If not now, when?

Dear Colleagues, and if you're just an avid reader, welcome to my blog- I'm happy you stopped by. Allow me to take a step back in time... During my high school years, I enjoyed writing essays and poems. Yet, it was during my post-grad studies I rekindled my passion for writing and I never thought I'd love academic writing that much.

Early Years

On arriving in Europe almost 30 years ago, I started teaching EFL and progressed to teacher training and continue to do both activities as they go hand in hand, and are equally rewarding.

I believe in lifelong learning, and starting this blog journey is one example.

The initial years of my career as an EFL teacher were rather challenging! I remember my supervisor's words after observing a lesson I taught (which I felt was a disaster)- Jim Scrivener, said: "Josephine, starting out as a novice teacher our suitcases are empty, and as we proceed, we fill up that suitcase with all our teaching- and life experiences, and these develop on our journeys as educators, which help us grow professionally and personally." To this day, I continue to learn from Mr. Scrivener's book, Learning Teaching.

The now

This post title: If not now, when?- is a question I asked myself over the last few years, as I continued to collect ideas, reflected on my classroom experiences, noted things that worked and those that proved fruitless during my over twenty-five years of teaching. I postponed beginning a blog for several reasons: Life happened; I thought I needed to know coding, and even more about technology, and I was simply not sure how to go about it! After taking the time to research and learn, and with the help of those who started their blogging journey before, I'm finally here and ready!

My Audience: Teachers

Whether you're a novice teacher taking your first steps in the EFL classroom or a seasoned veteran looking for fresh perspectives, this blog is here to provide you with the tools and inspiration to create a vibrant, inclusive, and effective learning environment. Together, we'll ensure that the answer to the question, "If not now, when?" is a resounding "Now!"

Theory vs. Reality

Teaching English in a multicultural context demands a nuanced approach that considers not only language acquisition but also the holistic well-being of the students.

By addressing the challenges and opportunities within this specific educational landscape, this blog aims to provide valuable insights and strategies to support both educators and students on their linguistic and cultural journey.

The Way Forward

Considering the focus on speaking and writing skills, we always address a specific topic that is age-appropriate, relevant for both academic progress and learning life-skills. Let's explore diverse teaching methods, adaptability, and inclusivity, to reach every student.

Thanks for being here- I look forward to sharing more with you in the posts to come.

Josephine