For two and a half years, I was not in the classroom; not once did I think of deducting those years from my teaching career. And that, thanks to my two full-time students, in Life Sciences and English Language Learning; my daughter, Maggie and my son, Nicholas.
The amounts of Professional Development that I have been receiving through their development, physical, mental, psychological and linguistic, is invaluable.
This Special Feat is a message to all English Language Teachers who have become parents. Professional Development does not stop when you become a parent. On the contrary and through personal experience, you can make the utmost out of your gift and responsibility of being a parent:
You can be one great teacher for your family and for your students.
- We have turned our home into a school and our school into our second home.
- I have been extensively studying the specialized topics of Bilingualism and Multilingualism and have been applying all I am learning both to my children and my students.
- Through this effort, several other colleagues-parents have become motivated and began studying and asking for advice on these issues – issues that are firmly bonded with teaching languages.
- Some of us may not be able to frequently visit workshops and conferences. That’s alright! That’s what webinars, online conferences and workshops, educational blogs, social media and books are for.
- And some of us may be able to bring our own children into the groups we teach. This is my personal favourite. As if I have been living and working for this.
Congratulations to all teachers and parents on their feats. Thank you.
This post was originally published on the BELTA (Belgian English Language Teachers Association) blog.
Feel free to explore BELTA Belgium: http://www.beltabelgium.com
(The Loras Network is an institutional member of BELTA Belgium)
Eugenia Loras 