I recently spent two months in India teaching English as a second language. I designed and implemented a 6-week SOW with the purpose of boosting the creativity of students aged 13 – 15. The three classes I took were responsible for converting their own horror story into a film.

Before that I was working in the UK as a GCSE re-sit teacher. I was responsible for 3 English classes consisting of students 16+. I planned and delivered a SOW that was designed to help students who failed their exam in secondary school. Naturally, these students lack self-esteem as learners and so lessons needed to be highly engaging and tailored to their individual needs. Lessons also need to be succinct and cover a whole exam curriculum in an academic year.

I succeeded in incorporating a range of teaching strategies and resources, utilizing technology, group activities, and class debate. Student processed of monitored and assessed through a variety of formative and summative assessments and I provided feedback and support to help students improve their writing, reading, and language analysis skills. Also, I collaborated closely with both parents and the wider college community to identify and address any specific concerns, ensuring that each student had the support they needed to achieve their goals. During this time, I am most proud of my work unpicking the GCSE mark scheme with my classes.

This gave them a better understanding of their assessment criteria and showed them the parameters to success in their upcoming exams. My experience as a GCSE English teacher has equipped me with a deep understanding of the curriculum, assessment methods, and teaching strategies required to help students succeed.