Self-education of an English teacher

Self-education is an initiative and independent activity of a teacher, aimed at obtaining new theoretical and practical knowledge.

A self-education plan can be drawn up at will, if it is a tutor, and can be a mandatory document for a teacher in a public school. The document can be recommended in a free style in private educational institutions.

In any case, it is used to document the fact of the development of the teacher, to assess the prospects for the set goals and the timing of their achievement.

Teacher self-education plan

A plan is an official document in which an English teacher describes the topics of self-education, goals, ways to achieve them, desired results with deadlines and sources of information.

In some educational institutions, the preparation of a plan is mandatory - in this case, it begins with writing an explanatory note, which justifies the chosen research topic.

Current topics

• Study of modern standards of language teaching,
• Analysis and comparison of foreign teaching methods,
• Overview of modern pedagogical technologies for children of different ages,
• The choice of psychological methods of raising children,
• Innovative forms of language teaching,
• Formation of worldview and personality development in English lessons,
• The study of English modern culture to overcome the language barrier,
• Rules for the use of computer technology,
• The modern paradigm of the development of the world: ecology, society, humanism in the study of a foreign language,
• Universal values ​​as a landmark of modern education,
• Intercultural communication in English lessons,
• Elements of art and creativity in language learning,
• Health-saving technologies in foreign language lessons,
• Formation of motivation for learning English,
• Introduction of inclusive education.

After choosing a topic, it is worth describing the tasks that will be performed in the process. For example, for a successful choice of psychological methods of raising children in the classroom, most likely, the following tasks will be performed:

1. Analysis of the psychological methods of raising children in different countries of the world, starting from the end of the 19th century.
2. Search and review of experimental studies confirming the success of a particular method.
3. Data on the selection and adaptation of methods for general education schools in the CIS countries.
4. Making your own recommendations regarding the adaptation of the method in the lesson.
5. Justification of the choice and expected results of the implementation of methods.
6. Step-by-step algorithm for using the method.
7. Approbation of the method in English lessons.

Goals of self-education

In this section, it is worth writing what the students will eventually receive as a result of additional training. Goals, depending on the topic, include:

• Increasing the level of computer and digital literacy of students,
• Formation of a number of flexible skills of students,
• Increasing the level of culture and communication within the group and with the outside world,
• Acquisition of practical knowledge and skills,
• Improving academic performance in English lessons,
• Mastering new skills and techniques for obtaining information,
• Creation of an extracurricular creative project.

Ways to achieve the goal

As a rule, the classic methods are: reading thematic literature, watching documentaries and videos, using modern information technologies, group and individual lessons, conducting electives and extracurricular activities, etc.

Along with this information, each assigned task should be limited in time. In addition, the teacher must also match each task with the source of information that he plans to use.

Sources of information

1. Articles by foreign authors on the given and related topics ( arXiv.org e-Print archive, CogPrints, Online Books Page ).
2. Youtube channels (Drofapublishing, Alice Keeler blog, Teacher Cast, Edutopia, Ed Tech School, Teaching Channel, ASAPScience, Common Sense Education).
3. Specialized sites ( school-collection.edu.ru, Enlightenment Media Library, ict.edu.ru ).
4. Abstracts and texts of dissertations.
5. Bulletin of universities of the CIS countries (direction of the humanities).
6. Master classes, video conferences, online lectures, lessons from colleagues.
7. Online certification courses for teachers (eg TESOL course).
8. Popular science and specialized modern literature.

In the process of analyzing sources of information, it is worth compiling an approximate list of references, which is submitted at the end.

Another important element of the plan is information about what the teacher will receive in the course of professional development. The results include:

• Improving the level of language proficiency.
• The use of new progressive methods in the learning process.
• Mastering new pedagogical technologies and techniques.
• Increasing the level of erudition, culture, literacy.
• Improving knowledge in psychology, pedagogy, sociology.

Folder for teacher self-education

The rule of good form for an English teacher or any other subject is the filing of a folder or self-education plan drawn up in a special editor. As a rule, programs such as Canva or Crello are used. Some prefer documents designed in Microsoft Power Point.

Mandatory components of the folder (plan) are:

• General information (full name, education, specialty, length of service, place of work, category, workload, class management).
• Theme, goals, objectives and expected results.
• Sources of information.
• Work plan for self-education for the next academic year.
• The results of self-education for the teacher.
• List of used literature.
• Certificates and diplomas.

English teacher certification

Special certification courses will help the teacher not only confirm the level of English proficiency, but also significantly improve the methodological basis of teaching.

Taking online courses and obtaining a TESOL certificate will greatly facilitate the process of self-education and increase your level of competence. Truly up-to-date and up-to-date knowledge will help you to teach with ease and pleasure and get good results from students. In addition, having a certificate means the opportunity to get a work visa and go abroad to work as a teacher and receive excellent wages.

TEFL TESOL certification courses are in line with international standards and best practices in pedagogy. After passing them, the teacher will be able to write in the results:

• Current online teaching methods have been mastered, which will allow teaching children during quarantine without loss of efficiency.
• The possibilities of interactive learning are analyzed - this technology will help increase the involvement of students in the learning process.
• Resources have been obtained in the form of exercises and methods that can be used in pedagogical practice.
• Improved English grammar teaching skills.
• Analyzed and corrected errors in the preparation of the lesson plan.
• The methodology of content-language integrated learning CLIL has been studied.
• Video lessons of teachers from different countries of the world are analyzed.
• EAP methodology - English for Academic Purposes.
• Completed an advanced course in teaching English to children.
• Trained in teaching at colleges and universities.