Who I am as a teacher:

 a) My teaching philosophy

When you understand how your student learns, you will understand how to teach him or her.

I am the kind of teacher who is always aware of the way my students understand the topic. It is important for me to create a comfortable environment where the student doesn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed of speaking. So for me, I prefer to listen to someone who tries to participate as much as possible even if he or she makes too many mistakes.

The key point of the development of the speaking skill is to get fluency. I perceive fluency as the way a person is able to make his ideas clear even if he or she shows problems in grammar structure in some parts or even if there are some problems in pronunciation.

We as teachers have to keep in mind what kinds of materials help better to our students in a useful way. Not all the materials that we see in online platforms are essential to the learning process. Many of the things that we see on internet have to be analyzed in order to implement them in our lessons in the best way. So, in order to know what works better for virtual environments, we have to learn how to develop those materials

The implementation of new materials for teaching English is a duty that educators have to deal with. Nowadays technology has embraced our culture and society that is not easy to work without it. Each single activity that we perform is surrounded by the use of electronic supplies and the social media. We as educators have the obligation to adapt those technologies to our environment so we can give the best tools to our students in order to make them learn in an accurate way. But for that development, we need to know which materials are useful and which are not specially when talking about virtual environments.

b) My beliefs about my teaching

I believe that everybody can speak in another language if they are disciplined.

I believe that a teacher not only transmit information but also inspires.

I believe that it is important to be honest with your students when you don’t know something.

If you don’t know something, try to find out the answer and explain later.

I believe in interacting with the students when explaining the topic.

 It is necessary to look for new material and activities that help you improve.

I believe that in order that my students can learn, I have to believe they can do it.

c) What I learned about teaching speaking skills

I learned that not everybody have the same English level nor the same speaking skills.

The more a person practice, the more he or she will improve his or her skills.

One of the things that students find more difficult is the simultaneous translation between English and Spanish. Speaking in English is something that can only be reached if you think in English. I am not saying that we don’t have to express some of our ideas from Spanish but I consider that in order to get fluent you need to make a difference between the grammatical structures of English from Spanish.

The pronunciation is one of the things that most affect the development or understanding the English language that is why I was always concerned about the improvement in pronunciation.

It was important to keep track of the student’s progress.

 d) What I learned about teaching in online environments

Not always the internet connection will work.

Due to the lack of good signal, some of the conversation weren’t well understood.

It facilitates the commodity of the learner and the student. You don’t have to go far away to have an excellent lesson.

It is important for you to know how to manage the technological resources.

 e) My principles about teaching speaking online (at least 5)

 It doesn’t matter what you say as long as you speak.

It is important to keep in mind all the student’s needs.

Make sure to make your students feel secure and comfortable.

Work with those who want to work but motivate those who find it difficult.

If something goes wrong, try to find a solution as soon as possible.

You must be ready to get a plan B if something doesn’t go as planned.

A good impression will be always important.

You have to love what you do.