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ESL Philosophy of Teaching Statement: What Is It & Why Does It Matter?

Coleen monroe.

May 31, 2021

If you’re teaching English, you’ll eventually come across an important question. Someone — a student, a colleague, an interviewer — will ask you, “What’s your ESL philosophy of teaching statement?” In order to best answer this common question, you’ll need to formulate and reflect on an ESL teaching philosophy of your own. This article will help you discover and develop your personal ESL teaching philosophy and know how to talk about it with others.

What is an ESL teaching philosophy statement?

An ESL teaching philosophy statement is a summary of why you teach ESL and how. It’s basically that simple! The details you choose to include in your teaching statement are very important.

Are you interested in communication above all? Are you happy to be flexible, or do you hope to bring discipline to your learners? Where do you think learning English should fit into a student’s life? How important are test results to you? Do you strive for immersion by not using any translation in the classroom, or do you promote a bilingual environment? All of these questions can be answered succinctly if you formulate an ESL teaching philosophy statement.

A statement will also help guide your teaching, keep you positive when a lesson goes wrong (because lessons will inevitably go wrong at times), and make you a more reflective teacher overall.

Why is it important to have an ESL teaching philosophy statement?

We listed some of the reasons above, but there are lots of ways that having an ESL philosophy of teaching statement will benefit you. Let’s drill down.

It makes your teaching consistent

You need to have some consistency in your teaching. Language learning (and teaching) can be tough at times. If you’ve got a headache after a grueling grammar lesson or your learners lose it over the fifteenth exception to the rule, a statement of your teaching approach in ESL can remind you why you’re teaching and what you want your learners to get out of every lesson. It will help you to maintain consistent goals, discipline, and lesson-to-lesson continuity of character.

Take a look at some popular ESL teaching methods that all teachers should know.

Mohammed Hashiru, from Ghana, teaching in Turkey

It helps you become a reflective teacher

By formulating your own ESL philosophy, you’ll be reflecting on how you want to teach and also the more important question of why you want to teach. If you want to become good at anything, structured self-reflection on a regular basis is crucial. Without a guiding philosophy, you will possibly be tempted to label lessons as simply “good” or “bad” and move on, missing out on both the details and the big picture at the same time. Having a guiding philosophy for your teaching will make your self-reflection sessions more specific and goal-oriented.

Check out these 10 powerful goals for English teachers.

It provides context for what you’re doing

More people are now attempting to learn English than have ever tried to learn any language in history. But learning English does not exist in a historical vacuum; the context of imperialism and colonialism do play a role in English becoming the lingua franca it is today. Without an ESL philosophy, you may not reflect on how you came to teach English to those who want to learn it. You could stumble into problematic ways of thinking that are descended from the imperial and colonial history of English teaching. Being aware of your own motivations for teaching English can help you to react to the world more compassionately and with less bias.

As a global language, English has many different dialects and accents. Here’s why teachers should incorporate them into the classroom!

It leads to self-understanding

You need to start defining yourself as a teacher even before you begin teaching. Understanding yourself as a teacher will help guide your career path and ensure that you’re always improving as an ESL instructor.

Taking a TEFL course like the graduate-level IDELT Online™ TEFL/TESOL certification program will help you formulate and define your teaching, as it’ll give you an in-depth look at how to form a teaching philosophy, cover the principles of language acquisition, help you set learning objectives for your students, and more.

“What I always tell the trainees to do is take what they’ve learned, including the research that they’ve done, and translate it into how they would be in the classroom — and give a portrait of themselves as a teacher,” says Katrina Schmidt, an instructor for Bridge’s IDELT Online™ course .

What exactly is the IDELTOnline™ TEFL/TESOL course? Find out!

It establishes your credibility as a professional

Professionals are guided by their principles and make decisions based on them. If you don’t have a strong center, you’ll be easily pulled in directions that may eventually hurt your career prospects or lead to teaching burnout. Establishing a clear, personal teaching philosophy will help keep you on the right professional path.

Check out 8 strategies to avoid burnout when teaching English online.

You will be asked about it by employers

When you interview for an English teaching job, there’s a good chance that you’ll be asked to explain your personal education philosophy. Being able to easily discuss your ESL philosophy of teaching statement is one of the main reasons you should put the effort in now to develop a clear statement.

Find out how you should prepare for a TEFL/TESOL interview.

Lorena (center), an ESL business owner, offers insight into TEFL interviews in this article .

What should be included in an ESL philosophy of teaching statement?

When you craft your ESL philosophy statement, you’ll want to think about things from several perspectives. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to ask yourself open-ended questions, such as:

What is your reason for teaching in general?
How do you believe people learn best?
What is your professional background? (I.e., What education or training can you bring to your ESL teaching?)
What are your goals for English teaching in particular? What will you focus on in your classes? (E.g., Communicative competency? High scores on tests? Academic skills? Soft skills?)
What is your broader personal morality, and what are your ideas about learning? (I.e., What is acceptable for a teacher to do? How much do teachers need to put into their work? What is your definition of effective learning?)
What are your ideas about communication? (I.e., How much should you speak in the classroom? Are you a facilitator or an instructor?)

How do I write an ESL teaching philosophy?

There’s a sense of trepidation that some people get when actually crafting their personal or professional philosophies. Taking an online TEFL course like the 150-hour, graduate-level and university-affiliated IDELT Online™ can help you immensely, as you will get feedback from an instructor about the writing process and your final statement.

If you want to go ahead and get started with your ESL teaching philosophy statement, you can follow these steps:

Set aside time to reflect on your own, removing any distractions.
Using a journal of your choosing (digital, paper, sketchbook, whatever!), reflect on and make notes about the following:

1. What are your academic goals for teaching English? Where does your class fit in on the path that your students will take toward fluency in English?

2. What is your philosophy about classroom management? What types of communication will you encourage in your classroom?

3. What is your goal for your students in terms of using English? Is it for them to ace an English proficiency test? Communicate with others in the world?

4. What kind of teacher do you want to be remembered as? Your students may remember you for their whole lives. How would you prefer to be seen as a teacher and what can you do to achieve that?

Use affirmative “I am” statements to communicate your philosophy, and keep yourself positive/focused on your role in teaching English.
Take your notes and aim to write a paragraph about 5-10 sentences long. Keep it simple. The easier it is to explain your personal ESL philosophy of teaching statement, the easier it will be to follow!

Please note that this is not a one-time process. You should regularly examine your personal ESL philosophy and change it as needed to keep it relevant, useful, and thoughtful.

IDELT Online instructor, Terry McLean shared her “3 M’s” of creating a philosophy of teaching in a BridgeUniverse expert series webinar:

ESL teaching philosophy statement examples

Let’s look at some examples of personal ESL philosophy statements.

I am a kind and compassionate teacher who prefers to work with the “difficult” students because, often, there are valid reasons that they are acting out in a class. I believe that anyone can learn a language given enough time and practice, and I’m willing to be creative and find ways and unusual learning styles to help all students benefit from my lessons. My goal is to expose English learners to more of the world and prepare them for intercultural communication. I teach using a variety of techniques because every class is different and has unique needs.

In my classes, I work to create a genuine rapport with learners . This allows me to build on that connection and make them trust that I will not ask them to do something that wouldn’t benefit their learning, even if it’s hard. I think that English learners need to be able to trust themselves, their instructors, and their classmates above all. That way, in a safe environment, the mistakes that they will make as a learner don’t knock their confidence. I will intervene, early on and with dynamic classroom management skills, when I see bullying or other confidence-reducing behaviors to protect that trust in the classroom. I want the students to see my class as a refuge from normal life where they can practice English and thrive in a small community of learners.

My personal ESL teaching philosophy is influenced by my academic background. I provide rigorous thinking opportunities and challenge students to be their very best, even if it’s difficult. For me, teaching is a lot like coaching a sport. I want to help the students learn the drills and practice the skills that make up a great academic mind so that eventually they will no longer need me to be able to learn. My goal is to put myself out of a job! In the classroom, I demand focus and precision, but I also provide a space for error correction and peer feedback. In this way, I hope to build resilient learners.

When I am asked about my personal ESL philosophy, I’d like to tell people that I don’t even really believe I’m an “English teacher!” I’m not interested in old-fashioned ideas about teaching and being the center of attention in my classes. I see myself as a mostly quiet facilitator who sets up the discussions and provides materials for the learners to use mostly on their own. Obviously, I don’t just abandon them to their fate; rather, I hope that they will be independent learners if I step out of the traditional “teacher” role. When I find myself working on my lesson plans, I try to think deeply about the possible outcomes of an activity. This anticipation is what sets me apart as a teacher.

