Am I Good Enough?

What does it mean to be a good teacher? This session looked at both the challenges and advantages of teaching as a non-native speaker of English.

Summary

In this webinar, the presenters discussed some of the ideas around what it means to be a ‘good teacher’ through the eyes of someone whose first language is not English. They looked at what it’s like to be a non-native speaker teacher working both at home and abroad and discussed what specific challenges teachers face as well as the distinct skills and experience that both native and non-native teachers bring to the English language classroom. By exploring these, the presenters explored how teachers can appreciate their own individual strengths, reflect on what students actually need in the international world of the 21st century, and better understand how they can meet these needs.

About the presenter

Paula Medina has worked in ELT for over 25 years. She has a passion for teaching English and culture and has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer in both Brazil and England. Paula holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Sussex, and a DELTA. She currently works as a freelancer on teaching and teacher training projects in a variety of countries.