5. HOW CAN YOUR MAJOR MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE?

Hello, dear bloggers and welcome to a new blogging assignment! This time you'll have to tell us why and how what you study (your major) can make the world a better place. Include this information:

• How can your major affect the world?
• How can you see yourself in this process?
• What makes your major something that contributes to the world's benefit?
• Upload pictures.

Make comments on 3 of your classmates' posts + one on mine too.

The word count is no less than a 150 words.

Most of you already know that I studied both English and French translation at university and TESOL (Teaching English to students of other languages). As I’ve already talked about translation some blogs ago, let's have a small discussion about the teaching profession in general, how I think it affects the world we’re leaving, how I see myself in this process, and what makes that teaching English contributes to the world’s benefit.

Teaching languages can affect the world in many ways, you might have no idea of how wonderful an opportunity we, as teachers, have to influence others. I heard once that the happiest teachers are agents of change. But, let's be honest, sometimes we don't have control to do a lot of things that we want and need to do, and it can be frustrating. In fact, some teachers in many countries are suffering because they don't have enough resources, like textbooks and technology. Some schools don't even have a ceiling, so school is always cancelled when it rains.

Also, I keep seeing a very disturbing problem. Good teachers, even great teachers, keep leaving this profession. The truth is that teaching, when done well, is an exhausting one.

Teachers in general are tired. But teachers who understand the importance of acquisition in language learning and the need for students to be able to communicate in English must be engaging, since we have to create stimulating activities, and constantly meet the changing demands of unique learners. we become actors, coaches, psychologists, guides. I'm tired just thinking about it. Teachers, like a candle, try to give and give until we ourselves have nothing left.

This can also affect the world we’re living. I’ve seen a lot of teachers quit this profession to become car salesmen, construction workers, actors, anything besides a teacher.

Well, of course in education there are always concerns about salary, lack of support and so forth. But I would suggest that one of the biggest problems comes from the profession itself -teaching English is so involving, and at times, it can be difficult to learn how to do well. 

In this process, as I focus on helping students communicate in English, I’ve seen myself struggling, since I’ve learned that I have to be a pronunciation expert, a reading expert, a writing expert, a grammar expert, a speaking expert and so on. And each year, it seems, there are new books, new standards, new curriculum and new ways to do the same thing. We do want to help our learners succeed, but all these things can limit you and can affect our ability to teach English.

Nevertheless, don't think that because we are limited for now, we’ll always be limited. I think that a teacher should always, always be an agent for change. Even in this pandemic, teaching English can still contribute to the world’s benefit and make of it a better place. 

I'll never forget a time when I was a kid and we didn't have a library at one of the schools I was studying at. Several teachers sprang into action, contacted public libraries, and collected books by organizing a book drive (a generic term for any organized effort to collect and distribute books physically, digitally, or any other way to promote reading and literature. ) Would you believe it? After one month, we had over 3,000 titles. Man! Those are agents of change!

Now that I see myself working as a teacher I believe we should never think can I change my environment, but how can I change my environment? By focusing on influencing your environment and trying to improve it, you will find that you have better optimism and will have a greater sense of control. You will also realize how willing people are to join you in a cause that matters. Your passion will spring people into action.

Finally, we can also quietly and carefully change our culture however we can. After all, language is like a fire, and we continue being like candles trying to ignite each student. The key is to remember that if you run out of fire, you will simply no longer be able to inspire and motivate students. This is why I always celebrate when my students meet their goals.