To be a professional ESL teacher and continue to grow on your teaching journey, it’s important to craft an ESL philosophy of teaching statement. Doing so will help you establish a better, more coherent teaching style and be able to express your beliefs about ESL education.

If you want to learn more about ESL philosophy statements, take the IDELTOnline™ TEFL/TESOL course, which will arm you with the methodology and practical skills needed in the ESL classroom.

Coleen Monroe is a Colorado native who has left a trail of new homes for herself around the world. She's set foot in 30 countries and lived on four continents in the last eleven years. Her nomad homes have been in Chilean Patagonia, France, Italy, Switzerland, South Korea, England, and Iceland. Her latest travel adventures took her to Yunnan, Beijing, Jiangxi, and Southern China, where she's currently teaching.

mrsstrickey
Jan 16, 2021

Writing a Personal Statement

Going for your first NQT post can be a daunting prospect... especially when in teaching, you need to write a personal statement to support your application form.

Schools use your personal statement to help short list candidates for a position by checking off the criteria of the person specification that they can see in your statement. It is always a good idea to write your personal statement alongside the person specification, ensuring that you have included all the "essential" criteria and as much of the "desirable" criteria you can that are assessed through the application.

Where possible, you should also use the language of the school you are applying to - their vision, values, mission and ethos statements will help you here and should be available on the school's website. You will also sometimes find these in the application pack. Read this carefully and then read it again, reading between the lines of what they might be looking for.

Here is an example of the structure of a personal statement for a trainee teacher applying for their first NQT job:

Begin with an impact statement that summarises your philosophy on teaching or that refers to the mission/vision/values/ethos of the school you are applying to:

I believe that it is, as Einstein said, the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. As a passionate teacher, dedicated to ensuring the very best outcomes for all students I teach, this statement resonates with me as I endeavour to awaken joy in all of the learners within my classroom. It was your belief all young people have the right to a transformational educational experience, that will enable them, no matter what their starting point, to fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions that first attracted me to your school as it aligns with my own personal and professional philosophy on education.

Throughout my practice, I constantly encourage pupils to participate and contribute in an atmosphere highly conducive to learning. I have consistently set high expectations of pupils in different training contexts. There are high levels of mutual respect between me and pupils. I am very effective in promoting learners’ resilience, confidence and independence when tackling challenging activities. In my lesson, I generate high levels of enthusiasm, participation and commitment to learning.

Back this up with an example from your training.

I have also assumed a high level of responsibility for the attainment progress and outcomes of the pupils I have taught. I have demonstrated confident judgement in planning for pupil progression both within individual lessons and over time and I am able to articulate a clear and well-justified rationale as to how I am building on prior achievement. Within my lessons, I seek to actively promote engaging and effective methods that support pupils in reflecting on their learning. I have demonstrated that I am able to set appropriately challenging tasks, drawing on a sound knowledge of the pupils’ prior attainment, which has been obtained through systematic and accurate assessment. I regularly create opportunities for independent and autonomous learning. As a result the majority of pupils make very good progress.

In order to plan effective lessons, I draw on my in-depth subject and curriculum knowledge of [your subject or phase] to plan confidently for progression and to stimulate and capture pupils’ interest. Throughout my training, I have demonstrated very well-developed pedagogical subject knowledge, by anticipating common errors and misconceptions in my planning. I am astutely aware of my own development needs in relation to extending and updating my subject, curriculum and pedagogical knowledge in my early career and have been proactive in developing these effectively during my training. I always model very high standards of written and spoken communication in all professional activities. I also successfully identify and exploit opportunities to develop learners’ skills, in communication, reading and writing.

I plan lessons that often use well-chosen, imaginative and creative strategies, and that match individuals’ needs and interests. I am highly reflective in critically evaluating my practice. I am able to accurately judge the impact of my practice on individual and groups of learners and can use my evaluation to inform future planning, teaching and learning. During my training, I have shown initiative in contributing to curriculum planning and developing and producing effective learning resources in my placement settings.

I have been able to quickly and accurately discern my learners’ strengths and needs and I have been proactive in differentiating and employing a range of effective intervention strategies to secure progression for individuals and groups. I have an astute understanding of how effective different teaching approaches are in relation to impact on learning and engagement of learners

I can confidently and accurately assess pupils’ attainment against national benchmarks. I use a range of assessment strategies very effectively in my day-to-day practice to monitor progress and to inform future planning. In my practice, I systematically and effectively check learners’ understanding throughout lessons, anticipating where intervention may be needed and do so with notable impact on the quality of learning. I have shown that I am able to assess learners’ progress regularly and work with them to accurately target further improvement and secure rapid progress.

I have been able to rapidly adapt to the different circumstances in which I have trained, working confidently within the frameworks established in different settings and applying rules and routines consistently and fairly. I have also demonstrated an ability to adapt to remote working and remote delivery in response to the Global Pandemic. I consistently have high expectations and understand a range of strategies that experienced teachers use to promote positive behaviour and apply these very effectively, including use of school sanctions and rewards, and use of praise, in order to create an environment highly supportive of learning. I am able to manage pupil behaviour with ease so that learners display very high levels of engagement, courtesy, collaboration and co-operation. Where it is needed, I actively seek additional support in addressing the needs of pupils where significantly challenging behaviour is demonstrated.

During my training, I have been proactive in seeking out opportunities to contribute in a significant way to the wider life and ethos of the school. I have built strong professional relationships and have demonstrated that I am able to work collaboratively with colleagues on a regular basis. I have taken responsibility for deploying support staff in my lessons and for seeking advice from relevant professionals in relation to pupils with individual needs. I deliberately seek out opportunities to develop my own professional learning and respond positively to all the feedback I receive. I have also demonstrated that I can communicate very effectively, both verbally and in writing, with parents and carers in relation to pupils’ achievements and well-being when required to do so formally, but I am also proactive in communicating in relation to individual pupils’ emergent needs.

I always treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher's professional position. I realise the need to safeguard pupils' well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions. I show tolerance of and respect for the rights of others. I do not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. I always ensure that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils' vulnerability or might lead them to break the law. I am always punctual and have good attendance. I have attended numerous CPD sessions and will continue to do so. I have also completed a weekly duty (before school and at break} and attends daily briefings (whole school, subject or pastoral). I have taken on board the policies of the school and maintain a high standard in all my practices. I have a good understanding of the framework within which I work and my professional duties

End with a statement that implies/assumes you will be invited for interview:

I would relish the opportunity to work at your school and look forward to discussing this further with you at interview.

You can download the word version of this

How to write the perfect teaching personal statement

Application and interview, tes editorial.

When applying for a new job, you may be competing with tens or hundreds of other applicants in a race for the role.

The HR manager or headteacher recruiting for the job will be scrutinising every detail of your application to make sure they are bringing in the right people for interview.

The application form is the first hurdle you have to get over and sets the first impression of you as a person in the recruiter’s mind.

Advice on honing your job search
How to write a personal statement for teacher training
How to write a must-read CV

The personal statement: why does it matter?

The personal statement presents the perfect opportunity to show you are an exceptional candidate, understand teaching and know the school you are applying to.

It is not an easy task and is a tricky thing to get right. It requires being concise and clear – it shouldn’t be too long or read like a list.

You should talk about yourself and your professional achievements, while at the same time apply those experiences to the school itself.

We spoke to Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders , about what goes into the perfect personal statement. Here's what he said:

What does a great teaching personal statement look like?

"In general, I would say no longer than two sides of A4 – typescript. It needs to be well structured and linked to the specific school. It will need to include a number of key areas, including behavioural management, educational philosophy, subject expertise, pedagogy, personal organisation and skills and enrichment activities that the candidate can bring."

What should it contain?

"I would recommend that candidates include three elements in each of the key areas:

What their beliefs/philosophy/approach is – i.e., the theory
Their experience in that area
How they would use that experience in the school they are applying to and specific to the job they are applying for

The statement should also include something personal in terms of their outside interests to indicate that they live an interesting and well-balanced life."

What are school leaders looking to read in a good personal statement?

"They will want to see something of the person’s character come through. It must not be just a list of achievements or repeat of the CV. It needs to be well-written, error-free and mention the school they are applying for – but not too many times. It should read as if it has been specifically written for the school and job they are applying for. I would be looking for something similar to the approach I have indicated above, covering all of the key areas and indicating that they have a vocation for working with young people. Somehow I would like to see a ‘generosity of spirit’ come through in the statement."

How can a candidate stand out in a personal statement?

"A good personal statement needs to include something of the person themselves. It has to make the reader believe that the candidate has something special without bragging or appearing arrogant – but something a bit above what other candidates may offer. A really good introduction and ending are important, and it's worth spending a great deal of time crafting those sections of the statement. Hook the reader in at the beginning and finish on a high note so that they want to meet the person and explore what has been written."

