to come to an end so that he/she can finally go home.That's so sad and counterproductive for the entire society.The teacher needs to feel the class, aim for understanding and progress, enjoy when his goals are achieved, be there with his entire self. You just can't teach-explain some words, some grammar, ask the students to repeat or fill in some exercise and then go home satisfied that you had done your job for the day. That is just ridiculous and tragic at the same time!
Lack of modesty it's another thing making me angry when interviewing the teachers-to-be. They have no idea about the method, sometimes about teaching at all, but if you just try to get a straight answer from them and maybe give them some hints to help them think in the right direction, they feel the urge to convince you it's different, they don't know how, but it must be different from what you had just said. Some even try to convince you that the nonsense just uttered seconds before was not a lack of knowledge or judgment, it was your inability (as interviewer) to get the deeper meaning of his/her words. And the list could continue...
But the saddest fact is that less and less teachers do their profession trying to set a series of values, to activate the brain and to make use of feelings not to manipulate into some twisted-mind way, but to use this unique human quality at its best, to aim for understanding ,communication and tolerance and most of all, have his/her students act as a group ;teach them respect and never cease to re-evaluate themselves and have the desire of constant improvement.Last, but not least, there is no way a teacher can do his work just on a fixed schedule or number of working hours. You don't stop being a teacher when the class is finished, because the same values and knowledge are carried in your system all the time... if that is not so, then you are just a good cheater, a magician whose tricks are soon to be revealed and he looked upon as a fake. The society needs teachers, the real ones, because they should be one of the most important oasis of rationality and truth, creativity and open-mindedness, essential for a sane society regardless all forms of development or changes each century carries.
What has happened? Is there something we can do to change all these? How can we reinstate the real values and responsibilities of a teacher?
