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This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned:
Motivating studentsAs the earliest philosophers founded new and unique schools of thought, so must we as educators instill the urge to seek for truth and knowledge in students. Alexander the great said, “My father gave me life but my teacher (Aristotle) taught me how to live that life well.”
The greatest motivation for Julius Caesar was when he saw a statue erected for Alexander the great and realized how little he had yet accomplished. He reflected and saw that his lack of action and success has resulted in him not reaching his full potential. Unfortunately most people, especially students learning a foreign language, need much external motivation and inspiration.
What does it really mean to motivate someone, and are all students motivated the same way?
It’s our job as educators to first acquire the knowledge before we can share it with students.
Before being able to teach, teachers should be equipped with the right tools and information.
Siddh?rtha Gautama never had the motivation or desire to search for inner peace and enlightenment until he saw several things that got him out of his comfortable world and on to become one of the most famous spiritual leaders in history. But before he could motivate and inspire others, he first had to find out for himself what it meant to be truly at peace with who he was. We should also be comfortable with who we are and realize we are fallible and we too should continually strive for self- improvement and life- long learning.
As teachers, we should always try new things with the language and make things fun and interesting.
Aristotle’s strive to find new uses of language made him a great example of what true self- motivation means and in order for you to succeed in your role as an educator you must have the following:
Enthusiasm, not only for what you’re teaching but also life! You are students’ role model and you have a lot to live up to. Think outside the box and push the limits of the language. Like Aristotle you have to be practical and concrete and teach the language students are most likely to use and remember.
The Buddha’s philosophy on different people can be applied in your classroom every day. You should accept the diversity among students and apply different methods to each student according to their attributes. For example, certain students are submerged lotus flowers that need lots of coaxing and training to bob up and stretch their necks in the sun. With encouragement and advice students need to be led, not pulled, in order to achieve their full potential.
It is important to make students feel important and worthy. But also give them the opportunities to make their own discoveries. They must be given the tools to experiment with the language and grow with it. But students don’t just need encouragement concerning academic issues, they also need personal attention.
When teaching students and motivating them, it’s good to share real life experiences with them. For example Caesar never showed any great potential until he was in his forties. But he learned many languages and became very popular with the people and he was respected because of his eloquence and ability to express himself and move those around him to action. But he was not only a leader that motivated through his speeches but he was next to his soldiers on the field shouting his encouragement. He put himself in their shoes, literally. He showed great empathy. As educators this is one of the most important lessons you have to learn. Finally we need to take the lessons taught and learned by others and grow to become the greatest teachers we can be. That way we will have the courage, knowledge and wisdom to motivate our students to develop themselves not only academically but also personally.
In conclusion as a teacher it’s our duty to be knowledgeable, make lesson plans fun and interesting, create ample opportunities for students to learn, making students feel worthy and believe in their own potential, accepting students’ diversity and last but not least being emphatic. We need to apply these and make it appropriate for each student. Being flexible and adaptable we will be able to motivate students in order to reach their goals and dreams.
