What is the different between a good and teacher?

Teachers: a question about what it takes to be a good teacher?

• I am fifty, female, just getting back to work after a long caregiving marriage. I taught briefly at a college summer school while I was an undergrad, I enjoyed it but that was 25 years ago. Now I'm looking into getting certified to teach ESL to adults. I'm good at languages and good at explaining things clearly, but especially with people who are struggling to learn English I'm good at being very,very nice and encouraging. That said, I will have the certificate (100 hours to get) and no experience. Do I have what it takes to be a teacher? The cert course is pricey and I will be taking a financial risk to pay for it. I don't want to go ahead if I don't have what it takes. I've found a little volunteer work but only one on one, there isn't any classroom teaching where they want volunteers. So I will just have to dive in - so if you're a teacher, do you think I should? I feel very eager to do this, hope to love it, don't know if I will. Thanks.

• Answer:

  I don't know you, so I don't know if you have what it takes. Some people I work with are great people but have no leadership or management skills. Some are horrible people but for some reason the kids love them. If you believe in yourself, and you get hired and get in there and you feel good about it, then good!