My Advice for a First Time Language Assistant

      All this talk about the city and its time we get down into some of the nitty gritty details of the job. While I’m sure the teaching wasn’t the only enticing aspect of the offer, it is going to be a big part of your life these next 9 months and it’s time to share a little bit more about it. Walking into the classroom the first day can be intimidating. It’s a new language, culture, and shockingly a classroom of children can be a more intimidating sight than one might think.  That being said, working as an Aux has proven to me as being one of the most impactful experiences of my life to date.  Through my job I have met the most incredible teachers and students and have learned an immense amount about myself throughout the process.

      It’s hard to describe what to expect considering every Aux. has their own unique experience depending on the school, classroom and students in front of them.  That being said, there are some basic concepts that I think are useful and can be applied to any classroom.  One of the most important qualities, you could even call it a mindset, is flexibility.  When in the classroom you never know what is going to come at you next.  As an English Language Assistant you are going to be working with another teacher in the classroom. One must be openminded, eager to listen and learn and open to being tasked with a variety of responsibilities.  I’d suggest doing some research beforehand and finding a variety of easy games and speaking activities that can be integrated on the fly in the classroom.  Having a backup list of fun activities will keep you calmer knowing you're prepared to entertain a classroom of students at any time.  It’s also very useful for when an activity or lesson doesn’t go as planned (an inevitable event for all educators) and you need to whip out something else to keep your students engaged.

      Another useful piece of advice I'd give to any first time Aux, is build relationships.  It can be nerve-wracking walking into a new space full of people that you don’t know, even more so when your first language is different from everyone else’s in the school.  You got this! I can’t emphasize enough the importance of going that extra inch to say hello to staff, have a friendly disposition and put in effort to have conversations outside of the classroom with co-teachers and other admin in the building.  From their perspective most likely they are seeing a new aux. coming in every year and it can be tough for them to read you and your disposition.  Going out of your way to show them that you care, you are eager to make connections and are kind will be the first step in breaking that ice that will make the whole year go much smoother for you both. These teachers are your lifeline and are there to support you. Showing them you care will only build that relationship and make your life even easier when you need that backup and extra support throughout the year.  And who knows, maybe you’ll even make yourself a friend or two by the end of it all.

      My last comment that I believe is crucial for success in this role and the most basic of concepts is to make connections with the students.  Learning and classroom management is possible and so much easier when your students feel that you care and understand them a little better.  Say hello to students in the halls, ask them about their hobbies and interests every opportunity you get, speak with students about your interests and passions so they can get to know you a little better too.  Something I always do in the first week of school is have students decorate a name tag for themselves to use for the first few weeks.  It helps me learn their names much quicker and knowing each student by name goes a long way.  It’s those little things you can do on the job that go the distance.  Give a few of them a try and I can promise you it will only improve your experience.