Want to keep up with the latest career advice? Follow Tes Jobs on Twitter and like Tes Jobs on Facebook

Crafting a Compelling Teaching Personal Statement

Your teaching personal statement needs to give an insight into your personality, teaching style & unique qualities only you hold. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of writing a compelling teaching personal statement.

The best personal statements are more than just a list of experiences and achievements. A personal statement which tells a compelling story will always compel the reader to want to find out more. If you keep your philosophy as the central theme and ensure that you use examples of practice which link back to that, it will ensure that your personal statement is a coherent and interesting piece of writing.

What Inspired You:

Begin by reflecting on what motivated you to become a teacher. Headteachers want to understand your background, inspiration, the reason you trained as a teacher and why you want to teach your specialism. Highlight your passion for teaching and your genuine desire to make a positive impact on students’ lives.

Showcase Key Achievements:

Highlight your career achievements, qualifications and teaching milestones that you’re most proud of. Demonstrate your ability to drive student progress and results through concrete examples throughout your teaching personal statement. If you’re an early career teacher, discuss your teaching placements, voluntary work, or even include any quotes from observation reports.

Showcase Teaching Skills:

Demonstrate your teaching skills by providing specific examples. Discuss successful teaching strategies you’ve employed, innovative lesson plans you’ve created, or how you’ve adapted to meet the needs of diverse learners. Highlight any extracurricular involvement, such as coaching sports teams or leading clubs, which showcases your dedication to students’ holistic development.

Keep It Concise and Well-Structured:

Teaching personal statements should be clear, concise, and well-structured. Aim for a maximum of 500-600 words. Use headings or bullet points to organize your content. Start with a captivating opening paragraph and conclude with a strong summary of your qualifications and enthusiasm for teaching.

Proofread and Edit:

Thoroughly proofread your teaching personal statement to eliminate grammatical errors, typos, or awkward phrasing. Consider seeking feedback from mentors, colleagues, or friends to ensure clarity and impact. Editing is crucial to present yourself as a professional and detail-oriented teacher.

Show Enthusiasm:

Infuse your teaching personal statement with enthusiasm and optimism. Convey your passion for teaching, showcase your qualifications, and demonstrate your commitment to fostering student growth. A positive and enthusiastic tone can be infectious and leave a lasting impression.

To conclude, your teaching personal statement is your chance to shine as a teacher. Get personal. Write about what makes YOU in the classroom.

For further support and tips, please reach out to Gemma Yates.

If you’re an ECT, click here for tips on how to land your ECT role

If you’re an experienced teacher looking to accelerate your career, click here

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Teach.com / Online Education / Education Degrees / Online Master of Arts in Teaching Programs (MAT) / Applying for Your Master’s / How to Write a Personal Statement

Brainstorming

Before you start outlining your statement, ask yourself a few questions to get an idea of what you’ll need to include. Jot down each of the following questions and leave some space to answer them.

Why do I want to be a teacher?
How should I address my academic record?
How can my experiences enhance my application?
Who is my audience?

Now take a few minutes and come up with some answers to these questions. Don’t spend too much time on this step; just write down your general thoughts. Once you do that, you will be ready to dive in and start writing your personal statement.

The Introduction

Your introduction needs to grab the reader’s attention at once. Remember that they are most likely staring at a pile of applications, and yours will be one of many they’ll read in this sitting. You need to be memorable right from the start. Follow this general form for a solid intro.

HOOK: Grab the admissions officer’s attention with a broad, but strong statement about the teaching profession.
LINE: Write two to three sentences that develop that idea and narrow it down to focus on you.
SINKER: Deliver your thesis. This is where you state specifically why you want to study education at their school.

Begin with a short summary of your educational background. Do not turn this into a resume; just briefly give an overview of your studies in both your major (English, math, etc.) and in your education concentration. If you have any inconsistencies in your academic record, this is where you should address them. Do not give excuses, but if there are reasons why you did poorly in an area, state them here.

The second body paragraph is where you get to tell your story. Why do you want to become a teacher? What inspires you about this profession? What type of teacher do you see yourself becoming? How did your student teaching experience inspire you to continue on this path? Anecdotes are best, but don’t get carried away. Keep it concise and to the point.

Once you have explained who you are and what your professional goals will be, the third body paragraph should explain why you think you are a good fit for that particular school. Hopefully you did some research before applying, and you have some concrete reasons for choosing this college. Tell them your reasons, but don’t go overboard with platitudes. They know what awards they have won and where they rank in the U.S. News college rankings. Be honest and explain what attracted you to their program of study and what you hope to get out of it.

In order to ensure the clarity of your work, each body paragraph should be formatted the same. This way the reader will be able to quickly read without losing track of the point. After the first body paragraph, begin each subsequent paragraph with a transition phrase or sentence, and then provide a clear topic sentence. Support that topic sentence with solid evidence. Finally, provide examples to back up that evidence.

The Conclusion

Conclusions are hard, and they are hard for a reason. Ideally, you have made your case in the body of your personal statement, so you understandably ask yourself, “What else can I say?” Try one of these strategies:

Widen the focus a bit and validate your thesis without being redundant.
Project where you see yourself in 10 years after completing your degree and becoming a successful teacher.
Reaffirm your passion for your subject area.

However you decide to close, do not fall back to your middle school days and simply restate your case in the conclusion. Take some time to craft a closing that will leave them with an overall positive impression.

The Nuts and Bolts of Academic Writing

It is certainly worth noting a few of the technical aspects of writing your personal statement. Many programs will have specific items they want you to cover in your statement. Be sure you have carefully read and then answered their questions. Use a basic font like Times New Roman or Calibri and either a 10- or 12-point font. Always use 1-inch margins and single space your document. The general suggested length is 500 to 1,000 words. Don’t feel like you have to hit the word limit, but don’t only get halfway there either.

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Crafting an Impactful CELTA Personal Statement: A Guide for Aspiring Teachers

Dirghayu Kaushik

Embarking on a journey to become an English language teacher is an exciting endeavor, and the CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course is a pivotal step in this process.

Your CELTA personal statement is more than just an essay; it’s a reflection of your passion, teaching philosophy, and aspirations. Crafting a compelling personal statement is crucial to showcase your suitability and enthusiasm for the course.

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Understanding the Significance of Your CELTA Personal Statement

A Reflection of Your Teaching Aspirations and Philosophy

Your CELTA personal statement is your first opportunity to make an impression on the course assessors. This document should articulate not just your interest in the course but also your long-term teaching goals. It’s a chance to convey your understanding of what teaching English as a foreign language entails and how you envisage making a difference in this field.

Think of your personal statement as a narrative that weaves together your past experiences, present motivations, and future aspirations. It should tell a story of why you are drawn to teaching, how your experiences (both educational and life experiences) have prepared you for this role, and what you hope to achieve with the CELTA qualification.

Showcasing Your Personal and Professional Experiences

While your academic qualifications and any previous teaching experience are important, the CELTA assessors are also interested in your personal journey. How have your experiences shaped your understanding of teaching and learning?

Perhaps you’ve had a transformative experience learning a language yourself, or you’ve witnessed the challenges and rewards of teaching in a different context.

Reflecting on these experiences in your personal statement helps to provide depth and context to your application. It demonstrates to the assessors that you have a grounded understanding of the complexities and joys of language teaching.

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Articulating Your Motivation for Teaching English

The Drive Behind Your CELTA Application

Your motivation for teaching English is the heart of your personal statement. It’s essential to be clear and specific about why you want to teach English and why you’ve chosen the CELTA course specifically.

This could stem from a passion for the English language, a desire to engage with different cultures, or a personal goal to contribute positively to the field of language education.

Discuss any moments or experiences that have been particularly influential in shaping this decision. It could be an inspiring teacher you had, a volunteering experience, or a realization during your travels. These stories provide a personal touch and make your statement more memorable.

Understanding the Role of an English Language Teacher

Demonstrate your understanding of what it means to be an English language teacher. This includes an appreciation of the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards that come with the job.

Discuss the qualities you believe are essential for a successful teacher and how you embody these qualities. This could include patience, creativity, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

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Demonstrating Your Readiness for the CELTA Course

Your Academic and Professional Preparedness

The CELTA course is rigorous and demanding, and your personal statement should assure the assessors of your readiness for this challenge. Highlight your academic achievements, especially those relevant to language and education. If you have any teaching experience, be sure to detail it, emphasizing what you learned and how it prepared you for the CELTA course.

In the absence of formal teaching experience, consider other relevant experiences, such as tutoring, mentoring, or even public speaking engagements. These experiences can demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, manage groups, and convey complex information – all crucial skills for a CELTA candidate.

