On Values and Teaching

 

I read the article: ExploringValues in English Language Teaching: teacher beliefs, reflection and practice by Graham Hall, UK in The Teacher Trainer vol 24 No. 2, I would like to share this extract with you:

What do we mean by values?

The beliefs which help a person decide what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong. Beliefs are both individual and social. they are individual in that all values are expresssed by and through particular people... but strong social forces affect individual beliefs. As a result, values only become interesting when they are put into practice in social settings- when our inner beliefs are converted into actions that affect others.

Exploring teacher´s values

A simple starting point for teachers and teacher educators to investigate values are the following three questions:

1. What values do you think teachers should have?
2. What values do you think English language teachers should have? Are there any which are different to those for teachers in general?
3. What values do you think English language teacher trainers should have? Are there any which are different to those for English teachers?

I believe these are interesting questions we should reflect on and as teachers and global citizens keep control on the way these values are addressed in our personal and professional lives