English Learning

What kind of atmosphere do you enjoy teaching in?

English Learning

What kind of atmosphere do you enjoy teaching in?When involved in English learning, the atmosphere of the institution can greatly affect how quickly and with how much joy the students pick up the target language.

(Pictured: Iya Route 32 by Devanshe Chauhan)

If the school has a lot of inane and strict rules, this of course affects how people feel while there.

Is the staff generally relaxed and friendly, or elitist and aloof, or somewhere in between? How are they with welcoming new teachers? How do they feel about teachers sent from an agency? (if that is what you will be).

These are tough questions to answer if you have never worked at the place, but will give you pause for thought. You can always ask about these kinds of things if you think you have a good shot at the job. It is tragic when teachers get into situations that don`t suit them. They end up feeling bitter about it.

What kind of atmosphere or teaching situation would you like?

For me, I have realized it is very important to have a relaxed atmosphere. I like a school where my colleagues and I have a friendly and warm relationship. This is very, very important to me. It took working in many schools to realize this.

I had thought that working in an elite school with amazing students would be really interesting. And it was to a certain extent.

But I have learned in the course of my teaching career, that a laid back atmosphere is prime for me.

If the institution is strict, and the staff and teachers are overworked, stressed, and not a lot of fun to be around. I won`t stick around.

Work should be as fun and interesting as possible. If not, then one should either make it so (if possible), or work elsewhere.

Before you sign that one year contract, make damn sure that it is a place you are going to enjoy working at. Even a year of your life is a long time.

Indeed, it takes a while to make friends and feel comfortable at a new place of work. But once you have paid your dues but still find you don`t fit in, then it may be time to move on.

I think one should honor one`s contract if possible. Preferably though, one should do as much as possible to think about what kind of place one wants to work at. Then do as much as possible to research the school in question by contacting former or current teachers, and getting a feel for the institution from the job interview, the website and such.

From English learning to international teaching jobs

From English learning to How to teach English in Japan (home)