The audio is in Spanish and is more detailed. In the text, you will read a brief summary of what I talked about.
This is part 1 where I share 5 lessons.
About me
I have a personal brand named Inglés con Susu. I offer online English conversation groups for Spanish-speaking adults and private tutoring for kids.
I wish to help adults break down the barriers that prevent them from speaking English confidently and improve their communication skills to advance in their careers.
Also, I wish to help kids lose their fear of learning and speaking English, by learning through playing, making crafts, and talking about their interests.
I’ve been reflecting on all I have learned in 2022 and in 10 years of teaching English as a second language. It is amazing to think it has been so many years. I started as an English tutor, and I never thought I would work full-time as a teacher.
Yet, here I am. I had to break down my own mental barriers, make mistakes and unlearn many things to develop professionally. Most importantly, I learned to listen to my clients more.
There is still much for me to learn about the ELT industry and the language, but I hope that what I share with you is helpful.
Spend less time teaching grammar, and more time using the language.
In most teacher training, we learn to make the lesson grammar-oriented. We focus mainly on explaining the rules rather than promoting discussion. But, in reality, mastering grammar; does not guarantee you will be able to speak the language, so why waste so much effort?
Not everything that is taught is learned.
Each student learns differently, so what a teacher has applied in one classroom might not work in the other. We, teachers, need to be able to adapt to our students’ needs.
As for learners, if they do not review or practice the lesson, it will not be learned. Most of the learning depends on them.
Be flexible
Not all lesson plans go as planned. Personally, I learned to be more flexible, make the necessary adjustments in class, modify lesson plans, and change my way of explaining topics, to adapt to what my students needed. If the way a student is learning is not working for them, change it.
“Do not bite off more than you can chew.”
Means: you have taken on too many tasks or responsibilities.
As a teacher entrepreneur, I took on too many classes, I used to teach kids, teens, and adults, from basic to advanced levels. I also taught exam preparation. I did pretty much anything I was asked to do. That took a toll on my well-being, and I notice that was not sustainable.
You reach your full potential when you do what you enjoy most and what you are good at. I was not getting there.
Done is better than perfect.
Start speaking the language, even if you are not comfortable doing so. Learn from mistakes.
5/10 aprendizajes en 10 años enseñando inglés. Parte 1