Video 1: Let's Talk About YOU

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From the course by Arizona State University

Teach English Now! Foundational Principles

3600 ratings

Arizona State University

Teach English Now! Foundational Principles

3600 ratings

Course 1 of 4 in the Specialization TESOL Certificate, Part 1: Teach English Now!

Through a series of engaging metaphors and stories, prospective and current EFL/ESL teachers will identify, summarize, and evaluate 7 basic language learning paradigms. Learners will be presented information on such foundational principles as motivation, risk taking, two different modes of learning, and balancing the teacher profession. Learners are also given an understanding of basic techniques founded on those principles, such as teacher talk, looking “ridiculous” in order to lower the affective filter, and networking. With these foundational principles in mind, ESL/EFL teachers will scrutinize common assumptions about language learning by comparing how they stack up to research-based core principles.

From the lesson

Module 5: Avoiding Teacher Burnout

This module introduces the concept of teacher burnout, and several techniques to avoid it. The first technique is the creation of a network. By creating a network of teachers to help you understand your field, you can learn new ideas and have a resource for solving difficult problems. The second technique, maintaining control of your teaching environment, demonstrates the need for teachers to understand how to best make a difference and avoid the pitfalls of complaining. Finally, the third technique, finding your core, explains that teachers can, paradoxically, maintain energy by working tirelessly for the principles they most believe in.

Video 1: Let's Talk About YOU3:47

Video 2: Teaching is a Team Sport6:30

Meet the Instructors

Dr. Justin Shewell
Senior International Educator
Arizona State University
Dr. Shane Dixon
Senior International Educator
Arizona State University Global Launch
Andrea Mürau Haraway
International Educator
Arizona State University, Global Launch

[MUSIC]

Welcome back to Teach English Now.

In these last few lessons, we are going to change our focus away from the learner and

toward one very important person.

A person that, to be honest, we really should talk about more.

You.

Before we talk about you,

let's have a small discussion about the teaching profession in general.

Over the last 20 years or so, I keep seeing a very disturbing problem.

Good teachers, great teachers, keep leaving our profession.

The truth is our profession, when done well, is an exhausting one.

Teachers in general are tired.

But teachers who understand the importance of acquisition in language learning and

the need for students to be able to communicate in English must be engaging,

create stimulating activities, and

constantly meet the changing demands of unique learners.

You become an actor, a coach, a psychologist, a guide.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

The concept I'm referring to is called Teacher Burnout.

Teacher burnout means that a teachers like a candle, try to give and

give until they themselves have nothing left.

And over the last 20 years I have seen a lot of teachers last anywhere from three

to five to ten years, and the quit.

Become car salesmen.

Construction workers.

Actors.

Anything besides a teacher.

Why would that be?

Well of course in education there are always concerns about salary,

lack of support and so forth.

But I would suggest that one of the biggest problems comes from

the profession itself.

Teaching English is so involved, it has so many moving pieces and

it can be difficult to learn how to do well.

As I focus on helping students communicate in English,

I have learned that I have to be a pronunciation expert, a reading expert,

a writing expert, a grammar expert, a speaking expert and so on.

In the last few years, I have been asked to teach TOEFL, TOEIC, ILS, GRE and GMAT.

I've taught English to aviation pilots, nurses, elementary school students,

junior high students, high school students, college students, and

business professionals.

How in the world can I teach to all of these different groups and

be an expert on all of these different things?

And each year, it seems, there are new books, new standards, new curriculum and

new ways to do the same thing.

This field is constantly evolving and revolving and

often makes it feel like we are going on a merry-go-round.

So how do we step off the merry-go-round and avoid teacher burnout?

In the next few videos, we're going to talk about how we can make sure that

as you strive to help your learners succeed, you still matter.

We will discuss what you can do to avoid teacher burn out and

what you can do to advance in this most wonderful of careers.

See you there.

[MUSIC]

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