By Maria-Nefeli Andredaki,
As is apparent from many of my previous articles, this was my first year of being an English language teacher. It was simultaneously my first year of entering the workforce and getting familiar with what we call “the adult world”. This year was one of learning and growing and I would not have done it without my students. So, without further ado, these are the lessons my students taught me:
- Children are, at their core, loving and accepting. I know people say this generally but you have no idea how much truth it holds until you experience it first-hand. Having conversations with students regarding all kinds of topics about their lives and the state of our world, which are usually inspired by our lesson material, gives you a clear perspective on how they think, as well as their family’s views. While it is evident that many students come from more conservative families, their actions will often show compassion and a deep need to love and be loved.
- Students, whether younger or older, appreciate authenticity and community. I learned to be confident, not only in my profession but as a person too because my classes gradually became a safe space where everyone (including the teacher!) showed up as their authentic self and were appreciated for it. As a very nerdy individual who was never open about their interests, or completely understood even, it has been very healing to share my love for music, movies and books with my students. At the same time, children appreciate being heard about their latest obsessions, a game they played or a video they saw. It is like rewriting the narrative of my school years while being in charge of creating an accepting and loving environment where everyone can connect through their common interests.
- We need to get rid of the weight of first impressions. One of the most important lessons I learned this year is that first impressions, whatever they are, don’t matter. People grow and with growth comes change, which also affects relationship dynamics. Students who were very timid and kept to themselves at first, ended up being some of the biggest social butterflies I have ever seen. This strengthened their friendships with their classmates and improved their overall academic performance.
- No one is born hating books. As a certified bookworm, I made it my mission this year to incorporate literature in my syllabus and share my love of reading. I don’t know why I expected this to be a hard task; most students, especially the younger ones, were crazy about stories. I feel like this is a testament to how books are treated in school; children learn to hate them because they are forced to read things they are not interested in. Something I will never forget is having to explain to one of my teenage students that reading manga and comics counts as reading and that you don’t have to read 800 pages of Dostoevsky to be considered a “reader”.
As mentioned above, this was my first year teaching. It also means that it is the first time I have to part with my students, knowing that I will most likely not see them next year. To be honest, no amount of training or studying prepares you for this. As much as I long for my much-needed summer break, I cannot help but be sad that the year is ending. Teachers watch their students grow, find themselves and explore the world for a whole year. They get to hear about their struggles, their disappointments and their proudest moments. They build a relationship with their parents and families and navigate difficulties together. It is really cruel to just sever that and act like nothing will change. However, it is part of the process and I would not change a thing about it. My wish is that my students never forget the progress they made and that the positive experience I helped facilitate accompanies them in their learning journey for years to come.
Reference
- 25 Awesome Ways Teachers are Saying Goodbye to their Students This Year. Bored Teachers. Available here
