You've just got to flow with life haven't you?
Ever since my own history teacher at school inspired me; I always wanted to teach. I wanted to inspire individuals the way she inspired me. I wanted to show passion for my subject the way she did. I think more than anything, I've realised that I highly value education, and genuinely love learning. This is why I love teaching - especially as a history teacher. You are constantly learning. There are different periods of history to learn, general knowledge that you require, the diversity of your school will also influence you to learn more worldwide history and keeping up with general world topics is so important when you are a teacher. I love learning with the students! I have already set up a Turkish, Chinese, Debate & Arabic Club at my new NQT school; based on my own language abilities, language interests, the diversity and abilities of the school. The girls' I teach are passionate, fiery, hard-working, enthusiastic, humanist, curious, linguistic and caring. Just on Friday recently, so many of them got together, using my classroom, to run the Arabic Club. At the school I work at, there are lot's of Arabic students, many who are still learning English as a language, and so it was so nice to see them altogether excited sharing their language, and others around learning from them (as well as me).
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Chinese Club in England
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| Debate Club poster |
So, this blog is going to sort of evolve with my life. Before, after graduating from the University of Manchester, and then working as a COVER SUPERVISOR for a year (which confirmed that I definitely wanted to teach - as it was a challenging school but I loved it), I went to China to teach English as a foreign language. I loved it so much that I stayed another year. Before leaving for China, I applied for my PGCE just for the heck of it, as I thought maybe if i got an offer I could try to defer it so it would start after I got back from China. Fortunately for me, I got offers from the University of Birmingham and University of Oxford. In the end, I went with Birmingham as they agreed to defer my offer, the course offered 2/3 masters credits and I loved the course runner - Russell. When teaching in Shanghai, I was having too much of a good time to leave. I decided to ask Russell if I could defer ONE more year (I was certain I just needed one more year to get the experience out of my system a bit more and consolidate my Chinese language learning) ... he fortunately agreed! I had to reapply and have a Skype interview but I 100% knew I would be going to Uni of Birmingham... it was just a formality that I needed to reapply. In fact, upon applying again, Oxford also gave me an offer again but I was committed to Uni of Birmingham... and I don't have any regrets!
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| Last day at Chonggu School, Shanghai |
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| Easter celebrations at Songwen Primary School, Qingpu |
So, waffle over. I have in the last year (September 2017-June 2018), completed my PGDIPED in History teaching. WOO! It was a tough year. I travelled in between (of course) mainly in Europe e.g. Venice, Nice, Portugal and Turkey. After a tough tough tough year, I completed the course! I was now officially a qualified teacher of history (I'm actually also teaching GCSE Psychology now too). I'm sooooooo happy to be teaching the subject I love + psychology which I also really love. I did really well at Psychology A Level & so I feel blessed that I've been given the opportunity to teach it at my current school. Don't get me wrong, all the other NQT's and teachers out there can vouch with me that teaching is tough, stressful demanding. I've had to learn alooooot of new stuff - for history and psychology. But, I genuinely love that part. I want to expand my brain with knowledge to it's limit. That and travel every single country, and as many cities, as I can. Basically, I want to see as much of the earth as I can, experience cultures, foods, learn languages, customs, history, mindsets and values.
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| Handmade gift from a student |
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| Classroom display (UK) |
So, I am absolutely loving teaching. I loved teaching in China & am equally loving my teaching here in England. I think my next goal is to sort of integrate China & England more. My experience in China really changed my life for the positive. It's culture is so beautiful. Perhaps I'll save that for another post - as you can see I love writing. So, even if no-one reads this - I've enjoyed writing it which is what counts!
MY QUESTION TO YOU - Have you ever considered visiting China? Volunteering in China? Living in China? Teaching in China? Getting to know Chinese culture? Learning how to cook AUTHENTIC Chinese food? Traveling around China?
Comment and let me know!
SABRINA :)
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