During my final year at the University of Ottawa I was invited by Professor Lorraine Gilbert to be a teaching assistant in her first year photography class. I volunteered to assist her in demonstrating archival techniques to students in the darkroom hoping to gain insight into teaching. Helping them understand their work and assisting them with their technical difficulties was very satisfying. Later I realized that this experience would be the first of many to persuade me that teaching was a fulfilling career. Since university, my experience teaching English as a second language, as well as my experience in the film industry, have given me the necessary skills to develop my professional career.

My passion for photography led me to pursue a career in film production. I enrolled in a technical film class at Capilano College in Vancouver. Then I was accepted into a six-month job-training program at Lions Gate Studios in North Vancouver. After a series of interviews, I began a one-year apprenticeship with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (Local 667) as a camera trainee and later became a second assistant cameraperson with the International Cinematographers Guild. The constantly changing people and locations of a film set taught me to be adaptable. The smooth operation of the camera department demanded dedication and teamwork from me on the job. As a camera assistant I was required to perform a multitude of tasks both on-set and in the camera truck to ensure that the camera department was ready to begin filming. Learning to be prepared and having the ability to answer questions at any given moment were skills that involved planning and organization. Commitment and knowledge were also requirements of a capable camera assistant. Technological innovations in the film industry necessitated the constant need to accumulate knowledge. In the same way a teacher must continually be a student of education. In addition, the long hours working on a film set prepared me for the dedication demanded of a teacher. A teacher must also have the ability to accommodate an ever-changing classroom. They must be dedicated to their students and have the ability to collaborate with their peers. Organization and planning are as well crucial to the efficient management of a classroom. Adaptability, dedication, cooperation, planning, organization, and a strong work ethic are all skills that I gained from my experience of working as a camera assistant and have made my transition into teaching easier.

In September 2001 I traveled to South Korea to experience a new culture and explore the idea of working as a teacher. From September 2001 to September 2003, I worked at Oh Sung Sik in Suwon, South Korea, a privately run English language school, with children between the ages of five and fifteen. At first, I struggled with the lack of resources available in the school as well as the restrictive course materials. I came to realize that my students lacked the basic skills needed to fulfill the requirements of the textbooks being used. Eventually, I helped create new course materials for the school’s curriculum. I introduced phonics and developed reading programs for all levels, and devised educational activities suited to specific lessons. As I became more experienced, my lessons became more innovative and creative. I spent countless hours looking for ideas and lesson plans on the Internet to make my classes more informative, enjoyable, and interesting. Pleased with my work at Oh Sung Sik, the director of my school recommended me for part-time assignments. I had the opportunity to work with kindergarten students and with adults. Despite the fact that both groups were beginners, the two groups presented distinct challenges. My kindergarten classes incorporated songs and storytelling as a way of dispelling their fears of English. My adult classes demystified English and made students more at ease and confident with the use of English in everyday situations. These experiences have broadened my approach to teaching and have made me more at ease with different age groups. Working overseas has also broadened the scope and range of my experiences. Understanding the needs of individual students has been just as important as understanding the class as a whole. I have taken the time to focus on children who were having difficulties and to work closely with them to solve those problems. Learning to work with children with varying abilities has been challenging. Having the patience to understand children with learning disabilities, while also encouraging gifted students, has helped me understand the distinct needs of the class and of the individual student in the class. In addition, I encourage respect, individuality, and acceptance of differences. I foster an environment that centers on positive attitudes and encouragement.

This year I have been working at C.I.E (Center for International Education) in Bundang, South Korea, with elementary and middle school students teaching basic writing and novice debating. I have continued to explore different approaches in my lessons. Effectively conveying information demands lessons that bring together concepts and practice. Instilling and reviewing those concepts are the responsibilities of a sincere teacher. Yet I have also learned that an engaging delivery and a sense of humour have often been needed to accomplish those tasks. To see how students in my writing classes have improved and applied those lessons is rewarding. To witness unresponsive students in my debating class begin to offer coherent arguments and rebuttals is inspiring. I have learned that being a teacher means more than simply providing information. To encourage a frustrated student is hard work. Teaching ESL students for the last three years has given me a foundation to develop my abilities as a teacher. I have acquired skills in classroom management, from the day to day planning and presentation of lessons, to the control and discipline of a class. Now I would like the opportunity to further develop these skills and to expand and refine my teaching methods to improve my understanding of teaching as a profession.