Planning your Career as a Language Educator :1 Planning your Career as a Language Educator Mary Shepard Wong, Azusa Pacific University CATESOL 2009 Pasadena, CA April 17, 2009 Hilton Hotel


Questions :2 Questions Are you a professional language educator? If not, who do you consider to be a professional? Where will you be teaching in the year 2020 and what will you have accomplished professionally? What events have caused you to grow most as a language or teacher educator?


Teacher development defined :3 Teacher development defined “Teacher development is a term used in the literature to describe a process of continual intellectual, experiential, and attitudinal growth of teachers” (Lange, 1990, p. 250). It allows for “continued growth both before and throughout a career . . . in which teachers continue to evolve in the use, adaptation, and application of their art and craft” (ibid).


Teacher / professional development allows teachers to: :4 Teacher / professional development allows teachers to: Raise awareness of their strengths and weaknesses in teaching Acquire new knowledge Solve a particular problem Upgrade skills due to changes in society or the field of ELT Advance their career Find fulfillment and prevent “burnout”


1. Ways to raise awareness of s & w :5 1. Ways to raise awareness of s & w Keep a journal Learn a new language Record and view your teaching Ask a peer to observe you and discuss it Observe other teachers Compile a portfolio Engage in team teaching Ask someone to mentor you Engage in action research Survey students about your teaching


2. Ways to acquire new knowledge :6 2. Ways to acquire new knowledge Attend a conference Read professional journals in ELT Read in different but related fields Become active in professional organizations Write a book review Write an article or chapter Enroll in an advanced degree program Launch a teachers’ reading group Ask to teach a different level, course, content


3. Ways to solve a problem :7 3. Ways to solve a problem Engage in a case study Interview colleagues Conduct classroom or collaborative research Analyze a critical incident Conduct an online survey Join an online discussion list Find related online resources Join or start a special interest group (SIG)


4. Ways to upgrade your skills :8 4. Ways to upgrade your skills Attend a workshop in desired area Find ways to learn from your colleagues Apply for a grant to learn a specific skill Take an online or distance course


5. Ways to advance your career :9 5. Ways to advance your career Get an advanced degree Engage in and write up research Write a chapter, journal article, or book Co-write or edit a book Apply for administrative positions Seek out positions as a teacher educator Develop a language course Create a language program Establish a language school Volunteer to serve on committees


6. Ways to find fulfillment :10 6. Ways to find fulfillment Take a sabbatical (perhaps without pay) Start a student scholarship fund Organize a local conference Volunteer in a professional organization Engage in international collaboration Mentor other teachers Teach less advantaged students Start a professional organization Be an advocate for students


Steps to plan your career :11 Steps to plan your career Determine your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher and plan to develop both. Consider where you are in your journey in terms of education, teaching and life experiences, and meaningful professional opportunities you have had so far. Brainstorm and then select & prioritize long term goals supported by short term goals. Design a plan noting the resources needed, obstacles you may encounter, and a feasible timeframe in which you can accomplish it.


A matrix to help assess awareness of one’s teaching :12 A matrix to help assess awareness of one’s teaching Known to self Unknown to self Known to others Unknown to others Johari window (Joe Luft & Harry Ingram 1969)


Determining your strengths(Write out three of your strengths which may relate to:) :13 Determining your strengths(Write out three of your strengths which may relate to:) Knowledge (Head) General Pedagogical knowledge (Teaching) Specific Subject matter knowledge (Language & Language Learning, TESOL ) Self-Awareness (Heart) open, blind, secret, hidden self Attitude (Heart) autonomy (motivation, choice, responsibility) Skills (Hands) Language proficiency Pedagogical expertise


Considering your weaknesses(Write three of your weaknesses which may relate to:) :14 Considering your weaknesses(Write three of your weaknesses which may relate to:) Knowledge (Head) General Pedagogical knowledge (Teaching) Specific Subject matter knowledge (Language & Language Learning, TESOL ) Self-Awareness (Heart) open, blind, secret, hidden self Attitude (Heart) autonomy (motivation, choice, responsibility) Skills (Hands) Language proficiency Pedagogical expertise


Reflecting on our journey so far :15 Reflecting on our journey so far Look over your CV / Résumé or make a timeline and mark your: Education (degrees) Professional activities or times of growth Teaching experience to date Related life experiences


Envisioning your ideal self :16 Envisioning your ideal self If you were to imagine the most ambitious long term professional goal, what would that be? You never know what you can do until you try, so dream BIG! Envision an ideal world. What type of person is needed to create and sustain that world? What type of educator is needed to educate such a person? What experiences will enable you to become such an educator?


Prioritizing our goals :17 Prioritizing our goals Keeping in mind your strengths and weaknesses, your current stage of development, and your aspirations, write: 1 long term (10 year) PD goal 2 short term (2-5 year) goals to support it (i.e. directly related to the long term goal) 2 short term goals to augment it (i.e., not necessarily related to the long term goal) the resources, obstacles, and deadlines


Closing comment :18 Closing comment “The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.” C. S. Lewis