Application essay

How I became interested in teaching

Ever since I was a small child, I have always been drawn to teaching. I remember playing with my
dolls and pretending to teach them at home, setting up my room to look like I was in class and they
were my students. When I got to school, my passion for teaching became even stronger. I tried to
correct my classmates' notebooks or help them with their homework if they had difficulties with it.
Over time, I also found that I was good at languages and literature. I spent many hours learning
new words and grammatical structures, so it was no surprise that by the time I finished secondary
school I could express my thoughts fluently in French and English. And I was eager to teach them.
However, I knew that I needed to acquire more knowledge and to perfect my teaching skills so that
I could confidently pass it on. Therefore, when it came to going to university, the Bachelor of
English Studies was the right choice for me. Unfortunately (or so I thought at the time), things did
not go as planned. My exam results were good enough to be admitted to the university, but not for
the English degree programme. I could choose between the Turkish and Greek degree
programmes. So, I had to decide whether I wanted to continue my studies or postpone them to the
next year when I could retake the exams. I decided quickly, thinking that it would be easier to
switch after the first year if my results were good enough... But as the first year was coming to an
end, I realized something I had not even thought about at the beginning - I wanted to stay until the
end. It turned out that I had discovered a whole new world with a language and culture that was so
different and at the same time so close to me and my country. So I studied hard to master Turkish
to perfection and used my free time to improve my French and English, including taking high-level
exams that proved my ability. Four fruitful years passed quickly and imperceptibly.

My teaching journey 
After graduating, I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life and whether or not to pursue my
passion for teaching. I took up a well-paid position in a large Turkish company, which offered me
many opportunities for professional development. Yet, I felt that I did not belong there. So one fine
day I accepted a job offer for a part-time position as an English teacher in a language school. The
classes were mainly in the evenings and on weekends, which allowed me to teach there. I
remember my first lesson, the excitement, the fear and the expectations of the students who
trusted me to introduce them to the world of English. I remember how nervous I was before we
started and how fulfilled and satisfied I felt at the end. That day I realized that teaching was not
only my passion, but my calling. I worked part-time at the language school for more than 4 years.
In the meantime, many other opportunities to teach arose. Some of them I took, others I turned
down because of my other career. But as time went on, I became more and more sure that
teaching was what I was meant to do in life. However, it was not until I got my CELTA certificate
that I felt confident enough to take on the challenge of making my dream come true and change
careers. I found a full-time job as an English teacher at a French school in Sofia and taught there
for 4 years. And although I was the teacher who imparted knowledge to the children, they were the
ones who taught me the most valuable lessons. I motivated them to become better students, but
they also awakened my desire to help and encourage others. I was proud that I could not only
teach them how to conjugate verbs and write essays, but also be an inspiring role model they
would be grateful to. Teaching is rewarding because you give back to others what you have
received yourself.

Why I decided to apply for this program

“A good teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others .” - Mustafa Kemal
Atatuerk. There is so much truth in these words that I heard long time ago while studying Turkish
studies at university. It may not have been difficult for me to enter the teaching profession, but
being a good teacher is not easy. It is extremely hard work that involves a lot of self-motivation and
commitment. It requires different qualities like compassion and understanding, but also the ability
to set strict rules in the classroom and make students follow them. Teachers need to have a caring
attitude, master teaching techniques and work with dedication and motivation to make a difference
in students' lives, regardless of their age and social status. Here is why I have always asked myself
if I am a good enough teacher. Moreover, I find teaching a foreign language like English more
challenging because it often takes place in an inhomogeneous environment with people of different
backgrounds and ages. Even at school, children of the same age sometimes have very different
language skills, which makes teaching in class a real challenge.
 I know that it takes a long time to acquire the qualities of a good teacher, and especially that you
do not acquire them all through experience in the classroom. Great teaching does not only depend
on subject knowledge, and I feel that I need to learn much more to become a qualified professional
who provides the best form of education to her students. For this reason, I see the opportunity to
apply for the Master of Arts in Language Pedagogy as a valuable chance to become a better
trained professional and to teach more effectively. The program offers preparation in different areas
that will help me develop many new skills I need in my work and excel in it. Moreover, I am sure
that obtaining a Master's degree in this programme will open up new doors for me and help me
contribute more to the progress of our society, which cannot do without good teaching and
professionals who can deliver it.