"New teacher" anxiety
I think it comes naturally with most students that when they choose a new teacher to carry them along their English learning journey, they get a few butterflies in the stomach. Let me be the first to tell you, it goes both ways. Teachers can get just a nervous for a new student, but I think most of those nerves (for me at least) are just pure excitement. It is human nature to want to interact with new people and pass on any knowledge you have for their brains to soak up. I know when I first started teaching, any new student that messaged me I used to get so nervous when they booked a lesson because having someone new and wondering if they like you, what they think of your personality and teaching style, is a terribly daunting thought. Oh my how that has changed! Yes i do still get those butterflies of excitement when a new student books lessons, but that stems from something greater, the thrill of helping someone. I know the feeling of learning a knew language and its terribly overwhelming sometimes. You feel like when you have spent hours and hours soaking up all these knew concepts, you have only seen the tip of the iceberg. That feeling when you finally start having a conversation in that language and also that feeling I get when I physically see my students becoming more confident in their speaking ability, can not really be compared to another feeling. SO TO ALL THE STUDENTS OUT THERE, just know you are not alone in feeling nervous or anxious before class with a new teacher, because more often than not, that teacher is just as anxious as you are. Just know that no teacher out there expects a non-english speaker to come into a lesson prepared with a full speech and written book with perfect English, we know your struggles and we will get to know your limits. It is supposed to be a journey together that develops your own confidence in your English ability! We only want to help you.
May 7, 2020
