This week was the first time in over 10 years that I taught ESL in a classroom. It certainly an adjustment, especially for my voice.
When I was in my 20's, I didn't what a lot of GenXers did when they couldn't find a job at home after graduating from University; take off to some exotic place and teach English as a Second language. When I left the profession I was in my early 30's and found myself in a desk job for 8 years (which I hated) but I didn't want to go back into ESL has I had felt I had exhausted myself and didn't want to go back.
Now in my 40's and I am back in the classroom. Losing my voice from talking more than I have for a long time, feet hurt from pacing back and forth to student to student, and being mentally tired because of 3 hrs of lesson planning after classes and no matter how much you have prepared you have think on your feet during class.
What surprises me is how much I remember and even how my teaching style has changed. When I was younger I was high energy, loud and trying to make sure the students are having fun. I see now I am a lot calmer and a lot more confident in front of the classroom. I still want my students to have fun but I am not going to be running around acting like a clown like I did when I was in my twenties.
I don't think that I will be teaching for the rest of my working life but it has been nice to get back in to see if I still got it.
Have you ever gone back to something you haven't done in years? What are some of your experiences?