Your Understanding of Language Learning Principles

Your statement should also reflect a basic understanding of language learning principles. You don’t need to be an expert, but showing that you have a foundational knowledge of how people learn languages can be advantageous. This could include referencing language acquisition theories, discussing different learning styles, or reflecting on your own language learning experiences.

Discuss how you expect the CELTA course to enhance this understanding. What are the specific areas in which you hope to grow? This could be in terms of pedagogical knowledge, classroom management skills, or understanding of language assessment methods.

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Outlining Your Teaching Philosophy and Methodology

Your Beliefs about Language Teaching and Learning

Your teaching philosophy is a core component of your personal statement. This philosophy guides your approach to teaching and reflects your beliefs about how students learn best.

Do you believe in a student-centered approach? Are you inclined towards particular methodologies, like communicative language teaching or task-based learning?

Reflect on what has shaped these beliefs. It could be your experiences as a learner, observations from any teaching or tutoring you’ve done, or insights gained from educational literature.

Applying Your Philosophy in a Classroom Setting

Discuss how you would apply your teaching philosophy in a classroom setting. This part of your statement should show that you understand the practical implications of your educational beliefs. How would your philosophy influence your lesson planning, classroom management, or assessment methods?

Be realistic in your approach. Acknowledge the challenges that might arise when applying your philosophy and how you plan to address them. This shows a level of maturity and understanding that assessors look for in potential candidates.

Concluding Your Personal Statement: The Final Impression

Reaffirming Your Commitment and Passion

The conclusion of your personal statement is your final chance to leave a lasting impression. Reiterate your passion for teaching, your commitment to the CELTA course, and your aspirations for the future. Make sure to tie back to the key themes you introduced in the beginning, creating a cohesive and compelling narrative.

Looking Toward the Future

End with a forward-looking statement. How do you see the CELTA qualification impacting your career and personal growth? What are your long-term goals, and how does the CELTA course fit into these plans? This not only shows ambition but also a clear vision of your path in the field of English language teaching.

In crafting your CELTA personal statement, remember that authenticity and reflection are key. This is your story – your unique journey towards becoming an English language teacher.

By articulating your experiences, motivations, and aspirations clearly and passionately, you’ll create a personal statement that stands out and truly reflects who you are as an aspiring teacher.

How long should my CELTA personal statement be?

Typically, a CELTA personal statement should be concise and to the point, usually around 500-1000 words, but always check the specific requirements of the course you are applying for.

Can I include personal anecdotes in my CELTA personal statement?

Yes, personal anecdotes that highlight your passion for teaching, learning experiences, or understanding of language education can make your statement more engaging and personal.

Should I mention specific teaching methodologies in my personal statement?

While detailed knowledge of specific methodologies isn’t required, showing awareness of different teaching approaches and a willingness to learn can be beneficial.

How important is teaching experience for a CELTA application?

Prior teaching experience can be an advantage, but it’s not always necessary. Demonstrating enthusiasm for teaching and a commitment to learning can be equally impactful.

Is it necessary to have a background in English or linguistics to apply for CELTA?

A background in English or linguistics can be helpful, but it is not a requirement. A strong command of the English language and a passion for teaching are the primary prerequisites.

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Best Personal Statement Examples

If you are applying to a college or university, you will need to write a personal statement. Though writing a personal statement seems daunting and time-consuming, the best ones always start with the subject’s life experiences. These moments can be anything from everyday routine to a memorable visit to your favorite place which makes it easier to write. Still, if you are facing difficulty in writing a personal statement, here are some of the best personal statement examples you can take inspiration from.

What is a Personal Statement?

Before we dive into the pool of some best personal statement examples for you, we shall learn what a personal statement example is. A personal statement is a type of essay that you have to write when you want to apply for any college/university or any scholarship program. So, it is the best opportunity to show the admission committee who you really are and how you are good enough to fit into the position that you are applying for.

The Best Personal Statement Writing Guide

Why do you need a personal statement.

Personal statements are becoming more important now than before. Most colleges require their new students to write a comprehensive and strong personal statement if they want to secure a seat in their university or college. It shows that who the student is on a personal level is equally or even more important than their high school results and test scores.

So, we can say that a personal statement is one of the most fundamental requirements of college or university admission. Besides, this is a great chance for the admission committee to learn about you outside of your grades and application.

How to Write a Strong Personal Statement – What Should You Write in Your Personal Statement

If you are applying to college, you will indeed need to write a personal statement. Therefore, we have some best personal statement examples for you to take inspiration from.

Best Personal Statement Examples: “Architecture and Planning”

I have always been highly interested in the real estate and construction industries. Because I spent nearly two years going to a building site every weekend to watch how the development of my parents’ new house was going. By then I was only 10.

I have always been a very practical person with the aspiration to work in the construction sector. One of my first memories is of helping my father build my tree home in the backyard. Besides, I gained insight into how a business is managed during my six-week working on a construction site near my home in 2006.

I am certain that I want to major in architecture or planning because it will allow me to combine my best qualities. For instance, my interest in practical art and design and especially how light and space are arranged. Other than that, my enthusiasm for addressing real-world problems and my ability to collaborate with others. All in all, I want to explore the world, encounter different cultures, and extend my horizons.

In light of this, having a range of adaptable skills and knowledge will be crucial in the future. My goal is to attend college and get a degree in either architecture or planning and transportation.

In addition to academics, football, piano lessons, and poetry writing are just a few of my interests and pastimes. So, in my downtime, I like to play different sports and practice piano. And I have always been the head of my football team at school.

And I think that I can not find a better school than the “name of the university” to help me grow and achieve my goals.

Best Personal Statement Examples: “Special Education Field”

It’s challenging to recall my childhood aspirations. My dreams were always evolving and altering. I’ve had several career aspirations throughout the years, including astronaut, artist, and train conductor. Thomas the Train, I’m grateful. But I can still recall the precise second I made the decision to become a special education teacher.

Adam, my younger brother, is 12 years younger than me.

Therefore, I actively participated in all aspects of raising him. So our brother-sister relationship is a little off. I have always watched him develop and looked out for him. I was the first to observe that reading was considerably more difficult for him than it should be, as a result. My parents first exerted every effort to ensure his success. Everything failed.

My brother eventually received a serious learning disability diagnosis. It was sometimes agonizing to watch him struggle with reading. I began volunteering in his special education class because I was his sister and guardian. I eventually came to respect his special education instructors’ tenacity and recognize the challenges of instructing students who had learning issues.

Each child’s learning journey is distinctive and special, just as they are. I was certain I wanted to work with special needs students as I started my freshman year of high school. So, I volunteered in the special education classroom during my time in high school to gain as much first-hand experience with the kids as I could.

Also, I started actively investigating various models and styles of learning. My purpose was to test out a few during my tutoring sessions to discover which ones worked best. I actively tutor special needs kids in and around my community while maintaining a 3.8-grade point average.

To encourage more students to participate, I even founded a club. In addition, I began taking college courses in my final year of high school to better prepare myself for the challenges that college would offer.

Although I am aware that focusing on special education in college will be challenging, I look forward to the challenges that my degree will bring to teaching and classroom management. To assist kids like my brother in succeeding, I hope to become a pioneer in the field of special education.

Typical Mistakes in Personal Statement Writing You Should Avoid

Best personal statement examples: “arts”.

An artistic journey is traveling along a never-ending route. You can never see everything there is to see or learn everything there is to know.

Ten years down that road, you’ll still be learning new things. Or being inspired by the most mundane of things. And challenging the media we are exposed to, whether it be the storefront display, the arrangement of a room, or even the contours of a shoe.

For those of us who make art a profession or pastime, it is a passion and a way of life. We all perceive the environment in different ways. And whenever I take a moment to look around me, thoughts about my tangible surroundings begin to race through my head.

I believe that art will serve as a compass for my future. I’d like to think that after earning my degree, I’ll continue my research in the area I’ve selected. Besides, I will pursue painting as a profession. So, it is unimaginable to me to think about an environment that is not tied to a creative and imaginative community.

I think students of art truly put their hearts and souls into their work. Besides they push themselves to the limit since art is a passion for those who choose to study it.

I found myself doing more work than was required throughout my portfolio course simply out of delight and curiosity. Because I was so engrossed in combining and playing with colors, textures, light, and new materials and effects.

I presently work in retail. And whenever I have the chance to work on an art project for the job, such as producing advertisements for shop displays or window dressing, I leap at the chance.

I enjoy doing individual commission work, which is what I do. I enjoy always having a project to work on. This gives me direction, objectives, and a vehicle for my original thoughts. After being exposed to all the disciplines and variety in the creative world, I believe that fashion has evolved into my primary passion. Thus, I’m taking a part-time study in it.

