Empathy is powerful.

Lally (KIM SAE-ROM)

"A high degree of empathy in a relationship is possibly the most potent and certainly one of the most potent factors in bringing about change and learning."

-Carl Rogers-

I've been taught by many English teachers since I was a third grade in an Elementary School student in 1997. Among them, I'd like to compare two of them.

When I was 14, I met Mr.Lee at Jin-Cheon Middle School, Korea. During his class, there was little voice of students except for the lecture. He usually tried to explain something difficult and important which are part of grammar. Students in the class listened to him. Teacher Talk Time(TTT) accounts for over 90 percent fo the class like "mug-and-jug". This teaching style was very common at that time. Moreover, he didn't like to be asked any questions and say anything private and humorous in the whole class. I sometimes went through boredom thresholds although I hardly dozed in the class. Judging by what I've learned from English teachers in Korea, Mr.Lee is an example.

I have been teaching English to Middle and High School students for several years. When I think of my class, I'm exactly the same with general teachers. I'm a mostly explainer.

Here's another experience; when I was in the Philippines at the age fo 20, I was taught by Mrs.Loanna. Looking back on her class, I've always looked forward to attending her class. The reason why I expected her class was that she made me love everything around her. She prepared something active and fun all the times, gave lots of opportunities to share each opinion. Therefore, Student Talk Time(STT) has more time than TTT. Moreover, she understood how I felt in her class. Whenever I had the problem with friends or assignment, she first approached me with help and then guided me what to do. Thanks to her empathy, I could improve my English interest even scores. After having met her, I realized that a deep concern is a special way of coming to know students and a kind of understanding.

From now on, I'll try to involve as many students as possible in my class. Also, I keep in mind that teachers need to have a keen interest to students. When empathy is extended, it satisfies students' needs and wish for intimacy, rescuing us from our feeling of aloneness. Through this TESOL course, I've thought many things like my class circumstances I've done and I'll do. I think to be and involver and enabler with great care in teaching is hard, but I'll do my best to be a memorable teacher for my students.