HOW DO WE SEEK AN IDENTITY FOR OURSELVES?

                                                                      

                                                                              Dr.Muralikrishnan T.R.

                                                                       Associate Professor and Head,

                                                                              Department of English

                                                     M.E.S Asmabi College, P. Vemballur, Kodungallur,

                                                                           Thrissur District,Kerala

   The proposed association is a platform for English teachers where they associate and network with other members of the same profession, be it schools, colleges or universities through collaborative engagement in capacity building activities.

    The teachers, who are part of this group get access to varieties of sources of knowledge within the teaching community and they benefit by sharing and caring of each individual of their community leading to collective improvement.

    The motto is thus to heighten the level of cooperation among teaching fraternity with a clear accent on co-work, collaborate and co-teach.

    The teachers need to feel a sense of accountability towards themselves as well as to the student community.

    A lot of interaction becomes possible leading to peer evaluation, projects based on collaboration, action research, and skill development programme for young learners.

       The teachers can update themselves on teaching skills.

    Creativity in the way that you teach, offers valuable opportunities for self-development.As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Almost always, the creative, dedicated minority have made the world better.”

    Moreover the teachers at the initial stages of their career need some kind of confidence boosting and this may trigger several opportunities for professional growth.

    Positive interdependence among group members is structured through setting a common goal, assuming a common identity, using the same space and resources and getting the same reward.

    In short we stay relevant through our camaraderie!

    The message is very clear. Recollecting the words of Gilbert Highet: "I believe teaching is an art, not a science. It seems very dangerous to me to apply the aimsand methods of science to human beings as individuals. Teaching is not like inducting a chemistry reaction, it is much more like painting a picture, or making a piece of music or on a lower level like planting a garden or writing a friendly letter. You must throw your heart into it, you must realize that it cannot all be done by formulas, or you will spoil your work, and your pupils and yourself."(Preface to The Art of Teaching)