Although I enjoy the creative process, I find that creating a finished product with my hands is the most satisfying. It is safe to say that ever since I was a little child, art has played a significant role in my life. I loved creating the sets and costumes for school plays to dressing my dolls.

Besides, I also find enormous inspiration and enjoyment in attending live performances by bands.

I have a lot of respect for anyone who shares their talent and gift with the rest of the world. Because I view music in the same way that I view art. As a collection of straightforward riffs and beats that are all put together at different timing and order to create a piece of work delivered with passion and energy.

The same is true for me when it comes to film and photography. The purpose of this is to show the viewer how you see things by taking a still photograph that could otherwise seem so mundane. Then, making it appear in a new light.

I decided to study abroad in order to meet new people, learn about a new culture, alter my surroundings, and get out of my comfort zone. Because I believe most individuals tend to produce their best work when they are out of their comfort.

Best Personal Statement Examples: “Engineering”

I had a fascination with flying as a child. I observed birds flying for hours, noticing how their wing angles influenced their flight paths. Then, I would waste print papers from my Dad’s library to make paper airplanes to experiment with wing angles.

The intensity of this preoccupation peaked one day. I chose to fly.

I constructed a plane using a wooden clothes rack, blankets, and trash bags for the parachutes. The first flight, as you may imagine, wasn’t very successful. The world came crashing down around me as I slammed onto the bed, sending pieces of wood flying everywhere, after being in the air for a good second.

My initial thoughts, even as a young child of five, weren’t about the bloody scratches that covered my body. Why weren’t the wings able to fly like a bird’s? How does hitting a soft object cause my frame to fracture? Why weren’t the parachutes opening properly? Above all, why didn’t I fly?

As I got older, my innate urge to figure out why sparked an interest in problem-solving, which allowed my one and only passion for flying to transform into a lifelong love of engineering.

I started pushing my academic limits by enrolling in the most difficult STEM classes available. By the conclusion of my junior year, I had taken every scientific and math course that was offered. In addition, because I am the brightest student in my grade level. So, I had access to cutting-edge research.

As a result, I had an inherent understanding of subjects like differential equation modeling and protein activity in the brain by the time I was in high school. These helped me build a solid science and math foundation to go along with my enthusiasm for engineering.

I also decided to take the engineering pathway at my school. By recognizing and utilizing each member’s strengths to achieve the greatest output, I was able to hone my leadership abilities as a team leader. I wanted the design to be collaborative and not just one person’s thoughts. So, I frequently questioned whether each design choice was the best one during large group initiatives like creating a hovercraft. I did so by playing both the president and the devil’s advocate. This led to a more effective model that functioned notably better than our original prototype.

The issues that have an influence on the real world were what I focused on most. I created a water purification system. This was a combination of carbon nanotube filters with shock electrodialysis to both desalinate and purify water more effectively and affordably than conventional plants. It was mainly inspired by the water crisis in India.

As I worked on projects, I was able to witness the engineering’s sheer strength as an imaginary concept become shaped. I was spending the majority of my days trying to figure out why things were happening. Simultaneously, I was looking for solutions to common problems. I am fascinated by engineering’s capacity to consistently provide better solutions to each issue in a world that increasingly values a single solution.

Since that first flight thirteen years ago, I still haven’t mastered actual human flight. This would have been a catastrophic failure for my five-year-old self. But I still have the great curiosity I discovered in myself that day. The promise and practicality of engineering have kept me motivated. Besides, it also forces me to push myself to solve ever-more challenging issues.

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Example Personal Statement for Teaching

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

Here is an example personal statement of an applicant who got admitted to Masters of Arts in Teaching. For personal statement, the university posed several questions to the applicant, which the admissions committee expects to be answered in an essay form. The program provides these personal statement prompts to encourage students to self-reflect and then to share their insights with the program.

The following essays are an example of a compelling story and reflect the original voice and personality of the applicant. Get inspiration from them and try to incorporate their strengths into your own personal statement.

In this Article

Personal Statement Prompt 1

Personal statement prompt 2, personal statement prompt 3, personal statement prompt 4, personal statement prompt 5, personal statement prompt 6.

Please tell us briefly about the school where you teach and the community it serves. Who are your students? What do they do when they finish school? What kind of work do their parents do?

Life in rural areas is lonely, and the poverty rate is extremely high compared to life in urban areas. I teach in a roadside rural school where all my students come from poor families and are villagers. My school serves a community where most parents are uneducated and unemployed. Most family members work on agricultural lands and some work in urban areas as janitors, security officers and labourers.

Being the only girl’s school in the area, students from adjoining hilly areas come to school on foot, walking 15-20 kilometres daily. There are a handful of schools for girls that impart primary education. Because of these schools, awareness of the benefits of education have increased in the local community. Consequently, people have now started to send their children to schools in bigger numbers.

Poorly educated children are the source of adult functional illiteracy, which is the primary feeder of poorly educated children. However, girls who got educated in my area eventually became educated mothers and are raising healthier families. This has reduced the vicious intergenerational cycle of functional illiteracy.

Why do you want to enrol in the Masters of Arts in Teaching Program?

Mexico now has an overall literacy rate of only 29%, with rural literacy at a staggering low of 11%. Last year, over two million children dropped out before secondary school, nearly twice Washington, DC’s total population. Even worse, we do not have enough qualified teachers to fill the void in every village or district. This bankrupt education system is ripe for creative disruption, and I plan to do that. Universal quality education is an unattainable dream for rural children because they do not have access to quality teachers and resources. Worse, most of them cannot attend school regularly because they must support their family by working in agricultural fields or households. This work commitment at such a ripe age makes formal education impossible.

Though most girls are forced into early marriage in my area, I was lucky enough to continue my studies after high school. Later I travelled to a much bigger city to get higher education. Unfortunately, there was no college for girls in our village back then. In the city, however, females were educated and valued for their achievements.

At college, I met an English teacher who later became my inspiration. She opened the outside world to me, instilled confidence in me and taught me the things that interest me. She knew my background and told me to take teaching as a profession so that I could educate my community and bring some change. She gave me all the strength and motivation to carry on. In addition, she made me fall in love with the subject of English and Communication.

I didn’t get quality education at the school level since our teachers were either absent from the class or lacked expertise in English language abilities. These factors deeply affected my early learning of English, and since languages are harder to learn later in life, it became a massive barrier. But with the help of my newfound urban teacher, I was able to learn and affirm my ability in this field. My teacher shaped my destiny and encouraged me to enlighten my mind. The day I started to teach was when life started to make sense. It was indeed a golden chance for me to follow in the footsteps of my great English teacher and offer my best services to the people of my village. The condition of schools and teachers in my village is alarming; teachers lack quality education and are ill-equipped. Sometimes students waste all day at school without learning a word. Through my experiences, I’ve seen and learnt a lot about where the deficiency is and where to work for betterment.

I imagine a Mexico where better teachers in rural areas can evolve rural education. It’s already starting to happen in some areas – such as Teach for Mexico – and I want to become a part of something similar. It’s not just about resources. It’s about optimizing them to increase productivity and rethinking what’s possible. I want to dedicate my profession to my village’s people so they can get quality education. I have realized and understood that education is essential to succeed for the less fortunate. I’ve always strived to educate students and their parents, so they know the value of education.

Deep down inside, there’s a feeling in my heart and a voice in my head that I must do something now so that I leave a legacy amongst my village people when I die. Villagers have magical energy and zest for life, especially girls. I see more passion for doing.

I would say life is not meant for me to watch it and just pass by. I’m here to make a difference in the life of my students. I firmly believe that a teacher who successfully combines advanced teaching strategies with resilience is the catalyst for our educational development. I intend to be one of these teachers, and further education is vital to making this a reality.

Please list what activities you have pursued inside and outside the classroom to maintain your professional training as an educator. In addition, please list professional organizations that you are a member of and relevant work in your community outside of school.

To keep students engaged, I believe in creating a relaxed learning culture in the classroom. Moreover, to ensure that students don’t get bored, I develop interactive lessons that are relevant to students. It is important to note that in rural schools, many external factors are at play — poverty, neighbourhood violence, family discord etc. These inevitably contribute to student disengagement. I implement several interventions to reduce the effects of negative external influences. In my case, increasing parental involvement, extracurricular activities, and improving school safety have enhanced student engagement.

Moreover, I engage my students by immersing them in the actual situation. For example, in a class about history, I put students in the position of historical figures and asked them how they would feel and act. Finally, outside the classroom, I actively engage students in co-curricular activities that positively impact their academic, social, physical, and emotional growth.

