On Being a Teacher

For those of you who do not know, I am currently studying at Cedarville University, pursuing a degree in secondary Language Arts education as well as an endorsement in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).  So obviously, I have plans to teach English in one form or another.
    
Right now I have the opportunity to begin my observation at a Montessori school in Dayton, where I am working with an English as a Second Language (ESL) department.  The school is K-8 and has over 100 ESL students, who are from countries all over the world.  I have been at this school for only two weeks now, and I already love my students and I am excited to see what this semester holds in my experiences with them.
  
 One reason I have such a desire to teach ESL is because these students can teach me through their varying cultural backgrounds and experiences.  I am already learning how to overcome stereotypes I may have of certain ethnic backgrounds.  Many of my students are from Iraq, which was surprising to me, because I did not realize there was a large population of Iraqi families in Dayton.  Whenever we imagine Iraq, I don't think we imagine children.  Because the country was so war-torn and violent for so long, we would rather imagine radical Muslim men who are doing evil when we imagine all of the violence.  However, Iraq had children just like the U.S. has children.  We obviously know, deep down, that there are children dying in the explosions and terror, but it is easier to try to imagine that is not the case. And here I am, working with these students from Iraq.  While many of them have been in the States since they were infants, it is still hard to imagine them in such a seemingly far-off and frightening place.
    
As one of their American teachers, I have an opportunity to influence these students lives for the better as well as give them a positive American experience.  While I fear that they will encounter some prejudice in their lives in the States, I intend to welcome these students and families.  I do not want to try to force them to assimilate to U.S. culture, but I want to teach them about it, and all the while learn about a culture of which I have had numerous misconceptions and misunderstandings.  I am excited that this class is hopefully only the beginning of years of working with people from other cultures and countries.
   
 I truly think teachers play such a vital role in every person's life; whether or not this role is good or bad depends on the teachers attitude and expectations in the classroom.  Coming from a family of educators, I have heard both good and bad stories.  While many college students studying teaching tend to have idealistic views of the field, I would say I have heard and seen enough in my parents' careers to have a pretty solid understanding of the realities of teaching.  While I know there are many challenges involved, teaching is something I know I will enjoy.  Pouring into the lives of children, adolescents, and adults through English is something I am excited to spend my life doing.  I am just glad I am able to get a glimpse of it now.