Teachers Should Always Be Learning- Here's Why!

Summary

Joakim Konga, an experienced teacher trainer, emphasizes the importance of teachers being learners themselves. He shares his personal experience learning pottery, highlighting three key benefits: empathy with struggling students, appreciating different teaching styles, and the joy of learning. He invites viewers to explore his website for English language teacher support and encourages them to learn new skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Joa Konga is a teacher, educator, and has been a Selter trainer and assessor for over 20 years.
• 📚 Joa Konga has a website, elttraining.com, where she provides video-based support material for English language teachers at all stages of their career.
• 👍 Joa Konga encourages viewers to give a thumbs up and subscribe if they like the content.
• 📚 Teachers should always be learning something new, ideally something challenging, to stay engaged and empathetic with their students.
• 🤔 Learning something new can help teachers better empathize with students who find certain subjects difficult, as it provides a fresh perspective on the learning process.
• 👀 Observing other teachers in action from a learner's perspective can provide valuable insights into both good and poor teaching practices.
• 🤓 Reflecting on one's own teaching practice can be facilitated by experiencing learning from different teachers, which highlights the importance of continuous professional development.
• 🎨 Joa Konga uses the example of learning pottery to illustrate the challenges and benefits of learning something new, even when it's difficult.
• 🌟 Learning new skills can be fun and keeps individuals interested in life, which is a valuable aspect of personal and professional growth.
• 📹 Joa Konga offers a program for those interested in learning to make videos, suggesting that she values practical skills in addition to theoretical knowledge.

Q & A

Who is Joa Konga?

Joa Konga is a teacher, educator, and has been a teacher trainer and assessor for over 20 years.

What is the purpose of Joa Konga's website?

The purpose of Joa Konga's website, elttraining.com, is to provide video-based support material for English language teachers at all stages of their career.

What does Joa Konga believe about continuous learning for teachers?

Joa Konga believes that teachers should always be learning something new, preferably something that is challenging for them, to keep growing and improving in their profession.

Why did Joa Konga start learning pottery on a wheel?

Joa Konga started learning pottery on a wheel as a personal challenge and to experience learning something new and difficult, which can help her empathize with her students and reflect on her teaching practices.

What are the three reasons Joa Konga suggests for being a learner as a teacher?

The three reasons are: 1) To empathize with students who find the subject difficult, 2) To observe and appreciate good and not-so-great teaching from a learner's perspective, and 3) To keep life interesting and fun through the joy of learning.

How does learning something new help teachers empathize with their students?

Learning something new helps teachers understand the struggles and challenges that students face, especially if the subject is difficult for them, thus allowing for better empathy and support.

What is the importance of observing teaching from a learner's perspective?

Observing teaching from a learner's perspective allows teachers to appreciate effective teaching strategies and identify areas for improvement in their own teaching practices.

Why does Joa Konga emphasize the fun aspect of learning something new?

Joa Konga emphasizes the fun aspect of learning to highlight that continuous learning should not only be about professional development but also about personal enjoyment and staying engaged with life.

What is the outcome of Joa Konga's first attempts at pottery?

The outcome of Joa Konga's first attempts at pottery is not explicitly mentioned in the script, but it is implied that she is finding it useful and is sharing her experiences to inspire others.

What does Joa Konga suggest for those interested in making videos?

For those interested in making videos, Joa Konga mentions that she runs a great program for learning video production, suggesting that she offers training or resources for this skill.