The teacher is passionate about helping students learn English as a second language. They believe in creating a positive and supportive environment to help motivate students and build their confidence. The teacher understands the challenges of learning a new language from their own experience. They use a variety of teaching methods like differentiated instruction, whole language approach, and group activities to engage students and accommodate different learning styles. The goal is to help students develop English skills to participate fully in their community and embrace their new country.

1. My Philosophy of Teaching
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires.”
-William A. Ward
I have spent a majority of my life teaching English as a second language. Teaching is my
passion, joy, and inspiration. My role as a teacher is to help motivate my students to want to
learn a new language, so they can be successful in their future endeavors. I believe that a student-
centered structured classroom is essential to help students blossom to their full potential.
My philosophy of teaching is to understand the needs of each of my students. Learning a
new language can be a difficult, so I really aspire to help my students feel confident in the
process of learning. I always try to have a positive and warm-hearted environment for my
students, so that the learning experience won’t be so stressful. For instance, I greet them with a
smile at the door and praise them when they attend class even after they have worked at their job
all day. (Sometimes they attend class in their work uniforms, so I know they value my class
because they show up daily.) As a second-language learner myself, I understand how at times
learning a new language can be discouraging, so I constantly try to reward my students and
praise them when I see them working hard. I give pencils away for perfect attendance, high-
fives or thumbs-ups for raising their hands and answering questions, and I tell them they are
doing a great job. I encourage my students to have specific short-term goals such as
communicating with English speakers or getting a better job. In addition, my role as a teacher is
to prepare them to be able to participate fully in their community.
As a teacher of English, I help my students become more acclimated into the new culture

2. and the community. For example, I teach units on paying bills, using the post office, ordering
food at restaurants, asking questions at work, attending their school-age children’s meetings or
events, and applying for jobs. All of these skills are skills that many native speakers may take
for granted, and these daily skills are ones that are necessary for success in this new country for
my students. My units may be more simplistic because I teach beginning levels of English, but
they are vital and much appreciated by students who want to embrace their new country and
community.
My journey as a teacher has taught me to be more flexible. I tried to use a variety of
teaching methods and learning activities in my classroom. I adapt instruction to the needs of each
student in a classroom, which is often called differentiated instruction. My goal is for my
students to learn to read, write, and speak in English. I design my lessons by using the whole
language approach. For example, I teach with big ideas or concepts using whole words and
pictures, not sounds or phonics. I have students match words with pictures or definitions; select
words from the story for vocabulary, and write words correctly (spelling). I provide prompts,
such as how to begin simple sentences, how to answer questions, and how to complete sentences.
(Ex. My favorite food is _______________.) My students are learning with entire words and
sentences-not parts of words. I teach the students to ask questions in class even if they read the
sentence I provided. (Ex. What time is lunch?) They are reading! Additionally, I teach body and
language expression, which helps them understand the nuances or tiny hints about American
culture and conversations like the shoulders going up to say someone does not know. Lastly, I
believe student participation is a vital part of my teaching philosophy. I use listening and
speaking activities that utilize pair work and group activities to encourage social interaction in
the classroom. I often incorporate small group activities such as role play exercises, which give

3. the students the opportunity to speak and can be particularly beneficial to students who are more
reluctant to speak in front of the class. They role play doctor/patient, mother/son, or food
server/patron, and they learn so much by simply pretending. I provide prompts or questions and
help them respond in complete sentences. (Ex. How are you feeling today? /How was school
today, son? /What would you like to drink today?) Furthermore, when I teach reading to my
students, I motivate them with stories that can be relatable to their everyday life such as stories
about immigrants moving to a new country and starting a new life. I break the class into groups
of three. Each student has the opportunity to read and answer questions. With the variety of
strategies or methodologies I use, I am trying to reach every student. Some will be receptive to
group activities while others may prefer the individual sentence framing. Ultimately, with the
variety of activities, my students learn.
Finally, my journey as a teacher has helped me to evolve, to be patient and to adapt to
new teaching ideas, especially to keep up with new technology. Thirty years ago, I did not start
my class with a power point filled with ice breakers or pictures of my family and me to introduce
ourselves, but I do that now. Thirty years ago, I did not email my students or tell them about
great websites to visit, but I do now. I am not the same teacher I was thirty years ago. I think I
am a better one because I care and truly want my students to succeed.