Monday, June 17, 2019

#8weeks of summer: What has contributed to the educator you are today?


This post is week 2 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators.
I have to say that I love learning languages. And I owe this to my teachers and mentors. If you click on the words, you can find out more about them.
If you click here, you can get an idea how it is to learn a foreign language in Greece. 
When I graduated from the University, my training to teach was almost nonexistant. Back then (since I consider myself a disanaur) there was no practical methodology or teaching practice at my school (stydying German lit. and language)
I started teaching with one single class, beginners and I was struggling to find ways to make my lessons more interesting. In the meantime I saw my colleagues who taught English practising songs and games and things that were never mentioned in my school. So I decided to do some training at the British council and learn new things about organising projects, games, chants and how to adust them in my German teaching. My teacher trainer, Olha Madyluswas so inspiring that I liked this so much and decided to study and be an EFL teacher as well. 
Of course I didn't stop there. 
I have never liked "the coursebook". I use it as a tool but I always try to find new ideas and things to do with my students. 
I kept searching, I wrote on my blog, I read other blogs and articles, I met other educators, I participated in webinars, seminars, conventions, I still do. 
I believe that most of all my nature and the fact that I am a curious person has led to me being the educator I am today. And when I am not happy with what I am and how I teach, I am sure that I will change it. 
That's all for today.
Can't wait for the next one!

4 comments:

Sheri42 said...

Theodora, I love how you take your work with students as a mission for your own improvement: "when I am not happy with what I am and how I teach, I am sure that I will change it." You seem like a reflective teacher who understands that the students come before the "coursebook" if they are to truly learn.

Glad to "meet" you!

~ Sheri

Joy Kirr said...

You sound a lot like me - a lifelong learner! I hope we can help our students become the same. :) Thank you for sharing! (Side note: I'm on a 176-day streak with Duolingo to really review the Spanish I've forgotten!)

penny said...

It is fun, isn’t it though? To make, and then change the content!
I miss the challenge of it with traditional aged students.
Thank you for sharing this Theodora!

Theodora Papapanagiotou said...

Thank you all for your comments! I am glad to see mindlike people!

Featured Post

Teaching online through Lockdown

Some months ago, when I wrote a blog on online Teaching for iTDi , I could never imagine that the teaching world would turn digital overn...