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This space is a tribute to The Teachers who have left their teaching impression on us
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Tue, 03/24/2009 - 21:09
Few teachers have made a memorable impresion in my life, these teachers have contributed to my development in ways they may not be aware of. If that is your case:
Let´s talk about those millstone experiences.
Will you tell us about it? Do please give the name of the inspiring teacher who has turned your proffession into an ongoing search for betterment.
Pilar
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 02:16
#2
hi Inas,
I would love to hear about the teachers who actually influenced you.
Would you tell us about them?
Pilar
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 21:57
#3
Hello Pilar!
I guess we have met before... within the encompass culture. I am very glad to address you now and present a nice welcome!
As for your topics above I think that is crucial for the teacher trainer to get to know his/her trainees as individuals, trying to understand their interests in life, society, their community. Then teacher trainers will be able to go to the next steps forward so as to allow every trainee-teacher to be creative, and simultaneously free to present his/her views. We also believe that mutual respect should be implicit here. We believe it is absolutely precious. And if the trainer is able to be humble and listen to the trainee-teacher's doubts, claims, and needs, then they will be more likely to be successful in their mission: helping to shape the trainee-teacher's growth/professional development.
We believe that teacher training has essentially to do with an "encounter" of individuals from diverse backgrounds and personal character. Then comes the scientific and professional input... which has to be taken seriously in a responsible way.
Best wishes,
Maria
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 22:14
#4
Hi Maria,
So nice to read you again, creativity and freedom can make wonders in teacher training, listening to trainees´ makes the picture perfect, don´t you think?
Pilar
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 02:13
#5
hi Maria,
will you tell us more the teachers who have fostered creativity and freedom in your teaching?
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 17:32
#6
Hi Pilar,
Thanks for your words of appreciation. I apologise for not being able to post earlier.Yesterday I travelled to the Czech Republic where I am now posting from. One of my dearest sons is currently living and working in Prague, and all my latest hours have been devoted to him and sightseeing...
I'll be talking further about some teachers who have been a milestone in my life.
Best wishes,
Maria
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 04:54
#7
Hi Maria,
Waiting to hear from those Teachers.
Best
Pilar
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 05:37
#8
Hi Pilar
Isn't the topic similar to the one on qualities of a successful teacher trainer / educator?
Anyhow, it is good for members to share their experiences.
I had a teacher educator (Professor Thirumalesh) at the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL), Hyderabad, India. He was a man of principles. The quality I admired in him are punctuality, clarity of thought and expression, and integrity.
A teacher trainer should possess these characteristics. Of course, creativity and critical thinking skills are most important ones for a trainer.
Albert P'Rayan
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 23:37
#9
hi Albert,
The topic is similar yes, but here I would love to hear about teachers who have made a memorable impression in your life, it would also be lovely to hear stories about them.
Thanks for sharing with us the name of your dear Proffessor Thirumalesh.
Pilar
Sun, 03/29/2009 - 17:23
#10
Hello
There was one teacher who taught us philosphy of Education and he kept asking us questions that we normally took for granted. Some students found him too confusing, and untraditional because he did not like to give answers! He made me think and ask myself questions al the time .
He made me discover things about myself and the people around me that I used to take for granted. I learned that in order to keep on learning and discovering new ways , one has to keep asking questions, and not always take things for granted. I believe that all of us , as adults have great experiences that can be better exploited
what do you think?
Inas
Sun, 03/29/2009 - 18:09
#11
Hi Inas and all,
Almost all teachers of philosophy and sciences of [good] education have positively influenced us. I here recall two teachers who have shown me to reason deeply and attentively before I speak. One in the high school and his name was Shana Mohammed and after introducing us to philosophy, I think he used to strike us with many difficult and very serious philosophical questions. One student and she was a girl would always jumb from the plate as we Moroccas say to naively answer his queries. She turned him nervous and angry as he would advise her to reckon before answering. I liked the method with which learning was occuring because teacher student interaction was good and vice versa. That teacher was himself a philosopher because he was all the time involved in a meditation process and notworthy is that no student could get exceed the average point. The first test we did was about an essay we were asked to develop from the following question: " what is astonishment in pholosophy?" Luckily, I got the first mark because I fathomed the way of analysis recommended by that teacher. Good he was and good he will be in my eyes!
