How confident are you in your teaching?

fluffyotaters

Hey guys,

Just wondering if any other teachers feel like this? So we all know we have 2 teaching subjects and it is my main subject that has gotten me jobs in the past. I've just finished my 3rd year teaching. My other subject is a language, German, and so far I have only taught it to JC level which is no problem but I am very aware that my German is not nearly as good as some other German teachers out there and I know if I were to teach it to LC I would be so stressed and having to double check everything etc

I had an interview where a few questions were asked in German and I understood no problem and was able to answer back but I know I made grammar errors and I could see the teacher looking at me thinking 'And you want to teach German....really?!?!?'

I feel so ashamed, I'm very good at my other subject and I'm a good teacher, dedicated, work so hard to help my students and they have said this to me in the past but I always feel my German is holding me back. I didn't do it in school for the LC, I did it outside of school myself and struggled with it in Uni but worked my way up....I go to Germany and am thinking I'm going to do an intensive course each year to keep up with it....

Anyone else feel similiar?

Monotype

If you're worried about it and are looking to improve it, then you're headed in the right direction. I've seen people who deny there's a problem or ignore as long as they're in a job.
You have to keep working at it and keep using it every day. Make it part of your life. Read German articles online, watch German tv (if you can stand it). You need to keep doing this as a language can slip away even when you're teaching a class.
If you have confidence in your abilities, you will have confidence in yourself at the interviews.

peanuthead

Hi OP

You are certainly not alone in this. My second subject is Spanish and from one thing to the next - although I can teach it fine to LC Ordinary level - I feel that I may struggle at HL if I had a good class.

Having such a gap between leaving final year in college (where I don't even feel I got a proper education in the communicative sense of the word) to actually end up teaching it (my first subject has and continues to carry me in terms of employment) has left me feeling less than adequate.

But what you can do over the summer is get private tuition. There are people, german natives over here on hols or living who don't charge a huge amount of money for their time. I'm lucky that with spanish I have the cervantes institute, is there anything like that here for german?

Buy german books and DVDs online through amazon. Watch DVDs you have at home with german subtitles on. Change the language on your phone and computer to german. Immerse yourself in it wherever possible.

Google 'dublin meet ups german' just obviously be careful meeting people online. Post in the german forum here, get a german penpal.

But Monotype is right, you are aware and admitting that all is not well and thats great for your students. They are lucky to have you for that alone.

peanuthead

http://www.meetup.com/german-516/

gaeilgegrinds1

I'm lucky in that I speak loads of Irish outside of school and always do loads of work through the language but many of my friends with Irish in their degree have never ever taught it. Then in interviews they find it tough to get the grammar right. I'd say try to do a meet up or language exchange with someone of a very high standard.

niall3r

I dont think that this is a problem for the languages exclusively. History is my second subject and I am not confident in teaching it at all. I need to do alot of research for potential questions for each class whereas my first subject it is unnecesary as I know the subject and curriculum like the back of my hand. I think that its all to do with interest and passion. If you (we) felt as passionate about the second as first then the effort would be put in.

From conversations with collegues I can tell you that you are not alone. There are some people who feel equally confident in both subjects, and fair play to them.

TheDriver

and you only gain confidence once you go through the course a few times with students. I am a Maths teacher and even though you know all the hard stuff out of Uni, its simple 1st year stuff that could catch you in an interview!

implausible

You are definitely not alone OP, every teacher doubts their ability at some stage, whether it be in one of their subjects or certain sections of the course. We'd all be arrogant gits if we didn't! (mind you, according to most sections od the media.....:rolleyes:)

Obviously, for a language, exposure and practice are key. However, when do have to teach a LC class, what you'll need in the classroom is preparation, preparation and more preparation. You'll have to treat it like you're a HDipper again and know the course inside out and pre-empt and prepare any possible questions. The students don't need to know that you don't feel confident!

I remember being given a LC Maths class before and being so nervous that I worked out most of the questions in the textbook in a copy before each class. It worked! The students just accepted I was an experienced Maths teacher.

Monotype

deemark wrote: »

I remember being given a LC Maths class before and being so nervous that I worked out most of the questions in the textbook in a copy before each class. It worked! The students just accepted I was an experienced Maths teacher.

You'd have to work out some of those questions because sometimes it takes a few minutes to even know what they're asking.
Our maths teacher (who was knowledgeable and experienced) was once going through a difficult homework question. He referred at one point that he was puzzled for a short while when he did it the previous night. Everyone was suddenly thinking, does this guy have a life? - Doing homework questions?! It's a lot different from the other perspective.