An English Teacher in China

Sometimes I feel as if my work doesn’t matter,

Sometimes I feel as if I’m an awful teacher.

Sometimes as a teacher I need some inspiration to get motivated.

At these times, I like to take a little break and read a few inspiring quotes to get me going again.

Fortunately, before I came to China I splurged in the check out aisle at a Chapters bookstore in Toronto and picked up one of those little books. This one is called Teachers: A Tribute. It was definitely worth the money. Here are some of my favourite quotes.

My heart is singing for joy this morning. A miracle has happened! The light of understanding has shone upon my little pupil’s mind, and behold, all things are changed! - Annie Sullivan

Teachers believe they have a gift for giving; it drives them with the same irrepressible drive that drives others to create a work of art or a market or a building – A. Bartlett Giamatti.

Don’t try to fix the students, fix ourselves first. The good teacher makes the poor student good and the good student superior. When our students fail, we, as teachers, too, have failed. – Marva Collins.

I was still learning when I taught my last class. – Claude M. Fuess, after forty years of teaching.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. - Henry Adams

The most extraordinary thing about a really good teacher is that he or she transcends accepted educational methods. – Margaret Mead.

My joy in learning is partly that it enables me to teach. – Seneca

A teacher must believe in the value and interest of his subject as a doctor believes in health. – Gilbert Highet.

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. – A. Bronson Alcott

Human beings are full of emotions, and the teacher who knows how to use it will have dedicated learners. It means sending dominant signals instead of submissive ones with your eyes, body and voice.- Leon Lessinger

And one of my personal favourites is,

Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task. – Haim G. Ginot.