I’ve been teaching English for many years now and, as you’d expect, I’ve seen many types of students: students of different ages, different backgrounds, with different needs and different learning abilities. The one thing that they had in common is that, often for different reasons, they were trying to learn English.
So, a few years ago I asked myself “How do I teach?” and “How can I guide my students to achieve their full potential when learning English?”. This is when I realized that being an English teacher is not only having the ability to teach grammar and vocabulary but it is also having the ability to connect with each and every student and make them fall in love with the language so they can reach the point where the language becomes second nature to them.
Steve Jobs once said – “If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.” I couldn’t agree more! I am passionate about the English language and about teaching it, and this is why it is so very important that I teach in a manner that will make my students take responsibility for their learning, become enthused and feel passionate about the language they are learning.
After realizing this, I started relying more heavily on my “out of the box” approach to teaching, using everyday news and occurrences, songs, films, games, visual aids and many different types of realia in order to convey the message and engage my students in learning with topics of their interest. Needless to say that my “out of the box” attitude does not detract in any way from my full trust in the Cambridge courses and their recommended materials, such as manuals and support books and materials, as some of the best courses when teaching foreign students. I prepare my lessons almost to exhaustion (blame my eye for detail) and afterwards I take time to reflect on the lessons I’ve just delivered so I can make them even better for the next time. Yes, I want my students to obtain higher grades, but most importantly, I want them to become independent learners who can take ownership for their learning. I want them to reach their full potential by becoming fluent in all four skills that are usually tested - listening, speaking, reading and writing. Most of all, I want them to enjoy learning English and fall in love with this beautiful and very versatile language.
I love teaching the Cambridge courses! From Young Learners - Starters, Movers and Flyers, to the Teenager courses such as PET, KET and FCE, and going into the more complex courses such as the Advanced and Proficiency levels, all of which open the door to enter the exciting world of the English language be it at academic or business level or even for everyday communication purposes. The courses don’t just prepare you or your child for the Cambridge exam, but they also add value by exploring some interesting themes, themes from the real world, thus bringing ‘day-to-day’ facts into the classroom. The Cambridge English exams encourage students to expose themselves equally to the four required skills that test their competence to communicate in English.
So, go on! Unleash your learning potential and become passionate about English. It’s not solely about a new language, it is looking at the world with a totally new perspective!
Earlier this year, the Butterflies Learning Centre (BLC) was created in Cascais with a view to provide a place where English could be seen not only as an academic subject but also as a life changing and improvement tool.
At the BLC we offer an array of courses and programmes in order to bring English learning to life. We believe that learning is not only an academic process but also a journey in which education and good partnership between students, parents and teachers, combined with a wholesome holistic approach, are the key factors for success.
Besides de Cambridge Exam preparation courses, you can also find other programs and projects, such as:
- Conversational English groups for both teenagers and adults of any age;
- Bespoken courses for businesses;
- English for Life courses for adults (from Beginner to Intermediate levels);
- 1-on-1 tutoring from primary to secondary levels;
- In-school tutoring and accompaniment;
- School Readiness Program for preschoolers;
- KinderMusik for babies and toddlers;
- After-school activities, such as arts and crafts, science experiments, book reading club, etc.
- Portuguese for foreigners
For more information visit us on:
https://www.facebook.com/ButterfliesLearningCentre
http://www.butterflieslc.com/about-us/
Teresa de Gruyter