Describe an occasion when you led by example in your school and community.

One of the most challenging situations I have ever faced as a leader was whether to replace Matthew, a top student in our undergraduate class and my close friend, with another suitable member. The decision arrived after our first two project phases went terribly because of his unprofessional attitude toward Matthew. I was under a lot of pressure from my other three team members to decide – we were a devoted team committed to our goal, but this vision did not fit Matthew.

Although highly talented, Matthew did only the minimum necessary and was unwilling to make any sacrifices and commit to our goal. I faced a tough decision. On the one hand, firing a talented and top student at a time when most other team members were not accomplished seemed unwise. On the other hand, not replacing him would mean establishing double standards for the rest of the team. His opposition to the change had already begun creating undesired effects, as a few of the team members resented him.

To solve the problem, I took drastic steps to make Matthew relate to the new goals and change his attitude. In addition, I also improved the team’s reward system based on his comments to reward the extra efforts. I started encouraging him to participate fully by inviting his input and suggestions on improving things. As a result, matters were significantly enhanced, and I succeeded in building the right team to lead the project forward. Matthew became motivated again, and with him, I had a team that could reach the ambitious goals we set, and indeed, in 4 months, we had posited the best final-year project of the year.

What skills and experience do you hope to gain from participating in the graduate program, and how will these benefit you and your school once you have completed the program? Describe at least two ways you will share these skills with your school and/or community.

The master’s program will help me explore new teaching methodologies and lesson planning, which are the prerequisites in teaching. I can improve my student’s learning skills only if I’m well-prepared. Participating in the graduate program would be an overwhelming experience, as it will enhance my teaching skills more profoundly. In addition, I would gain knowledge and understanding of US culture, which will help me build my confidence and communication skills through interaction with cosmopolitan people – a trait essential for any English teacher. Teachers like me who work in remote areas need to broaden their vision through master’s programs. I am confident that this program will enable me to re-evaluate my teaching abilities.

High-quality teachers are fundamental to good education. Through the graduate program in teaching, I will be able to develop my student’s basic communication skills better than I currently can. In addition, I want to produce students who can compete globally. Finally, I will share my knowledge and experience with students, colleagues, and other schoolteachers with whom I regularly interact through monthly inter-school meetings and community functions.

There is a massive discrepancy in the quality of teaching resources between urban and rural schools, but I’m very committed and not afraid to seek out new challenges. Hopefully, if I’m selected for this program, one of my biggest dreams of bringing change to the lives of my people will come true, and the space of deprivation will be filled up. I will return with a new perspective on culture, language, and teaching skills.

How do you plan/design your lessons? How did your students receive the lesson, and how did you assess your students’ learning?

Class: Grade 7th to 10th

Subject: English

Time: 40-45 minutes

Aims: A lesson plan is the instructor’s road map of what students need to learn and how it will be done effectively during class. Before I plan my lesson, I first identify the learning objectives for the class meeting. This way, I can design appropriate learning activities and develop strategies to obtain feedback on student learning. I aim to make my lessons so easy that my students enjoy learning English without any difficulty. In addition, I want them to specialize in four skills of English: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

For this, I prepare them with practical command over words and phrases, which they will then use to tell a story or describe an incident. Then they must write a letter, an invitation, and a leave application with reasonable speed and zero grammatical errors. For different classes, I use different lesson plans. For example, in seventh grade, I teach them the use of a dictionary along with reading skills. In class eight, I developed their taste in reading stories and books and writing composition. Finally, I give group tasks in ninth and tenth grades to work on all four basic skills.

Methodology : In class, I adopt the Student-Centered Approach to Learning, where the students and I play an equally active role in the learning process. My primary function is to coach and facilitate student learning and comprehension of the material. I follow up with formal and informal assessment forms, including group projects, student portfolios, and class participation. Next, I start my class by asking students questions about the last lesson to link the lesson with a new one. Then I follow through by reading the passages slowly with correct pronunciation and intonation and translating every word for them.

Afterwards, I ask three to four students to read the passage one by one and ask the whole class to read after the students loudly. I correct their mistakes if they read wrong. I tell them the meanings of difficult words and give them new words to increase their vocabulary. In the grammar class, I teach tenses, Parts of speech, articles, types of sentences, narrations, and active and passive voice. I have made it mandatory for students to get their exams signed by their parents so that the parents are aware of their child’s progress. Finally, I assess my students by asking questions on the subject matter taught in the classroom.

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How to write a teacher personal statement

Your personal statement is your first opportunity to show the school you’re a great fit for the job, and gets you closer to being shortlisted for an interview. The more you show how your skills and interests match the school’s ethos and values, the better. We’ve spoken to a range of teachers to get their top tips for success.

What experience do you have?

Schools want to hear about your trainee experience with different subjects, key stages, types of school, and working with a range of pupils.

Think about your approach to teaching, how you keep pupils engaged, and how you communicate with different kinds of people (children, staff, parents and carers). Ensure you provide evidence for how you have improved student engagement and built positive relationships with pupils.

Schools will be interested in your approach to behaviour management, so think about your go-to strategies.

Are you engaged in teaching theory and research?

Think about any research that has affected your teaching practice. Explain what has worked well and if it didn’t, what you learnt.

Are you up to date on safeguarding statutory guidance?

You need to demonstrate your awareness of the importance of safeguarding and the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education . Include any examples of how you worked with a Designated Safeguarding Lead.

What are your skills and qualities?

Are you a well-organised, confident, and motivated teacher? Say it, and provide examples! Schools are looking for great communicators, team players and relationship builders. Make sure you say how you create a positive learning environment, and consider skills like time management, organisation, and flexibility. Schools will also want to know how you overcome challenges.

How can you contribute to wider school life?

Set yourself apart by showing how your hobbies and achievements could contribute to the wider school community. Could you run an after school club or organise school trips?

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Personal statement for PGCE secondary

If you want to teach children aged 11 and over you'll need to apply through the Department for Education's (DfE) Apply for teacher training service

This example should be used for guidance only. Copying any of this text could significantly harm your chances of securing a place on a course.

Example personal statement for PGCE secondary

I became interested in teaching after realising how much I had benefited from excellent and passionate teachers. They exuded a real sense of enthusiasm for learning, which inspires me to pass on that passion.

My love for computing developed during my A-levels after discovering an aptitude for programming and networking. This drove me to study more, going on to gain a 2:1 in BSc Computer Systems and Network Engineering from the University of England. Studying at university developed my passion for computer sciences and taught me a range of transferable skills that I believe are fundamentally important to teach young people. This is demonstrated in my dissertation, which was awarded a first, investigating The Internet of Things (IoT) and how it can help shape educational establishments of the future.

While at university I decided to volunteer as a teaching assistant in a mainstream school. By my final year I was able to take responsibility for running activities in the classroom, balancing the needs of each child and managing behaviour issues. In addition, I regularly helped run the lunchtime computer club. In working with more vulnerable students such as SEN learners I saw the role played by support staff in maintaining control of the classroom, particularly with those who can be disruptive when under stimulated. I learned the importance of differentiating lesson plans to educate and engage students with special needs and the power of strategies such as a well thought out seating plan and friendly competitiveness in learners. I saw students develop within the classroom as a result of my determined support and these good working relationships are beginning to result in higher grades. I have liaised well across several departments to communicate information about students in an organised and diplomatic way.

One highlight was when I supported a young person with ADHD who attended computer club. They had been struggling to remain focussed and on task in class but were able to focus well when completing tasks on a computer. As a result, they suffered from poor behaviour, disengagement and low self-esteem. I negotiated with some class teachers to allow this pupil to use a tablet during their lessons. The pupil could then access any PowerPoint presentations being delivered to enable them to go back and reread specific slides. They could also access links to visual resources to enhance their understanding of the subject being taught. Homework was posted online for them to complete and submit electronically. This was such a success that the school invested in more tablets to be used by a range of students across the school. This further inspired me to want to become a teacher to enable me to support others who may be facing barriers to learning that could be tackled through the introduction of technology.

To support my professional development further I undertook short work placements in two other schools. Volunteering in Key Stages 1 and 2 confirmed my desire to teach Key Stages 3 and 4. I became aware of the many demands placed upon teachers and their time and I believe that the project management, communication and problem-solving skills gained during my degree will be invaluable assets within the classroom and beyond. I was exposed to a range of pedagogical models and teaching methods, which is something I look forward to learning more about on a PGCE.

One of my hobbies is to make short films about how to use different forms of technology and software packages. I post these on YouTube as instructional videos. These have proved to be very popular and I am considering how I can use this type of activity to benefit the students I teach. One option is to support students to create their own videos to help deepen their understanding of a subject, which they can then choose to upload to the school's virtual learning environment to aid their peers if they wish.

