Celebrate World Teachers’ Day!

What do Dumbledore, Yoda, and Mr. Miyagi have in common? That’s right, they are all remarkable teachers who inspired their students in times of need because they saw their potential. We have all been marked by our tutors, be it at school, university, or extracurricular organizations, and today, on World Teachers’ Day, is the perfect date to show your appreciation!

In 1994, UNESCO established October 5 as the date to commemorate teachers worldwide, and it has since become a globally recognized event. In 2020, World Teachers’ Day celebrates educators under the theme “leading in crisis, re-imagining the future” to acknowledge the challenges they face with educating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In spite of these adverse teaching conditions, our tutors love their profession and have a lot to share and give. Meet our passionate language teachers and their inspiring stories and get some ideas on how to celebrate this special date in 2020!

A Passion for Meeting New Students

George, one of our star English teachers, expresses his excitement whenever he has to deliver a lesson for the first time: “I always love the first lesson with a new student, when we make lots of progress with the quick fixes; seeing their eyes light up as they finally understand those big bugbears that have been confusing them in the language.”

The Importance of Establishing Rapport

When teaching and learning anything, one of the most important factors for success is the relationship between the student and the teacher. For example, without a special connection to their tutors, learners may feel uncomfortable making mistakes and asking for help. Francesca, one of our Italian teachers, acknowledges the importance of this relationship: “I love how teaching one-to-one lessons or small groups allows for a closer relationship with the students than with bigger groups.”

Always Close

Today, the pandemic has kept millions of people in some kind of quarantine, but physical distance does not need to be an obstacle to learning. Using virtual tools, teachers all over the world have educated children, adolescents, and adults as effectively as before. Vaios, one of our native-speaking Greek tutors, has been as impressed by the capabilities of modern technology as the rest of us: “It’s amazing that I am in Greece, my student is working up in the mountains, and Listen & Learn can bring us together!”

Teaching Is Essential

Anastasia, one of our top-notch Russian instructors, points out the importance of teachers in society: “I think teaching is one of the most important professions in this world. You share with people something that nobody can take away from them: knowledge”

After all, language tutors teach not only formal aspects of a language but also cultural ones, helping students connect with new people, places, and traditions on a whole new level. Alessandra, our Italian and French teacher, talks about this and says “I think learning a language is important if you want to travel and really understand the culture of the country you are visiting.” You can listen to her below!

 

How to Virtually Celebrate Your Teachers?

Educators all over the world are going above and beyond to keep on teaching despite the adverse circumstances we are living in. They do this for the love of their professions and their commitment to their students, but we can help by showing our thanks and support! If you are looking for some ideas on how to show your appreciation, here are some top suggestions!

Create a thank you video to remember the great times you had together. You don’t need to be tech-savvy, as there are many free, hassle-free tools you can use (Canva, for example). Alternatively, you can also create a slideshow presentation with video clips, pictures, motivational phrases, or anything else you would like your teacher to see.

Send them a virtual gift! While it can be hard to send a physical gift to your teacher at the moment, you can always send a heartfelt thank you note (either online or hand-made, with the promise of handing over the real note when possible). Here are some printables with nice prompts, so you or your children can express your appreciation.

Set up a Thematic Week or Day: Coordinate with other students and surprise your teacher by sharing your favorite classroom memories.

 

And, if our tutors’ testimonials have inspired you to learn the language you have always wanted to know, reach out to us and we will pair you with an experienced instructor to accompany you on your journey to foreign language fluency.