The second teacher exerting on me a tremendous positive effect is a teacher trainer and his name is Noubough if you ever have had the opportunity to know him or to meet him. He was such a serious teacher that no noise could be made in his class. He does not stop from smoking but his course was a great space for true learning. you feel that your mind is working and that you are not that passive student. He would arise some trivial questions but that which demand lots of thinking skills and mental efforts. His exam"est un monstre pour les etudiants", I told him once while inquiring after some absent students. He did not forget what I said and once we passed the exam, he came intoxicated and all the students were surrounding him and he asked them to call me just to know how and why was his exam was a monster. All passed the exam and from the questions you can feel that it is success oriented. His aim was not blocking us but furnishing us with the necessary tools of beholding things, criticizing and never taking them to the letter.
I think I need to drink a cup of true philosophy to teach well too and to stay in my students' minds too. What do you think?
My best regards,
Rachid
Sun, 04/12/2009 - 00:32
#12
hi Inas,
and his name is...
best
Pilar
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 04:50
#13
Hi Rachid,
I would also love to have a drink from that cup .
Best
pilar
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 11:59
#14
hi Pilar
It seems like people don't won't to say exactly 'who' inspired them! Haha. So I thought I would.
Dr. Josie Arnold is lecturer in Media studies at Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia. She was my Media studies lecturer from 1997 to 2000, eventually becoming my Honours supervisor. From the very first class I knew that she was going to have a lasting impression on my life and work. I knew because of the impact her teaching began to have on me. Her teaching impacted on my thinking in many ways. For example, Dr. Arnold was a 'feminist', post-colonial, critical thinker. I'd had few close encounters with 'feminist', post-colonial, critical thinkers before undertaking my BA. Until I discovered that the person who had introduced herself to me on the very first day of Orientation Week, and who had sat next to me in that first lecture, and most other lectures after that, was also a 'feminist' and critical thinker. And she (Kelly) has become a life-long friend.
Dr. Arnold's teaching style was the thing that first caught my attention. Her teaching style was rhetorical, and she told these amazing stories. It was the way she weaved her stories about society and culture that sometimes just left me breathless. And that's when it hit me: I decided I wanted to be just like her. I wanted to be able to deliver lectures that were amazing and breathtaking. However, to my surprise, it never happened. I didn't become an amazing scholar and orator, enthralling audiences with my knowledge and speaking skill. I couldn't; how could I, I'm not her. I'm me! And because I'm me, I have developed my own teaching 'style'. I have my own style. And besides, I'm not a Media studies lecturer; I'm an EFL teacher! Haha. I have learned to use at least three teaching styles in my classes: rhetorical, reading and conversational.
Of course, I've learned a lot about 'stuff' since those heady BA days. I've learned much about teaching that helps me appreciate her style and what she was trying to do. Besides the fact that she was telling stories about society and culture, it was that she was telling stories about society and culture from 'feminist', post-colonial and critical thinker perspectives. She taught me that there were many ways to approach the study of society and culture, of which language is a main theme, ways which were 'feminist', post-colonial and critical in orientation, opened my 'eyes' to ways of seeing the world around me, and my own life and world, in ways I never thought possible. Before attending her lectures I had grown to think that I was a 'critical thinker', but as I realised, I wasn't the the kind of critical thinker she referred to, I was another kind of critical thinker. My hope however is that I can inspire my students as she has inspired me, and continues to inspire me.
robert
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 18:49
#15
Hi Robert,
WOW!
Thank you so much for your post about Dr. Josie Arnold, your words are what I call The tribute. Your telling us about how important it is to discover the real you rather than become the imitation of whom we admire is absolutely inspiring. Thanks!
Pilar
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 19:59
#16
There is one Teacher who has left a teaching impression in my life, I will reveal my teacher´s name, count on that. I created this space while having this teacher in mind. I am just one of the 55 OM, and when I created this space I thought that I would read at least 55 nice stories about these teachers who have contributed to make us become what we are today. Few names have been posted, few stories have been told. This is the teacher training forum. If acknowledments are not made, should I presume we are all self -made teachers, trainers, educators? I t would be great to know the names of the teachers who inspired you and to read about that anecdote that convinced you that teaching was your goal.