During school placements I witnessed the challenges and rewards present in a school environment. Teachers need to be resilient particularly when working with students who find school difficult, do not want to engage and do not want to accept support. However, I look forward to working in the education system and believe I could help and inspire students to develop their future aspirations.

While researching for my dissertation I spoke with secondary school teachers about the challenges their students faced and one that came up often was digital poverty. In many inner-city schools, pupils do not always have access to up to date and reliable computer technology to allow them to keep up with the advances in technology that they’ll face when seeking employment. One of my aims would be to investigate how the use of integrated technologies, as well as fostering links with local companies and the community, could result in a cost-effective solution allowing all students equal access to computer technology.

Technology has become its own form of literacy due to its prevalence in everyday life. Numerous careers use at least one aspect of Microsoft Office or Google Drive daily; balancing budgets on spreadsheets, creating slides to be presented, or attaching documents to emails to communicate important information. Allowing students to learn and refine these skills prepares them for life beyond the classroom.

With technology being present in many classrooms, and not just to teach computing skills, the introduction of the IoT could enhance learning activities even more. It could provide improved connectivity, introduce artificial intelligence and virtual reality to the learning environment as well as cloud computing platforms. I am excited about the future of education and how I can be an active part of it.

When writing your personal statement, you need to include:

What inspired you to choose teaching.
Why you wish to teach at secondary level.
Your knowledge of the pressures and rewards of teaching.
The personal qualities and skills that will make you a good teacher.
How you might contribute to the wider school environment such as running extra-curricular activities and clubs.
Any experience of working with children and what you learnt through doing this.
Evidence of your knowledge related to the subject you hope to teach.
Any relevant work or unpaid experience.
Your degree, degree modules and dissertation topic where relevant.
Any relevant skills, hobbies and achievements.

Find out more

Read all about applying for teacher training .
Get prepared with our teaching interview questions .
See more examples of teaching personal statements .

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English literature will always be a passion of mine. I remember saying to my mum when I was little, “I don’t need to learn to read. You can always read for me”. I admit in the early years, I read only what I was told to by teachers, or by my mum. I even read with a girl once on a work placement who would listen to me read a section of a storybook, then when I asked her to repeat it, would struggle to remember what I had just said, rather than attempt to read the page itself. I would liken myself to her in the early days. I was eager to learn, and I loved stories, but only when snuggled in bed having someone else read the words. I am happy to say I have come a long way since then. Although I haven’t been caught up in the craze of ‘Twilight’, and I can’t say ’50 Shades of Grey’ appeals to me either, do enjoy reading now.

The last novel that I read was ‘Perfume’ by Patrick Suskind. I only heard about it by accident, my English teacher, when working on ‘Frankenstein’ in class mentioned it in passing. I saw it in the library a few weeks later and was intrigued by it. It tells the story of a cold, hate-filled man with a superhuman sense of smell, sniffing out and killing virginal girls. The subject topic wasn’t appealing or relevant, but it was an interesting book, and well written. I enjoyed the harshness, and the brashness of the text. Other texts need decoding, or a vast prior knowledge of the text or time. This novel said what it meant and meant what it said!

At the beginning of my AS year at college, my English teacher presented us with Mary Shelley's ‘Frankenstein’ and said “You may not enjoy it now, but it’s one of those books that get better as you study it.” I didn’t understand this initially, because I think sometimes we can try to pull literature apart too much, to the extent we lose the meaning and start to draw our own conclusions, but by the end of the year I understood why she had said this. There is more to literature than the pure semantic nature of the text. I may not have appreciated that when I was in bed hearing ‘Harry Potter’ be read to me, but I’ve grasped it now!

I have always been very interested in pursuing a career based around early years teaching - specialising in English - and since starting college and spending time at various work experience placements; my passion for this career path has grown further.

I am currently studying English literature and language, Performance studies and Psychology as I feel they all tie into teaching or help me to develop skills which will. English is a subject that I guess will always have a special place in my heart! I enjoy going from not understanding a text in the slightest to being able to understand the complex subtleties of the writing after studying it. I achieved the highest in my college for English which I really felt reflected my love of the course! The subject Psychology has very often baffled me and left me a little mind blown, (especially the theories of Sigmund Freud!) but it’s also been incredibly useful to gain insight as to how and why people act in the ways that they do. Lastly, I chose to study Performance studies as I’ve always had a passion for the stage, and having the confidence that I’ve developed through this course will certainly be beneficial in teaching situations. I also feel performance based subjects work hand in hand with English courses because there is so much in the language of playwrights such as Shakespeare or Caryl Churchill that isn't straightforward. The theatre is a powerful place for literature when understood.

University to me is where I aim to branch out my knowledge and passion of Literature to other eras and countries. I may not have always been an admirer of literature, but it's something that I have fallen in love with more and more over the past decade of my life. I would love to study it further at University. I hope to get a degree in English literature which I can then apply to a teaching degree later on so that hopefully my love of English can be translated onto future generations.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by AE94 for application in 2013.

AE94's Comments

My first draft, I've read a lot that talk about everyone's academic success, but I wanted to try and be as much myself as I could!

This personal statement is unrated

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A 10-Step Guide to Writing an Outstanding Personal Statement

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Applying to college can be daunting, especially when it comes to writing a personal statement. This essay showcases not just your writing skills but also your unique personality, achievements, and aspirations. Understanding that while grades are crucial, a personal statement often becomes the differentiating factor in your application. To navigate this essential component, we’ve compiled a ten-step guide, replete with examples, to ensure your personal statement leaves a lasting impression on admissions officers.

Applying to college can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to writing a personal statement. This essay not only showcases your writing skills but also highlights your unique personality, achievements, and aspirations. While it may seem unnecessary, tedious, time-consuming, and just another tick-the-box, know that as each application is processed, grades are just one of the criteria of selection, more often than not a personal statement becomes the differentiating factor.

A diverse group of smiling students looking down into the camera, holding a speech bubble sign that says 'THIS IS MY STORY' at a gathering, symbolizing individuality and shared experiences in crafting personal narratives.

To help you navigate this crucial component of your application, we’ve compiled a ten-step guide, complete with inspiring examples to ensure your personal statement makes a lasting impression on admissions officers.

Start Early and Brainstorm Begin the process early to give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm. Reflect on your experiences, achievements, and motivations. Think about what makes you unique, both in terms of personality and life experiences.
Understand the Prompt Make sure you clearly understand what the college is asking for. Each institution may have different prompts or questions. Tailor your response specifically to each prompt, ensuring you answer it fully and directly. Be comprehensive and succinct in your answers, choosing words that convey your candidature the best.
Create an Outline Draft an outline to organize your thoughts and ensure a coherent flow of ideas. This will help you structure your statement effectively, making sure every part contributes towards presenting a compelling narrative.
Exhibit, Don’t Tell Use specific examples to demonstrate your qualities and achievements. Instead of stating that you’re a great leader, describe a situation where you demonstrated leadership. This method makes your statement more engaging and believable.
Focus on Your Strengths While it might be tempting to cover a wide range of subjects, focusing on a few key strengths or experiences can have a stronger impact. Depth over breadth is crucial in personal statements.
Be Authentic Admissions officers can tell when a statement is genuine. Write honestly about your experiences and passions and let your natural voice shine through. Authenticity is key to making a personal statement stand out.
Get Feedback After drafting your statement, seek feedback from teachers, mentors, or friends. They can provide insights on clarity, grammar, and the overall impact of your essay. They all have a perspective of you from an external viewpoint, so do not skip this step.
Revise and Edit Use the feedback to revise your statement. Look for areas where you can clarify your points, eliminate redundancy, and correct grammatical errors. This step is crucial for polishing your final submission.
Keep It Concise Adhere to the word limit. Being able to express your thoughts concisely and effectively is a skill appreciated by admissions officers.
Final Review Before submitting, do a final review. Read your statement out loud to catch any remaining errors or awkward phrasing. Make sure it sounds natural and is easy to read.

Examples of Exemplary Personal Statements:

Example 1: The Innovator Jane’s personal statement begins with a vivid description of her tinkering with a broken radio at age eight, which sparked her interest in technology. She intertwines her personal journey with her academic achievements, such as leading her school’s robotics team to a national competition. Jane uses specific examples, like designing a new robot navigation system, to demonstrate her passion and skill in engineering.

Example 2: The Community Leader John opens his statement with a powerful recount of organizing community relief efforts during a local flood. Highlighting his role in mobilizing volunteers and coordinating with local authorities, he demonstrates strong leadership and commitment to his community. His narrative includes feedback from the community and the personal growth he experienced, providing a well-rounded view of his character.

