TEACHING PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Encouraging students to talk to the class

According to my philosophy, “Learning” is the most difficult task that a human being will be encountering in his or her entire life. Learning can be defined as getting new experiences or doing new things that you have never done before. In order to make the best learning, you need to have constant dedication and passion. In this process, sometimes, teacher will be an anchor for the students who are living in a stormy sea. Sometimes, teacher will be a lighthouse which gives the correct guidance. Sometimes, teacher will be a hunter who lives in a dark jungle and knows every inch of it in order to have the best survive.  In other words, as the hunter, teacher is compelled to know the nature of every student in order to give them the best learning outcome.

Student feedback from Grade 12 class

Learning and teaching are two processes of which the initial stage is the classroom setting.  Teacher plays the most important role in this challenging process where teacher takes the responsibility of leading the learner to attain the maximum of teaching and feel comfortable and secured. I strongly believe teacher should be flexible.  Teacher should not practice the strategies which are suitable to her, but should practice the strategies, methods that are applicable to the skills, potentials, interests of the students. At that time, teacher can play the role of a real inspiration to the students and achieve the learning objectives.

My teaching experience was unique because it was differed in terms of level of classes,learner profile, learner expectations and even the schools. Since I got two different schools, personally I experienced the way that teaching strategies were changed accordingly.

“At the very first day, I noticed that male students were out of controlled and not listen to the lesson and they disturbed to the whole teaching process.  I was determined myself that I need to take the control of the class. Consequently, second day, with the purpose of taking control of the class, I made a few tactics; made students to stand up when they were not cooperative with the lesson. I divided the class into groups and focus their attention on gaining the victory to their team. In order to gain the victory, students need to be working as a team and being quick in answering the questions.  I noticed my method was effective because students started to pay attention to the lesson. Students were enthusiastic while doing it. It was my greatest achievement at the very first week of the internship.”

This was extracted by first reflective summary which explains the teaching experienced that I had received at Kelani Maha Vidyalaya. This was the best example which was shown where I was  compelled to act according to the learner profile. At the very beginning, there was no room for them  to teach a lesson, but need to get their attention. In order to get their attention, I was compelled to make certain set of tricks. In other words, I was compelled to act accordingly. On the contrary, when  it comes to the experience that I had received from Janadhipathi School as follow, 

“Students were motivated and showed interest towards learning. This made me happy and excited about the teaching process.  Thus, it is needed to mention that handling the students and time management was not a great issue. Students are in the level of UTEL 4 bench mark.”

The learner profile is a contrast from Kelaniya. Students are motivated and pay attention to the lesson and the teacher. Therefore, that was easy for me to continue on the teaching process. 

In my childhood dreams, I had never thought of being a teacher. I considered “TEACHING” as the  most difficult responsibility that a single individual bears on which I would not never do in my life.Because a teacher should be keen and talented enough to approach every student in the classroom.  Honestly, at the end of the internship period, I realized that I made a satisfactory job. I realized my ability of making a positive impact on those students.  The reason for this humble achievement was  that spreading empathy for students and the desire of wanting to teach them through my level best  while adhering to students’ own way of acquiring the lesson, not mine. Consequently, my passion towards being a teacher was ignited. 

“Teaching is the highest form of understanding”

By Aristotle

I was inspired by the above quote which provides the idea that teacher needs to have a good  understanding about students in order to achieve the best learning outcomes in the classroom.  That’s why achieving students’ needs and expectations are important rather than achieving teacher  expectations. I always tried my best to understand my students. Moreover, teacher will play a role model in students’ lives. Therefore, I realized that not only teaching the syllabus but a certain set of values should be practiced by the teacher. Role modeling of the teacher should be powerful enough to make students learn life lessons incorporating which would aid to shape their personality as a  good human being in the society.

I believe that proposing the idea of cooperating technology is not always the best solution with 

considering the practicality, accessibility and the time constraints of daily Sri Lankan school routine.  Therefore, adhering to the applicability of Sri Lankan traditional English classroom, I was compelled to make the best out of the things that I had been received. Consequently, in order to break the  traditional monotonous that was instilled in every day classroom, teacher can make use best out of the teaching strategies without cooperating videos or audios.  I consider that a teacher must take this  change as a positive stance and keep updated into the new trends of teaching and learning process, in  order to assist students to meet their learning needs. I realized that teacher can create a dynamic  environment in the classroom through engaging students with the teaching process. I used more student centered activities where students need to reveal their personal opinions, experiences in lessons, student centered activities like group work, pair work. This made a truly effective teaching learning practice where ultimate teaching goals were achieved. Students were interested and  motivated towards learning. Therefore, there was an elevation of student talk.  In my internship period, time management was not an issue but the major challenge was make students talk to the whole class. I was compelled to make echoing in order to make them speak louder.

Student feedback from Grade 13 class

I strictly believe that commitment and passionate in teaching will lead the teachers to be creative  in planning effective strategies for the students in order to motivate them.