How to Survive and Thrive as a New ESL Teacher

Patrice Palmer, M.Ed., M.A., TESLMay 28, 2016

Today’s Workshop• Introductions• Agenda• Activity #1 – Warm –Up Activity• Survival Tips• Move from Survive to Thrive – Teacher Tribes• Activity #2 – THINK-PAIR-SHARE Challenges• Activity #3 – Burning Questions

Congratulations!Congratulations for taking another step towards developing your professional skills as an ESL teacher!

Wisdom 20 Years in the TESL Trenches*

trench (n): the place where most of the work or action happens

Patrice Palmer, M.Ed., M.A. TESL has 20 years’ experience as an ESL Teacher, TESL Trainer, and Curriculum Writer in Canada and Hong Kong. Patrice has taught students from 8 to 80 years in a variety of programs such as ESP, EAP, Business English, Corporate Training, LINC, ELT and OSLT. Patrice now works as a teacherpreneur doing the things that she loves such as writing courses, instructional coaching and travelling at any time of the year.

Say Cheese

Activity #1Complete the sentence using an adjective.

Being a new teacher is…

Participants in another workshop said:

Being a new teacher is...

• exciting • challenging• nerve wracking• a lot of work• intimidating• hard• daunting 

Move fromSurvive…

to Thrive

Short Term vs. Long Term

What can you do now?

Survival Tips

Tips from ESL teachers around the world

Survival Tip #1 – You Time“In my spare time I am a musician and sing in local rock bands. I remember what a professor once said when she gave my class advice - find a hobby or recreation you truly love to do outside of teaching. This will help keep you centered and you won't burn yourself out.

Jose Torres, United States

Survival Tip #2 – Be Prepared

“I laughed when Patrice told me she left her lesson plan at home during her first year of teaching. I did something similar early on in my ESL teaching career. I went to class and realized I had grabbed the wrong backpack”.

Matthew Huseby, United States

Survival Tip #3 – Plan!“In the beginning it's always best to over plan.  It's much better to have too many activities than to run short.  You never know how quickly your students will work through the materials.  If you don't happen to need all the activities you planned for, you can use them in subsequent classes”.

Gwen Zeldenrust, Canada

Survival Tip #4 – Observe!

“Watch your colleagues teach – and let them watch you”.

Steve Hirschhorn, Germany

Survival Tip #5 – Organize!

“Organize what you’ve found/created so you can find it when you need it again, and you WILL need it again. Bookmark list of good websites (15ish that I really like) and then I STICK TO THOSE!! Otherwise a lot of time can be spent in cyberspace looking around for stuff which chews up a lot of time”.

Marg Heidebrecht, Canada

Survival Tip #6Bag of Tricks

Survival Tip #7

 tribe (n): a group of people having a

common interest, profession, etc. 

How do we become part of a teacher tribe?

Steps1. If you are a coordinator or supervisor, set up a mentorship program at your school. 

2. If you are an experienced ESL/EFL teacher, ask a new teacher if they would like a mentor (if there is no program at your school).

3. If you are a new teacher - ask a more experienced teacher if he or she would mentor you.  Ask your coordinator or a supervisor for a mentor.

Activity #2Think-Pair-Share

What are the challenges of being a new teacher?Look at the list. What would you add? What are

some solutions?

Other participants said:

The challenges of being a new teacher are:

1) few job opportunities2) lack of resources3) working in new environments4) using technology5) time needed for lesson prep6) planning appropriate lessons7) designing assessments8) stress of supply teaching9) connecting with other teachers

Activity #3Burning Questions about Teaching

I still have questions about…

Moving Forward• Remember that it

takes time to develop skills

• There is always something new to learn so teaching never becomes boring!

• Connect with me!• Get the help that you

need• Find a mentor

Thank you!