I never thought about being a teacher. Not when I was a little girl, nor when I started high school and not even when I got into college.
I choose to study liberal arts (linguistics, literature etc.) because I always felt comfortable working with language, and I wanted to spend some time with people who loved it too, who could give me interesting sugestions and open up my reading horizons.
And then I started to work with publishing, translation, proofreading… and I though that working with books was the perfect job, you know? But unless the written material is absolutely wonderful, it’s hard to keep focused & interested on the same page for hours in a row. Also: there isn’t a very large publishing marked in Brazil.
I needed money and teaching was the easy way out; most people who graduate from the same course I studied turned into Portuguese, writing or literature teachers. I sent my résumé to a bunch of schools (and even libraries: who knew if my secret gift wasn’t in being a scary librarian?) and language institutes, and some of them answered and I started teaching.
It’s really scary to realize how powerful a teacher can be. The students will probably believe in anything you say, if you seem to be sure about it. It’s also very tiresome, to prepare lessons and correct exercises and be sympathetic, calm and helpful when you have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Specially when you’re not very sociable, like me.
Even so, I’ve moved, I’ve changed schools and I’m still teaching. And most days I really love it: it feels great to see the difference I’m making on the students’ lifes, and when I’m up there, in front of the class, I’m not my usual bitter, misanthrope self – I’m, well, the teacher.
So… I think I’ve found the job, at least for a while. Good luck for all of you who are still trying (:
