Selecting the correct career is a crucial decision with far-reaching implications. It is a choice that will shape your future, underscoring the importance of making an informed decision.
Over the next few weeks, The African Reporter will engage with business people, professionals, and other role players, focusing on a specific career every week.
By doing this, we aim to provide valuable guidance to our younger readers navigating their career choices.
This week, we give a platform to the teaching career.
Kwa-Thema resident Nkosana Radebe (47) has been a teacher for the past 23 years and said he is passionate about teaching.
“I am naturally inclined towards sharing knowledge and helping others learn. I enjoy the process of imparting information and seeing learners’ lives improve,” he said
He added that he enjoys shaping and influencing young minds.
What is a teacher?
A teacher teaches/provides education for people. A teacher serves as a tutor, instructor, trainer, mentor, facilitator, and counsellor in students’ learning journey. A teacher’s role is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other places of formal education.
What does a teacher do?
A great teacher can get learners reading, inspire a passion for languages, make maths or science fun and turn history lessons into fun and exciting stories.
• Educate: Teachers wear many hats, but above all, they are educators who seek to teach children critical thinking, academic content and analytical reasoning skills. Educators are often subject matter experts passionate about one or two particular subjects and strive to share that passion with their students.
• Learn: Teachers are often considered lifelong learners. A good teacher understands that they do not know everything and can learn something daily from everyone they meet — including their students. Effective teachers keep an open mind and are open to acknowledging different world views, perspectives and beliefs.
• Inspire: Teachers can be role models for their students, inspiring them to work toward their full potential and achieve more than they might have thought possible. An effective teacher helps students realise that learning is beneficial and a fun process that lasts a lifetime.
Where can I study to become a teacher?
Many higher learning institutions offer courses in teaching, such as:
• The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT);
• The University of South Africa (Unisa);
• The University of the Witwatersrand;
• The University of Pretoria;
• The University of Johannesburg.
How long does it take to become a teacher?
• It requires a four-year Bachelor of Education degree (BEd).
• If you have a degree in something else, you can do a one-year postgraduate certificate, qualifying professionally as a teacher.
What high school subjects do I need for an education course?
In high school, choose the subjects you want to teach. For example – If you want to teach geography or tourism, select them as your high school stream subjects. Entry requirements in higher institutions differ.
• A Bachelor of Education in the Foundation Phase or Intermediate Phase Teaching at Uinsa requires level 4: 50%-59% in the language of instruction, level 3: 40%-49% for mathematics and level 4: 50%-59% in mathematical literacy.
• A Bachelor of Education in the Foundation Phase at TUT requires level 5: 50%- 59% for home language, level 5: 50%-59% mathematical literacy, level 4: 50%-59% mathematics, and level 4: 50%-59% for first additional language.
• A Bachelor of Education in the Intermediate Phase at the TUT requires level 4: 50%-59% in English, level 5: 50%-59% in mathematical literacy, level 4: 50%-59% in mathematics and level 4: 50%-59% for a combination of any two of these subjects: Life Science and Physical Science or History and/or Geography.
What skills should I have to become a good teacher?
Some qualities of a good teacher include:
• good communication skills;
• good listening skills;
• adaptability;
• empathy; and
• patience.
Other characteristics of effective teaching include an engaging classroom presence, value in real-world learning, exchange of best practices and a lifelong love of learning.
What are a teacher’s roles and responsibilities?
A teacher’s responsibilities are diverse and often include:
• planning lessons and differentiating instructions for children with varying levels of understanding about a topic;
• working closely with parents, other teachers and school administrators to ensure children receive the best education possible;
• mentoring learners and teaching them how to use and apply knowledge in their lives.
• looking for ways to impact learners differently and inspire them to be and do more.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to study teaching?
Ensure you want to work with children. You must have much patience because teaching is not for everyone. You must enjoy what you do to love your work.
What are the pros and cons of being a teacher?
• The pros: Bonding with learners and having holidays. Connecting with other teachers and staff members.
• Cons: Trying and failing to help difficult learners and poor support from the administration.
Where do teachers work?
• Government schools
• Private schools or colleges
• Nursery schools/crèches.
Teachers can give extra/part-time classes, for example, in maths or adult education, to earn extra income.
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