Personal Philosophy of Teaching ESL

One should not become an English teacher just because English teachers are on high demand. Being an educator means more than getting a job. It means that we are active participants of the future making of our country and eventually of the universe. So we need to use our sensibility and academic skills to develop responsible citizens that are able to make this world a better place. All teachers face challenges in their chosen field, but it is only fair to say that English teachers face tougher challenges than their colleagues.
Therefore, how can one define ESL teaching in Puerto Rico? I would define ESL teaching in Puerto Rico a very difficult endeavor. Sometimes, it feels as though students do not care for the language and do not try hard enough. Nevertheless, this should not stop us from getting our message across. To the contrary, it should serve as a motivation for trying harder and more efficiently. Good teachers research for innovative strategies to arouse the interest of their students. In the case of the English language, sometimes, we need to teach students without them knowing that they are learning. And a good example of this is when the Whole Language Approach is used in the classroom. This approach does not concentrate on grammar structure; it gives students the freedom to express themselves orally and in written format without worrying about someone correcting them other than themselves or their classmates. A dedicated professional would take it from there, and work with the class until their oral and communication improve. But for that we need a genuine commitment on the teacher’s part. Here is where we separate the real from the fake. Leaving a good lasting impression on their students should be a teacher’s priority.
Most importantly, I believe that having the opportunity to become a teacher and touch so many lives is a privilege that not everyone deserves. Therefore, we should treasure the opportunity and guide our students to be individuals with minds of their own and acceptant of others. We should be good role models for our students; let’s live what we preach. I would like to be remembered by my students as someone who truly cared about them as human beings, regardless of who they were or what they looked like. In today’s society, our children and youths are facing family and personal difficulties, and we should try to arm them with the inner strength to face these obstacles and conquer them. Only then they will become complete individuals, and we can say that our job is done.