Example 3: The Attentive Listener Emma’s personal statement explores her profound appreciation for music and its role in shaping her interpersonal connections. She describes an afternoon spent sharing playlists with a group of international students, which turned into a deep discussion about cultural expressions through music. This experience not only highlights her listening skills but also illustrates her ability to forge meaningful relationships through shared interests.

Example 4: The Compassionate Leader David writes about his high emotional quotient and how it spurred him to lead a community initiative focused on animal welfare. His personal statement recounts organizing local workshops to educate people about animal kindness and launching a successful campaign for a local shelter. David’s story reflects his empathy and leadership in translating compassion into actionable community improvement.

Commentary: Every life is extraordinary; it’s how you narrate your story that captures the reader’s eye. Your personal statement should reflect your unique experiences and aspirations.

Conclusion:

In crafting your personal statement, remember, you don’t have to be extraordinary in the usual sense—honesty and transparency are key. Be a dreamer of the art of the possible; dream as big as you can and let those dreams articulate themselves in your words. This approach not only reveals your true self to admissions officers but also shows your potential to contribute meaningfully to their academic community. Start your adventure today! Use these steps as your guide to find the university that best fits your future goals. Dream big and achieve even bigger.

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Motivational Speaker Techniques To Encourage Students’ English Speaking Skills

A student stands at the front of the class demonstrating his English speaking skills

As teachers, we’re always looking for ways to improve our students’ English speaking skills and build their confidence in speaking English. An effective way to do this is to integrate motivational speaking techniques into our teaching methods and teach our students some engaging speaking strategies to use.

It is important to point out to students that speakers in public talks such as TED talks or other significant speeches sound confident because of the key components that make up a successful talk. By adopting some of these, students can begin their journey to confidence and enjoyment in speaking English.

Great motivational speaker techniques

Knowledge and clarity.

Great motivational speakers possess a deep knowledge of their subject, which helps their audience trust in the speaker.

For students, this emphasises the importance of understanding the content they are speaking about.
Encourage students to research and fully understand the topics they discuss. This will ensure they can present information clearly and confidently.
This can be practised through classroom presentations or group discussions where the focus is on explaining concepts in simplified terms.

Confidence and purpose

Confidence often comes from speakers feeling well-prepared and passionate about their subject.

Teach students to define the purpose of their speeches and talks – whether to inform, persuade or entertain. This clarity helps them deliver their message with conviction and engage their audience more effectively.
Role-playing different scenarios in class can help students build confidence and define their speaking goals.

Storytelling

Whether it’s a personal anecdote or something else, stories can captivate an audience and make the speech memorable.

Remind students that by telling a story, the audience is instantly more engaged and likely to follow along throughout the talk.
Help students develop their storytelling skills by integrating stories into language lessons. They could start with narrating simple personal experiences and gradually move to more complex narratives as their skills improve.

Audience awareness

Understanding the audience is crucial for effective communication.

Have students think of a talk or presentation they’ve recently seen. Then, have them think about who the audience for the talk was.
Tell students that speakers tailor their content and delivery to match the audience’s knowledge level and background. This involves using appropriate language, examples and explanations that the audience understands and can relate to.
In class, students can practise audience awareness by presenting the same information in different ways to different groups and tailoring the language they are using and the way they are presenting the information.

A strong conclusion

A strong finish is essential in great motivational speaking. It reinforces the message and often includes a call to action that leaves the audience inspired.

Teach students to summarise their key points effectively and end with a compelling conclusion that prompts further thought or action.
This could be practised through debates or persuasive speeches in class, where students are encouraged to conclude with strong statements and a call to action.

Practical exercises to enhance English speaking skills

Focus on activities that enhance clarity in communication. For example, paraphrasing or connecting complex ideas with simpler concepts.
Have students do exercises that improve non-verbal communication, such as maintaining eye contact, using gestures and controlling hesitations.
Help students reflect on the purpose of their talk or presentation, and choose language that aligns with their goals, for example, to convince, inform, teach or entertain.
Have students discuss how best to explain complex ideas. Remind them that any information should be appropriate and understandable to the audience without requiring much prior knowledge.
Explore the use of extreme adjectives and the connotations of words with your students, emphasising how language choice can inspire and motivate an audience.

Incorporating motivational speaking techniques into your lessons can have a significant impact on students’ engagement and confidence in communicating their ideas. By having these skills, students will not only improve their English proficiency but also gain valuable life skills in speaking and presenting to audiences.

You can read more about teaching your students presentation skills here. Or read our paper for in-depth advice on teaching English pronunciation.

The impact of teacher academic support and L2 writing self on feedback-seeking behavior

Published: 25 May 2024

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Ya Zhang ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9087-9121 1

The literature has revealed the impact of personal factors on feedback-seeking behavior (FSB) in second language (L2) writing. However, little is known about how teacher academic support influences FSB in L2 writing and whether this relationship is mediated by L2 writing self (ideal and ought-to L2 writing selves). To address the lacunae, this study used a quantitative research design and a sample of 221 Chinese non-English major undergraduates to explore the relationships among teacher academic support, L2 writing self, and FSB. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that teacher academic support could directly predict the two dimensions of FSB (feedback monitoring and feedback inquiry) and L2 writing selves. Moreover, mediation analysis indicated that teacher academic support indirectly predicted both dimensions of FSB via ideal L2 writing self, and it also indirectly predicted feedback monitoring via ought-to L2 writing self. This study suggested that teacher academic support, as an environmental factor, could enhance learners’ writing motivation and self-regulated writing behaviors. Pedagogical implications for L2 writing instruction were discussed.

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Modeling chinese high school EFL writers’ language mindsets, goal orientations, and feedback-seeking behavior: the interaction effect between language mindsets and writing competence

Who perceives more value of teacher feedback? Exploring the roles of college students’ possible second language selves and language learning strategies

The Effects of Peer Feedback on L2 Students’ Writing Motivation: An Experimental Study in China

According to the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, as of September 2018, there were a total of 1243 undergraduate institutions of higher learning in China, of which 137 were “Double-First-Class” universities and 1106 were non-“Double-First-Class” universities (89.0%) ( http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xxgk/xxgk_jyta/jyta_gaojiaosi/201901/t20190129_368438.html ).

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The research has been supported by the Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX23-0216) to Ya Zhang.

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Keep a positive tone. Write in an optimistic and confident tone, even if you tackle difficult topics. The statement should show how you will address problems and create solutions, and the style should reflect this. Avoid vague or weak phrases like "I'm not sure, but I think I would be a good candidate for the show.".
Personal statement for PGCE secondary
Example personal statement for PGCE secondary. I became interested in teaching after realising how much I had benefited from excellent and passionate teachers. They exuded a real sense of enthusiasm for learning, which inspires me to pass on that passion. My love for computing developed during my A-levels after discovering an aptitude for ...
How to Write a Personal Statement
Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me." 3. Stay focused. Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written.
Personal Statement
The purpose of a personal statement is to show your potential employer what makes you unique and different from other applicants. You need to provide facts that confirm your skills, passion, drive, and desire for the job you are applying for. Go through the stages that are given below. Preparation Stage. 1.
English Literature (and teaching) Personal Statement Example
This personal statement is unrated. English literature will always be a passion of mine. I remember saying to my mum when I was little, "I don't need to learn to read. You can always read for me". I admit in the early years, I read only what I was told to by teachers, or by my mum. I even read with a girl once on a work placement who ...
A 10-Step Guide to Writing an Outstanding Personal Statement
Read your statement out loud to catch any remaining errors or awkward phrasing. Make sure it sounds natural and is easy to read. Examples of Exemplary Personal Statements: Example 1: The Innovator Jane's personal statement begins with a vivid description of her tinkering with a broken radio at age eight, which sparked her interest in ...
English Language Personal Statement Examples
English Language Personal Statement Examples | Uni Compare. Find the perfect Criminology degree which allows you to specialise in your interests. Your Edinburgh adventure awaits. Study career-led courses for graduate prospects. Taken from 65,000+ data points from students attending university to help future generations.
Motivational Speaker Techniques To Encourage Students' English Speaking
This could be practised through debates or persuasive speeches in class, where students are encouraged to conclude with strong statements and a call to action. Practical exercises to enhance English speaking skills. Focus on activities that enhance clarity in communication. For example, paraphrasing or connecting complex ideas with simpler ...
The impact of teacher academic support and L2 writing self ...
The literature has revealed the impact of personal factors on feedback-seeking behavior (FSB) in second language (L2) writing. However, little is known about how teacher academic support influences FSB in L2 writing and whether this relationship is mediated by L2 writing self (ideal and ought-to L2 writing selves). To address the lacunae, this study used a quantitative research design and a ...