what drove the creation of this blog was a need for marketing myself as a newly-certified TESOL instructor. let me elaborate:

why I got my tesol certificate

firstly (and honestly) I got my TESOL certificate firstly because I was already taking many of the classes for it and I had room in my schedule. I found the idea of teaching English super interesting to me because I love learning about English grammar, and I’m a native speaker, so I figured it couldn’t be that hard. though I somewhat disagree with that sentiment at this point.

what I’m going to do with my tesol certificate

now that I’m about to finish my certificate, I’m excited to put it to use. part of the MA program at Pitt includes real-world experience, and one of those options includes an internship at the English Language Institute. there is an option to add a TESOL certificate to the MA program, and I’m hoping to take advantage of the many opportunities for English Language teaching experience through this program.

why I would be a good teacher

through my student teaching sessions, I’ve learned how much I do love teaching. I love seeing a new concept “click” for a student who was confused, and I enjoy using my energy and enthusiasm to motivate students to see the importance and relevance of the concepts in a lesson. I also empathize with students in a language classroom because of all the time I have spent in a language classroom. I try to put myself in their shoes and think about how it feels to forget how to say something or get corrected. I like to think showing empathy and demonstrating understanding of their situation lets the students know I really care.

my professional persona

the best teachers I had were energetic and excited to teach, as well as down to earth and not afraid to look silly or act goofy. I want to keep my classroom vibes lighthearted and create a cohesive, tight-knit classroom. learning is inherently collaborative, and I hope my students will get to know each other and build relationships. I want my students to know I am someone they can always trust.