【講師コラム】エセル講師No.22～A Personalized Approach to English Teaching～

Becoming an English teacher was never part of my plan. I had a career as an Engineer, worked for a Japanese telecommunication device manufacturer and ran a small business. I was not interested in English subjects in school. I hated writing reaction papers, compositions, reports, and other assignments. I thought they were dull and difficult.

But fate had other ideas; a close friend, the head teacher of an English academy, offered me a job as an ESL teacher for Korean students. And that changed everything.

To become an effective teacher, passion for teaching is essential because it can overcome even the biggest hurdles.

I believe every student is unique and needs a different way of learning; has their own learning style, speed, and interests. I adjust my methods to suit their needs. I use students themselves as my inspiration. I have not relied on textbooks or theories a lot. My teaching style is different because I connect with each student personally. I create a learning environment that goes beyond the usual methods.

I use different ways of teaching, such as discussions, visuals, or activities, depending on what works best for each student. I also use the students’ interests and experiences to make the lessons more fun and meaningful. I show them kindness, patience, and a new way of looking at the language.

I am grateful I can share my personal story with my students, especially those who may not care about English. I want to motivate them, showing them that even the most difficult subjects can become something they love and learn from.

To sum up, my teaching style is based on the idea that education is a shared process. I learn from my students as much as they learn from me. We exchange ideas, experiences, and views to make a dynamic learning environment. As an English teacher, I don’t just impart knowledge; I encourage a love for learning.