Whats your teaching background?

[SamFig]

Hey Guys,

I figured since I'm curious then others might be as well.  So, if you'd like to post your teaching experience here you can do so.

This list is in chronological order:
-I've informally taught ESL while studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan, for Sakae Institute of Study Abroad
-Substitute taught at a local district.
-Taught ESL all over Italy through ACLE for a summer.
-Was a building substitute in a low-income school.
-I'm currently an assistant in a special ed. school that deals with emotionally disturbed students.
-Oh yeah, I've coached several soccer camps at the University of Illinois in between and coached high school soccer.

So yeah, I feel prepared for something like this, especially having done ESL in Italy.

[SRedw]

Great post, Sam, but get ready to hear over and over again that you are not a teacher.  Many of the teachers here will tell you this because they want you to realize that your are just a Language Assistant.  Their comments are not to be taken as a slap in the face or an insult.

There will be some teachers who will allow you to teach a class from time to time and others who won't let you do anything because they are insecure about their own Englishlanguage abilities. 

As long as you have confidence in what you do and lend a helping hand, everything should be fine.

Cheers,

Shawn

[stacylimones]

This is an interesting post! Before becoming a language assistant, I spent four years teaching high school Spanish at a public school in Massachusetts. Before that, I had subbed in public schools and had taught after-school Spanish lessons to elementary school children.

Shawn, I have found that most of the teachers I work with do consider me another teacher and not "just" a language assistant. I think it depends a lot on the individual and on the school environment. Just my 2c. :-)

[SRedw]

This is an interesting post! Before becoming a language assistant, I spent four years teaching high school Spanish at a public school in Massachusetts. Before that, I had subbed in public schools and had taught after-school Spanish lessons to elementary school children.

Shawn, I have found that most of the teachers I work with do consider me another teacher and not "just" a language assistant. I think it depends a lot on the individual and on the school environment. Just my 2c. :-)

Stacy, as I have said, some teachers will allow you to teach and they do consider you a teacher, but when dealing with people who are insecure, well, we know how that can be.  I've dealt with plenty of insecure teachers here in Spain.  We have to realize as well that many teachers, and I am speaking about Madrid, just see us as Language Assistants and that won't change.  They see us this way because we haven't taken OPOSICIONES and that means that we aren't real teachers.  At the end of the day, it's all laughable.

Shawn

[madridsally]

Hey Guys,

I figured since I'm curious then others might be as well.  So, if you'd like to post your teaching experience here you can do so.

This list is in chronological order:
-I've informally taught ESL while studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan, for Sakae Institute of Study Abroad
-Substitute taught at a local district.
-Taught ESL all over Italy through ACLE for a summer.
-Was a building substitute in a low-income school.
-I'm currently an assistant in a special ed. school that deals with emotionally disturbed students.
-Oh yeah, I've coached several soccer camps at the University of Illinois in between and coached high school soccer.

So yeah, I feel prepared for something like this, especially having done ESL in Italy.

Like many other people, I'm sure, I've got no teaching background. But I've got 10 years experience as a professional in the communications field, so my grasp of English grammar, usage, etc. is above average, I think
I've also done some volunteer work conducting training sessions in my field for high school and college students.

[hurrikaane]

I'm a PhD student (will be writing my dissertation during my stay in Spain), so I have been a TA for the last three years.  Previously I worked as a substitute teacher.  But I understand well that my job as an auxiliar will be different.

[kyky22]

Like many other people, I'm sure, I've got no teaching background. But I've got 10 years experience as a professional in the communications field, so my grasp of English grammar, usage, etc. is above average, I think
I've also done some volunteer work conducting training sessions in my field for high school and college students.

I don't have a teaching background either. I'm a nurse in the ICU and want to change paths and work in community/public health as a health educator. My only experience teaching was during a semester of school I taught health education to parents of children in a headstart program.

[SRedw]

I'm a PhD student (will be writing my dissertation during my stay in Spain), so I have been a TA for the last three years.  Previously I worked as a substitute teacher.  But I understand well that my job as an auxiliar will be different.

Great reply.  At least you already know that you will be an assistant and that your job will be different.  There are too many language assistants who want to come over here and try to take over the class and that's a wonderful recipe for things to go wrong.

Shawn

[madridsally]

Great reply.  At least you already know that you will be an assistant and that your job will be different.  There are too many language assistants who want to come over here and try to take over the class and that's a wonderful recipe for things to go wrong.

Shawn

I think most of us realize that we're assistants and not teachers. It's pretty clear based on the information on the program Web site. Plus, like I was saying, it seems the vast majority of us have no teaching experience at all.. so most of us really would have no business being put in charge of a class!

It sounds like there are also a good number of experienced teachers taking part in the program (although still probably a minority overall.)  If a school is well run, you'd think it would take advantage of a particular auxilary's teaching skill and experience. If it doesn't, that might be where egos (or just poor management) come into play..

It sounds like the job of an auxilary varies a lot between different schools. I, for one, am eager to do whatever it is that they tell me! We get paid the same no matter what, so I doubt many people would complain about being given *less* responsibility than they expected.

[hurrikaane]

Great reply.  At least you already know that you will be an assistant and that your job will be different.  There are too many language assistants who want to come over here and try to take over the class and that's a wonderful recipe for things to go wrong.

Shawn

Well, if there's anything that 3 years of TA'ing has taught me, it is "knowing your role."  Some professors gave me 100% autonomy, some kept me in a vise.  Hated the latter, loved the former, but in the end it pays the bills. 

[SRedw]

I think most of us realize that we're assistants and not teachers.

Madridsally,

This MAY be true, but I am also referring to many language assistants who think that they can do the job much, much better than the teachers, so in the end, egos come into play from both teachers and language assistants.  What people have to realize is what their role is, do it and go home at the end of the day without thinking that something is either good or bad when it comes to their job. 

For example, in my school now, the textbooks aren't and they don't teach much English, but it's what I have to work with and I do my job with a smile and go home.  I know that my job is a small part of my life and it doesn't define me as a person because I have many talents and skills and refuse to limit myself to just teaching.

but in the end it pays the bills.

hurrikanne,

I could not have said it better myself.  This is the attitude that I have taken about jobs years ago.

Shawn