I will start with my teaching philosophy.
Margarita Martínez
I remember perfectly when I started my practice as
teacher, I was nervous and I wanted to be as my English’s teachers were to me;
they were strict and they applied grammar translation method. I knew nothing
about techniques, strategies or methods in ESL however I prepared every class
very carefully and knowing the English language rules helped me a lot to avoid
teaching with mistakes or spreading untrue information to students.
Furthermore, I used some of the techniques and methods my former language teachers
practiced to me! Through my own learning experience I decided I should apply similar
methods because they worked for me and they should work to everyone, big
mistake of course.
My practice was alright and my “adapted techniques” were
not boring, this according to some ex-students´ comments; they say they have
never had so good teacher “to teach” they emphasized, on the other hand,
talking about rules in the class I was so severe and dare to say I was
authoritarian, inflexible even harsh which step by step it was creating a big
block in the middle of my students’ learning and my person. Hence, I started
taking some courses and seminars where they talked and explained teaching
amongst teenagers-young adults; that was my awakening as a person I urgently
needed a change in both my personality and character so I could break the big
wall I had built between my practice and my students’ learning process.
Nowadays,
my teaching philosophy is totally humanitarian I always see the human before
the student; I feel that if I get the motivation on them I get their
understanding, and achieve their English learning or at least their interest in
the English language, after all we are made of feelings and desires. That is
why I keep learning, taking classes, courses, seminars, or conferences every
time I can, is the only way to be evolving and improving constantly. In this
manner I can teach a language combined to values, beliefs, principles; moreover
I can go further their minds then their hearts.
Over the years I have had the
wonderful opportunity of teaching many students. I am passionate about creating
a safe and nurturing environment where all learners feel respected, cared for,
loved, and eager to learn. A positive self-esteem is what I want my students to
walk out of my classroom with. Moreover, I feel prepared enough to develop in
my students critical thinking as well as a cross cultural education not only in
English language but in their formation as a person without prejudices and with
knowledge in many areas as possible. Coming to Project SUMMIT in Manhattan has
been an excellent choice to improve my teaching practice, these six weeks have
been a terrific chance to enhance my knowledge, as the ASR is very close to
what Mexican Reforma in Education is looking for it will not be impossible to
adapt the Spiral Readiness in our teaching context.
The ASR deepest step is the
critical reflection since is here where teachers go inside their assumptions
and beliefs, they break these down to modify teaching methods and to apply new
ones or adapt another ones. ASR critical reflection engage teachers into a
profound analysis to be performed continuously in order to be better everyday
and to achieve a successful teaching – learning process.
