Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Nadia Nuseir

My teaching philosophy is greatly founded by the fact that I am a teacher trainer and have been
an English instructor for over 20 years, both in Libya and in the United States.
I believe that understanding the students’ cultural background and learning needs and
challenges is a necessary criterion for teacher’s success. Teachers need to be passionate about
their subject and able to motivate their students. When teachers build a rapport with their
students, they can create a friendly, interactive and student-oriented environment where the
students can collaborate, communicate and learn easily.
In actual teaching, I prefer to act as a facilitator who provides students with access to
information, and simplifies and monitors their learning. . By doing so, students will be given a
chance to lead student-centered classes and discover effective learning strategies for themselves
while engaged in authentic tasks and situations. Moreover, students will interact and get involved
in the learning process demonstrating individual and team creativity.
Motivation is another factor through which teachers can help their students learn by
boosting their confidence in their own abilities. In my courses, I encourage students to become
critical thinkers, incisive writers, and discerning readers. I work on enhancing both students’
intellectual engagement with cultural texts and their sheer inspiration about the authentic global
topics around them.
I also think that verifying the activities and tasks for the students to use and learn from in
the classroom is an ideal strategy that can be chosen to suit the different learning styles of the
learners and have them enjoy and learn equally.
My teaching philosophy can be summarized in Clay Patrick Bedford’s statement: “You
can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you teach him to learn by creating curiosity he will
continue the learning process as long as he lives”.