Teach English in Jianlong Zhen - Chongqing

Teacher Self AnalysisIf a teacher wants to improve herself in her career, she needs to be able to reflect on and analyze herself, her lessons, and her interactions with students. Reflection and self analysis involve going over and noticing what the teacher has done in the classroom. They make comments and critiques to better understand herself and her teaching style. They see the positives and continue on that path. They also see the negatives and figure out ways to solve the problems in the best possible way. When a teacher analyzes herself, she can make improvements in her teaching skills to better provide for the students, especially in a setting where the students? first language is not English. According to The Professional Teacher by Kay A. Norlander-Case, there are three kinds of reflections: reflection-for-action focuses on the desired results, reflection-in-action focuses on the during, and reflection-on-action focuses on the after. In coming up with a lesson plan, the teacher uses the reflection-for-action to figure out the goals, objectives, anticipated problems, solutions, and desired results goals. Reflection-in-action occurs while the teacher is teaching. She may notice the students not understanding or see something not working so she makes changes during the lesson. After the lesson is over, the teacher uses the reflection-on-action as she thinks back on what had happened in class and how successful the lesson had been. In teaching in another country where English is not the native language and the teacher must be patient, the teacher should use all three types of reflections in order to succeed in the classroom. She must create lesson plans based on what she has learned about her students such as their educational levels, interests, and how well they have done in the previous lessons. Even though she would plan out the lessons with desired results, those results may not happen. The teacher may attempt to improvise during the lesson if students have a hard time understanding. It may take time and experience for the teacher to learn how to make adjustments in the middle of the lesson. A newer teacher may try hard to deliver her lesson plan as successfully as possible that she may overlook her students, their behaviors, and the difficulties they may have. In order to succeed in this reflection, she must be aware of the situation. If she has difficulties with reflection-in-action, she then must focus on the reflection-on-action where she can come up with ways to re-teach or supplement the failed lesson. The teacher should not feel hurt or disappointed if the students are not able to grasp the lesson. She should analyze the situation and figure out why the lesson did not work or how she can improve it. If something in the lesson or her delivery of the lesson failed, what could she do for next time? What could she keep the same? Was the lesson taught in a confusing way? Did the lesson need more visual aids? Was the wrong activity used? Did the teacher use complicated language as she taught? Then the teacher should think of ways to improve the lesson and maybe teach it again but in a different way. The teacher is responsible for the students? education in the classroom. She has a say, a voice, and a responsibility to be a person who wants to make a change when things are not working. Every teacher must reflect and self analyze if she wants to continue to improve and develop in her professional growth and career. Reflection is finding strengths and weaknesses, positives and negatives. No matter how long she has been teaching, a good teacher is someone who is always improving in their skills. Techniques, course books, and technology are constantly changing and progressing. Teachers are not perfect because there is always room for improvement. It is important for a teacher to learn new things which would only benefit the students. Reflection and self analysis will improve her ability, confidence, and identity as a classroom teacher who cares about her students and their learning.