Cheers
Pilar
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 04:59
#17
hi pillar and all,
thanks fo the interesting question.it takes me to my college days of remembering my english professor John Sahayam (an ideal teacher) .to quote an example,my classmate and me always use to interrupt his lectures by raising queries and doubts.inspite of our disturbances,he patiently answers to some questions(respecting our ignorance) and then continues his class.taking vantage,we did the same in the next 2 classes.diplomatically, he invited us home for a week end special class and alotted his precious time of 1hr.in his home he explained all our doubts and moreover he hosted us with fruits and drinks.we were thunderstruck seeing his fraternity towards us.at the same time (a little ashamed of our stupidity on disturbing his lectures.from then we adored him and listened to his class(taking notes what a quick transformation)hats off to him.
today as a teacher and a researcher,i feel very great that he made me creative and anaytic to some extent.to be frank,even today i am following his principles but cant be perfect as him.
how long we have to count! pillar break the ice. common tell us your inspiring teacher.let this thread go as per you wish.
regards
dr.mangay
Thu, 04/09/2009 - 20:39
#18
Hi Mangay,
Did you go the college in Madurai?
Thu, 04/09/2009 - 17:21
#19
Hi all,
The teachers I most admire are: my mother and father, Juan Orbe, one of my teachers at the teacher training course, John Mc Rae, Alan Pulverness, and the great Claudia Ferradas. I had the pleasure to meet Claudia in 1998 and this meeting marked my life . I admire her because of her charisma, generousity and dedication but above all, because she generates in teachers the need for proffessional development. It is thanks to these Teachers, to the passion they put in their work that I strive to become a better teacher each passing day.
Best
Pilar
Sun, 04/12/2009 - 00:51
#20
Hi All,
I guess many of you are just lurking, now I´m asking you to reveal the name of the inspiring teacher who has contributed to make you become a better teacher.
Thanks: Proffesor Hirumalesh , Shana Mohammed, Noubough, Dr. Josie Arnold, John Sahayam, Alan Pulverness, John Mc Rae, Claudia Ferradas for making our lives purposeful.
Do please join in, you know how much important it is for teachers to know that they are remembered.
Best
Pilar
Thu, 04/16/2009 - 04:59
#21
hi Lurkers,
Do please feel at home, your grammar does not and will not interfere with your hearfelt intentions. I´m sure there are Names you remember, Names you believe in. Names that are in your mind at the time of planning your lessons. Acknowledging them, their names, will mean some tribute. Will you join in?
best
pilar
Thu, 04/16/2009 - 05:14
#22
hi Albert and all,
I would like to invite you all to watch Claudia Ferradas´ Closing Plenary Session.
Thu, 04/16/2009 - 07:37
#23
Dear Pilar, Well, I couldn't ignore this thread any more after your last comment! I am one of the 55 and it would be nice if you could contribute to the feedback threads on the Moderators Only forum, too...
The teacher who had the most profound effect on my life was Miss J. She may well be dead now, but I won't be giving her full name all the same.
I spent my entire school career (14 years from age 4 and a half) in a Girls' School in Greater London. Miss J. was my German teacher from Years 8 till 14. In those days it was called O-level, A-level and University entrance. I admired her terrifically because she set very high standards. Some of you may know that German has a lot more grammar in the early stages than English does. There are three genders, four cases, lots of different ways to do the plural, verb endings etc. And Miss J.insisted that we learnt all this stuff off by heart. Every so often she gave us a test with 100 items. And anyone who got less than 80 right had to do the test again. Usually we were so ashamed if we failed that we managed it the second time round. She had a very forceful sloping handwriting and a "well done" in sloping red ink on one's piece of work was the highest accolade. For University entrance the group was only three girls, and she gave up her free afternoon to teach us. Often there wasn't even a classroom free and we had our lessons sitting on a bench in the cloakroom where people hung up their games kit and outdoor coats. But even in this atmosphere we learnt a lot. And it was because of Miss J's teaching, her strictness but thoroughness and her dedication that I got into Oxford University, studied German and now live in Germany.
The "lessons" to be learnt from this for one's own CPD are obvious, I think. But there is another aspect to my story. Miss J. lived with the Latin teacher and there were rumours that they were lesbians, and this in the 60's was not something anyone would want to "come out" with. We girls giggled about them behind their backs and I sometimes wonder now if it was a temptation for her to spend so much time with individual girls on their own. Yet her absolute professionalism allowed her to keep her private life apart and to put us and our prowess in German first. This is another reason why I admire my German teacher.
Diana
Hi Pilar
I am an English teacher trainer or councelor , I give in-sevice courses for teacher professional development. I work with Palestinian teachers from East- Jerusalem . I think you have posed very importnat questions.We should find the best ways to influence teachers. Working with adults is challenging and requires certain strategies because the trainer should first consider and respect teachers' experiences, their needs and allow time for change.
Since we are talking about teacher training, then we expect teachers to make a real change in the classroom as a rersult of the training which in itself is not easy and is a process that requires follow up and support.
Inas