So, I’m now a Language Assistant in Barcelona! If I’d been told at any point in my life that I’d be here right now, I’d be surprised, curious, and most of all, overwhelmingly excited at the opportunity. Even having been here for over a month now, the excitement is yet to fade. But, of course, I’ve had some adapting to do. In my first few weeks as a Language Assistant, there are a few things that I’ve had to learn on the fly, and I can already feel the benefits of the learning process on my confidence as a teacher.
Firstly, I’ve learned that children of different ages require real differences in how you approach and manage lessons. Although this sounds obvious, taking a few moments to mentalise how you want to organise each next lesson and the qualities you’ll bring to it can genuinely make a world of difference. At times, I’ve taught a 1st grade class (6-year-olds) immediately after a 4th of ESO class (15-year-olds), and the required additional energy and patience when working with younger groups is an adaptation that I’m still navigating. It is important to remember that, above all, young people are young people, and they deserve to have as much energy as they do. And, believe me, they have it in buckets! But that’s not something that requires punishment or correction, and is merely something to form your lessons around. Get them on their feet, keep them engaged, and remember that when you were a kid, you likely weren’t any quieter than they are now!
Secondly, I believe that my lessons improved greatly in both learning and engagement after my first week of teaching. During my first lessons, as with anything new, I had a lot to figure out and thus was slightly hesitant to let my personality complement my teaching style. This, however, didn’t quite work. You cannot distance yourself from the students, as they will always find ways to close the gap. Meeting them in the middle with friendly smiles, a welcoming manner and positive reinforcement will only improve your lessons. A high five or two for the younger groups, and the occasional joke with the older ones, can go a really long way in keeping them alert. I’m still navigating this change, but I personally enjoy my lessons far more when I am myself throughout them. Obviously, teaching requires a degree of professionalism to keep the lesson on topic, but there remains significant opportunity for authenticity and meaningful interactions with the students who will appreciate it enormously. Remember that you are not just a teacher, but a role model, and trying to maintain an expressionless facade is unlikely to benefit anyone. The students are just starting to figure out who they are, so demonstrate that being yourself is a good place to start.
So, although I still have so much to learn, I’ve enjoyed dipping my toes into this exciting process. I hope this year will teach me even more, and that I will be able to do the same for my students.
Author: Mark E.