A job interview is an opportunity for you to discuss why you’re qualified for your desired role. If you’re seeking a position as a teacher, the interviewer may ask you to describe the circumstances that encouraged you to pursue a career in education. Learning how to respond to this interview question can help you explain your teaching passion effectively and make a positive impression on the employer. In this article, we discuss the purpose of the “What inspired you to become a teacher?” question and provide example answers and tips for responding.
Who Or What Inspired You To Become A Teacher? – Joe
Example 3
“For the past five years, I worked as a program coordinator at a nonprofit organization that serviced children. We created an after-school program to help students with their homework, and one of the students was having trouble learning geometry. Since math was one of my favorite subjects in school, I volunteered to help him. After two weeks of working with him, he told me my tutoring helped him ace his tests. Ill never forget the feeling of being able to help a student learn a concept. Thats what inspired me to become a teacher.”
Example 2
“When I was a student in elementary school, my family and I evacuated from our home because of a hurricane. I attended a new school in a different city until it was safe to return home. My teacher, Mr. Wolf, empathized with us. During the school day, he scheduled time for the class to express their confusion and worry about our circumstances, and he constantly reassured us we would be fine. He inspired me to become a teacher. In my classroom, I aim to boost the morale of my students and create a safe space for them to learn.”
Example answers for, “What inspired you to become a teacher?”
Here are sample responses to the interview question that can enable you to structure your own answer:
How to answer, “What inspired you to become a teacher?”
Follow these steps to form an impressive response to this interview question:
Who Inspired Me to Be a Teacher?
There have been two people who have inspired me to become a teacher, although I didn’t realise it at the time. The first was my English teacher at high school, she was a relatively new teacher but was excellent.
I always struggled with writing and was always told, “you must improve your handwriting”. Miss Greig wasn’t bothered about it but was more interested in what I wrote, not how my writing looked. She inspired me to be the best I can. I enjoyed her lessons and looked forward to them. She was engaging and kind.
Next up, is one of my university lecturers. I was studying marine biology (I was a mature student, starting my degree when I was 31). I don’t think I ever spoke one to one with this lecturer but his 3-hour lectures passed in a flash, It was like watching an amazing movie, he was passionate and active, he had a sense of humor that permeated through the very technical topics he taught (e.g. Marine Ecophysiology). I was left always wanting more.
What Are the Qualities of a Bad Teacher?
In contrast, there are qualities that are bad for a teacher to have. I’m not going to state the obvious and talk about lack of subject knowledge or lack of classroom management, these are things that can be learnt. I’m thinking about the basic personality traits that a good teacher shouldn’t have.
Putting career before the student’s welfare and education is unforgivable in my opinion. Yes, it’s a positive quality to have but NOT at the expense of great teaching. Yes, it shows ambition but I’ve seen too many teachers think more about their career than the education of their students.
They change things for the sake of it, only to get their name mentioned and noticed by leadership. Children need stability and things should only be changed when there is a benefit to the those we serve, the children.
Not being able to think through their eyes. Expecting learners to adjust the way they think to our way is never going to be successful. The children in your classrooms do not live in the same world we do, theirs is a digital world.
If you find yourself thinking or saying anything along the lines of “I got through school without using a device” or “we actually spoke to people and went outside” then guess what? You’re probably not in the right frame of mind to be a good teacher. Yet.
From Pretend to Reality
Growing up in a household of educators, one might say that I was destined to be a teacher at a young age. As a child, I often pretended I was leading a classroom with my stuffed animals. However, this fictitious game of teacher drastically changed when I received a phone call from a local tennis club about teaching a summer tennis camp to 3- to 5-year-old campers. After accepting the job and hanging up the phone, I anxiously danced around the house in pure bliss. But this trance of excitement suddenly came to a halt when fear sunk in. “Wait, did I hear him right?” I thought. “3- to 5-year-olds? How am I supposed to teach students at this age the basic game of tennis?” Lets face it: I was worried.
FAQ
Why did you want to become a teacher?
How do you answer what motivates you to be a teacher?
- they love learning and being in a learning environment.
- teaching is a job with a lot of variety.
- teaching is a way of serving their communities.
- they like the creativity and independence teaching offers.
- they want summers off.
- they want to make a difference in people’s lives.
