Confessions of a former ESL teacher

greengirl

greengirl

Legacy Member
I don't have a teaching degree and English is not my native language. Yet there I was staring at the computer screen waiting for my student to go online. It was a brief stint but the most rewarding job I ever had. Imagine receiving a call from a student to share the news of him passing a job interview, or getting an email from a pastor to say he received a lot of compliments on his recent sermon, or how students regularly send thank you messages for getting high marks in their English exams.

But like other jobs, there are pitfalls. Your student goes online shirtless and you're like, "Okay, what am I supposed to do now?" Or times when students refuse to respond and just give you a smirk and the evil eye.

Then there were days laced with funny episodes. I was still wearing my Supergirl cape from a previous class involving a pre-school child when my next student came online. I managed to slip it off gingerly but not before I caught his impish smile. Oh well, at least he did not see me with my bunny ears.
 
Teaching is always a noble profession. It takes a lot of patience and dedication in dealing with different personalities. Your ability and capacity is always tested thru times. The daily activity is always a challenging phase in the life of teaching. You need to be updated and always prepared. I agree with you that it is rewarding when you see your students successful on their field. I salute for your enthusiasm. Keep up the good work.
 
My husband was offered an English lesson teaching job for Koreans. He used to be a workshop lecturer and he is good in teaching that's why I was surprised when he refused the job. He said that teaching in the classroom is already a practice with unwritten rules like the decorum. Online teaching is very challenging and stressful that he might not be an effective teacher.
 
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