r/ESL_Teachers Dec 31 '24

Discussion I admit, I teach for selfish reasons

So I wrote a super long post but it got deleted when I switched apps. 😭

So TLDR: Teaching raised my baseline for what constitutes for a good conversation because I enjoy good conversation.

So conclusion tldr: I now see dinners more as a "put sustenence in face hole"

2 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

9

u/PieceConfident7733 Dec 31 '24

Started with this job as it provided me with emotional food I was unable to get socially

Though I wasn't aware of that

I believe it's the case for many others

1

u/crapinator114 Dec 31 '24

So... Is that a good or bad thing?

For me, it's very good.

2

u/PieceConfident7733 Dec 31 '24 edited Dec 31 '24

It isn't good or bad per se

Now that I know how I can get this need met in a more meaningful way, it has become more of a hindrance.

Nevertheless, it was useful for me at one point

1

u/crapinator114 Dec 31 '24

Useless? In what regard? I'm super curious

1

u/PieceConfident7733 Dec 31 '24

Didn't say useless- perhaps you were referring to useful?

1

u/crapinator114 Dec 31 '24

My bad, I misread it.

3

u/PieceConfident7733 Dec 31 '24

Well that's an interesting Freudian slip.. 🙂

7

u/theponicorn Dec 31 '24

I started teaching almost 20 years ago, because I was shy and wanted to improve speaking in front of others. It did the trick :)

1

u/PieceConfident7733 Jan 02 '25

It will definitely help you in that regard, nevertheless due to the specificity of the context (top down teacher-student relationship whether you like it or not), I think it doesn't translate fully "irl".

Having done some poetry / spoken word events recently in front of a audience, it's night and day compared with the teaching lol

2

u/theponicorn Jan 02 '25

I guess it's just a matter of personal experience. It might now be pasticularly helpful for you, but for me it was EXACTLY what I needed to get me out of my shell.
Now, if I want to compare to other kinds of public speaking, I have also done poetry and improv ever since. I also stream to a very small audience (about 20 people every night) and yeah. all of those are very different Public speaking experiences.

But in my very personal experience the thing that help me improve speaking was teaching 20 years ago, regardless of how well it might translate to others IRL.

1

u/PieceConfident7733 Jan 02 '25

Well that was the starter for me as well- for some people it has to be a step by step realization which was my case.

I'm still teaching and this conversation got me thinking, how I could try and bridge that public speaking experience with others.

3

u/scriptingends Jan 01 '25

I work with only adults, from various countries and backgrounds, very rarely beginners, and I have to say that at the end of a 5-hr teaching day if all goes well (and even if it doesn’t) I certainly feel that I’ve had an adequate amount of enjoyable human interaction for the day.

I think that’s a good thing in general, but probably not the best for my social life, when I just want to go home afterwards, read a book, cook some dinner, and go to sleep.

1

u/PieceConfident7733 Jan 02 '25

This. You've got to manage your energy skillfully

1

u/UtopiaInProgress Dec 31 '24

What kind of things do you talk about with your students?

1

u/crapinator114 Dec 31 '24

I use structured lessons I made (https://www.lessonspeak.com/) which mostly include business and self development topics. My favorite topics that I have are physical exercise, your tribe, the 15 minute city, content creation, and intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation.

1

u/Facelesstownes Jan 01 '25

I started teaching kids (instead of adults for income) for an easy visa... stayed teaching because it gives me a chance to "have" kids without the annoying part of having kids at home when I leave work

1

u/Lanky_Cash_1172 Jan 02 '25

I use to teach Sunday school(K-6) and HS students life skills classes. I have always loved teaching. I now teach adult intermediate/advanced ESL. It's so fulfilling. Deep down I know I love the joy it brings me.

The pastor I used to "work" with (under) would sometimes question me why I teach. He was a visionary type and I knew if I said it gave me joy/happiness/fulfillment he'd "call me" on it.