Philosophy of Teaching Statement - ESL

As a teacher, I consider myself a facilitator and resource person in service of the learning processes of my students. I craft a dynamic, enjoyable, student-centred classroom environment that fosters creativity and confidence, inviting students to actively engage in the co-production of a meaningful learning experience, while focusing on their progress in the four basic language skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. I believe that teachers should be flexible, responding to variable situations and evolving student needs. While my approach is rooted in Communicative Language Teaching and Task-Based Learning, I also integrate techniques from other methodologies, including Audiolingualism and the Lexical Method. Our classroom activities, rooted in the students’ real-world linguistic and cross-cultural challenges, keep them motivated and engaged. My overarching goal is to support students in meeting their needs and objectives by equipping them with the language skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.

My class structure is based on scaffolding, beginning with review and warm-up, and progressing through skill-building activities such as dialogues, drills, and repetition with substitution. Instructional strategies for communicative, task-based activities include Cooperation (think-pair-share, groups, community links, discussion, interview, jigsaw), Thinking Skills (brainstorming, question-answer), Arts (role play, chanting/singing, rhythm, improvisation), Direct Instruction (word wall, flash cards, cloze, lecture, read along, read aloud), Activity-Based Strategies (field trip, carousel, oral presentation, games), and Independent Learning (homework, independent reading, reflection). Real-World Task topics vary, from renting an apartment, to interviewing for a job, taking public transit, going to the doctor’s office, or participating in a workplace meeting. By the end of a session, students will have learned how to navigate challenging daily tasks with communicative confidence.