Victoria Hatch

December 3, 2017
EDUC462

Teaching Philosophy

My first teaching experiences began before I even considered this profession. As a high
school student, I started my expedition on this career path as a French tutor, already working
with students and pushing them to take on the daunting task of learning a second (or third, or
fourth) language. Thanks to the never-ending support of my high school French teacher, I
became a self professed-grammar nerd passionate about the language and I discovered my desire
to help others fall in love with French the same way I did. Using a variety of mediums to deliver
content as well as enthusiasm, this teacher modeled for me what kind of educator I wanted to
become: an educator who never apologizes for content being hard," who never relies on English
as a crutch, and who shows students that a language is a global connection. Before thinking
about anything else, I often ask myself what I want m students to have gained when they walk
out of my classroom at the end of the year. This question drives my instruction and decisions as
an educator.
Through my teaching and learning experiences until this point, I have considered both the
theory behind teaching and the practical application of countless strategies, activities,
assessments, and teaching styles. As important as these things are, I have to remember that my
students are real people with real experienceswhat they get from me is not an experiment or
practice for them. Using a variety of assessment strategies like Comprehensible Input (CI) or
Total Physical Response (TPR), I will push my students to succeed while distancing myself from
traditional foreign language teaching methods. Each class has unique strengths and needs to
which I will adapt my teaching style to ensure that every student finishes the year with better
tools in hand. In order to achieve this objective, teachers must be flexible and recognize that not
all students learn one way. Being able to modify and revise ones teaching is crucial to leading a
successful classroom. As an educator, I am excited to try new strategies and teaching styles while
still maintaining consistency with my students by limiting experimentation.
When thinking of foreign language classes, images of grammar, memorization, lecture,
textbook prompts, and written exercises often come to mind. While these tools have their place
within a classroom, they are only pieces of the bigger picture. I believe that some grammar rules
are imperative as a foundation for new language learning, not every student will be as excited
about parts of speech and verb conjugations as I am. In order to truly convey the new language
and the lessons that go along with it, teachers must step away from traditional teaching methods.
Using CI is a staple for the modern day foreign language classroom. That is to say, I maintain
that communicating in the target language as much as possible is critical for students, despite its
assumed difficulty. In reality, students will internalize more than they think themselves capable
of, which will boost overall morale. In my ideal classroom, students wont want to miss out on
learning because they are so engaged and eager to practice their French. My hope is to make
students learning meaningful by allowing them to teach themselves and discover on their own.
 In the long term, I expect my students to learn about another language but also to
become open-minded global citizens. A foreign language class encompasses much more than
grammar and vocabulary alone. As previously stated, I plan my teaching with the end in mind
and ask myself what I want students to get out of my class after its all over: a culturally
enriching, eye-opening experience that fosters eternal curiosity as well as challenges students to
understand differences instead of pass judgements. While learning their new language, students
can also learn geography, history, economics, science, and more by analyzing interactions
between different Francophone countries and peoples. Students will make comparisons between
another culture and their own, make connections between what they thought they knew and what
they know now, find community with international friends, and most of all, communicate
intelligently about the diversity in our world. As a foreign language instructor, I have the
resources to teach our students about the world from a sociological angle.
Attitude dramatically affects the difficulty of learning a new language. If students come
into the classroom believing that they cant succeed, their own mental blocks wont let them
benefit as much as they could. Its true, learning about grammar, new vocabulary, and new
pronunciation takes a lot of time and dedication. My aspirations as an educator are to show kids
that despite the amount of work needed to learn French, they are all capable of success.
Motivation is key in learning! Often, students question what they will do with the language
theyre studying during their K-12 experience. As their teacher, I want to confirm that these
studies are and will be valuable by putting students learning in real life context. My job is to
encourage curiosity and develop motivation when there isnt any. My policy is that all learners
are able to achieve whatever they put their mind to and I hope my enthusiasm towards French
supports that mindset. Additionally, if students do not feel comfortable in my classroom, they
will not practice their language skills and therefore, they will not grow. My hope is to cultivate a
safe, comfortable classroom environment where students are not afraid to make mistakes and
practice their skills.
Every time I walk out of a classroom after having worked with students, my inspiration
for teaching is renewed. My students remind me that even though I am a teacher, I will never
stop being a student. Life always finds a way to teach you something new, and often, that way
comes through students. Kids will ask you questions you had never considered and force you to
look at the world through different lenses. Their endless curiosity and incredible drive to find
answers motivates me to be the most effective educator I can be. My teaching philosophys core
revolves around guiding students to better themselves, make their own goals, and achieve things
far beyond what they planned. Learning a foreign language allows kids to take chances, make
mistakes, get messy," as Miss Frizzle always insisted on the Magic School Bus. In the end, these
kinds of experiences with students are what make teaching so rewarding.