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Teacher Interview Report

I. The Teacher's Learning and Teaching Background

    ◆  Learning Background:

           Ms. Lin graduated from the Department of Education, National Taiwan

Normal University, and she also graduated from the Graduate Institute of Education,

NTNU.

    ◆  Teaching Background:

           She has engaged in the teaching job for 10 years, and Jheng De Junior High

School was the only one school she served.  Ms. Lin chose English as her teaching

subject, and she wanted to continue her professional development from Tamkang

University.  However, Ms. Lin didn't get it as her wish, because she is not eligible to

one of the qualifications that students from English department only.  Afterwards, she

had a family here and then took teacher-transferring system into consideration, so

that's the reason why she stayed here for 10 years.

II. The Teacher's Belief and Philosophy

       Ms. Lin said that she started to ponder on her belief seriously and review her

teaching career when she got this question.  In her opinion, the most important

principle for teachers is they have to sharpen themselves on professional knowledge

and broaden the point of view on everything.  She doesn't want to be knockout or be

fallen into contempt for disability by other people.

       During her ten-year teaching period, Ms. Lin felt she narrowed the vision of

everything, so she tries to start a few changes in her life.  For example, English

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magazines are not the only choices for her now.  She reads some different magazines

about business, science, and so on to broaden her vision.  Besides, to get rid of

pressure, she also travels around to refresh herself.  In other words, taking a break

helps going further.  Therefore, Ms. Lin becomes more willing than before to try

something new or full of challenges.

III. The Barriers and Supports He/She Faces in the Teaching Context

       ◆  Barriers:

             First of all, Ms. Lin thought that she was too young to know the sense of

propriety in the beginning of her teaching job.  As a result, doing things or saying

something directly without caring about others are very likely to hurt other people

such as your students, your peers, even your family.  For her, a novice ten years ago,

she had different opinions against senior teachers.  Besides, she discovered that if we

do things according to ourselves only and regardless of others' opinions, that wouldn’t

help us to reach our goal smoothly and effectively.  Therefore, Ms. Lin said that

sometimes we have to take ethical principles into consideration, so that we will know

how to advance or retreat appropriately.  To behave rightly at the right time and at the

right occasion is very important for everyone.  Also, respect at heart is an essential

premise.

             Second, the relationship between her and students was an annoying problem

for her.  Ms. Lin admitted that she was a strict teacher, and she requested students'

assignment, studies, and grades highly.  As a result, it caused the nervous and

unpleasant relationship between her and students.  But, I believe what Ms. Lin did is

for their own good.  Gradually, with the mind open, Ms. Lin decided to change the

situation.  She became less strict than before on students' grades, and so forth and

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started to manage comfortable atmosphere between her and students.  Just as

expected, students became close to her and willing to talk a lot with her.  Ms. Lin is

happy to see that and has confidence to make friends with her students again.

       ◆  Supports:

              Jheng De Junior High School holds teaching seminars in each semester.  That

is, they discuss and reflect on the problem in teaching regularly.  Hence, every teacher

including Ms. Lin can acquire a variety of information about teaching and learn a lot. 

Moreover, the sharing of teaching experiences from colleagues is a big support, too. 

If we don't have any idea to solve problems on teaching, consulting our colleagues

may bring us fantastic ideas.  Of course, you also have to contribute what you know to

your peers as a feedback.  No matter what the support is, teaching seminars or sharing

experiences from peers, cooperation helps each other find solution easily.

IV. The Teacher's Career Cycle and Professional Development

       ◆  Career Cycle:

            Ms. Lin directed a class and as a homeroom teacher for two to three years, and

then changed another class like this pattern.  In general, she will conduct the

same class from the first grade to the third grade.

       ◆  Professional Development:

            As I mentioned in the part of Teacher's Belief and Philosophy, Ms. Lin has the

habit of reading magazines; accordingly, she reads English magazines every day. 

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Because Ms. Lin is not an English major, she attends some English tests to get

certification.  For example, she participated in General English Proficiency Test and

prepared to challenge the high-intermediate level.  So far, she is about to attend the

second test of the high-intermediate level this year.

            Ms. Lin considered that being a teacher, professional development is needed. 

She saw the poor situation and felt unfortunate that many senior teachers are not

willing to survey their English proficiency and refuse to attend any examinations.  So,

it's urgent to build the consensus of teacher professional development and system of

evaluation to promote the quality of teaching.

V. My Reflection

      After this interview, I cannot help but say that a teacher is like a superman.  When

I saw Ms. Lin at first sight, her feeble voice made me associate with the teaching job

immediately.  That reminded me of another interview, and the teacher I interviewed is

Ms. Liu, who is forty-year-old around but sort of gray-headed.  Consequently, I think

the teacher may worry about lots of things including her students, so it leads her to be

that.  Perhaps, Ms. Lin must have some naughty students, so that she has to yell at

them often.

      I learned a lot from this interview.  Teaching is not in name only because the

relationship with students and with colleagues will have great effects on your

teaching.  Therefore, to teach well doesn't mean a good teacher.  On the one hand, to

keep friendly relationship with students and with peers creates a delightful working

environment for teachers.  In addition to students' study, teachers need to pay more

attention to students' feeling. Besides, let students know how teachers love them and

care about them will help students understand and accept why teachers give them

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punishment.  As for colleagues, they are as intimate as our family because we see

each other for a long time every day.  A famous proverb goes that unity is strength. 

Cooperating with our peers sincerely makes it easy for me to reach the goal and

support each other when someone encounters difficulties.  Furthermore, sharing is a

great and meaningful thing.  In the process of sharing, we can discover so many

people have the same experiences and feeling as us actually and may have a good

time in discussion on solutions or new ideas.  On the other hand, professional

development is necessary for teachers.  Teachers are responsible for the quality of

teaching, so I agree with Ms. Lin completely.  After all, life is learning and learning is

to learn how to learn.  Being a teacher, teaching doesn't mean we stop learning but the

start to learn harder, so that we can devote what we learned to students without end.

      For me, again, teaching is a profound knowledge that is hard to figure out clearly

in the end.  In my interpretation, maybe teaching is not the matter of lecture but the

matter of human cultivation.

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