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Behind classroom doors; the life of a teacher

Part three of the series by Muaz Shabandri about the life of teachers in the UAE.

From rising early to seeing off the last student after school hours, working as a teacher is not easy. Every day, thousands of teachers across the UAE schools face the tough task of making the day more interesting for students. Muaz Shabandri gets a glimpse into the life of teachers. 

Paula Ashley Phinn

GEMS Wellington Academy, Al Khail

About yourself …

Prior to teaching I began a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and worked as a manager in retail for several years, but never found my niche. My mother has worked as a teacher for as long as I can remember; she was the inspiration for my change in career. I have taught for almost seven years now at many stages of Primary and in Early Years, in many different schools, including a rural school and a special school in Scotland. I came to Dubai in 2013 as one of the pioneering teachers at GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail and now work as Foundation Stage 1 leader in the school.

Favourite memory as a teacher …

I have many moments which are close to my heart. Children never fail to amaze me, making me laugh, burst with pride and sometimes even cry! Saying goodbye to my first class is something I will never forget (teachers never ever forget their first class). I had to leave the first school I worked in, after my probation year, as there were no teaching vacancies there. I had to give a goodbye speech through floods of tears in front of the entire school.

Different roles played by a teacher …

Teachers take on many different roles in a day. Today I have been a nanny, a friend, a negotiator, a dancer and a footballer in addition to a teacher. In other schools, where I have worked with older children and disadvantaged children, I have had to wear many more ‘hats’. Modern day teachers support the whole child. Personal, social and emotional development is a massive part of the curriculum as children learn best when they are happy, healthy and well-nurtured.

Technology as a tool to educate …

Provided that teachers and support staff are properly trained to work with new technology it should be seen as an aid to teaching and learning, rather than a problem or difficultly. However, I would agree that teaching is a difficult (but also very rewarding) profession

Biggest obstacle to teaching …

For me, personally, the biggest obstacle in teaching is time. In the countries where I have worked, I have never met a dedicated teacher who leaves work at the end of their ‘shift’. Taking work home is part of the job and we are constantly looking out for new resources and new ideas in our spare time, ever aiming higher for the children we teach. I would like to see less paper work in education, giving more time to the preparation of interesting and well-resourced learning experiences for children.

Seema Tivari

Credence High School, Dubai

About yourself ...

I have been a teacher for more than five years. I firmly believe that every individual has had at least one teacher who has greatly influenced them. Being the eldest of four siblings, I have always been a responsible mentor from early years. Teaching for me has been just an extension of fulfilling my responsibilities towards the society and making sure that I become that one individual who influences my students.

Favourite memory as a teacher ...

Every day is a new day in the classroom. An experience that moved me immensely was when I had been sick for a few days. I came back to a class where my students had a huge ‘Welcome Back’ card and each one of them spoke about how they had missed me with specific incidents of what they missed about me.

Different roles played by a teacher ...

Teaching has always been and will always be more than just delivery of a lecture or ensuring that students learn Math, English, Science or any other subject. A teacher is a parent to a sulking child whose mood has to change for the better for him to learn. A teacher has to be a mentor to a child who cannot understand and needs guidance. She has to be a friend to a child who feels confident to share anything and everything with his teacher. And most definitely she has to be a counsellor to her children who need a shoulder to put their head on and an ear to listen to their woes and guide them to what is the best for them.

Technology as a tool to educate ...

Teaching is most definitely becoming a challenging profession. With both parents working, what some years back was being managed by both the teachers and the parents is now slowly being managed by teachers alone. Technology without the human touch is like a Frankenstein and it is our responsibility as teachers to ensure that we provide that human touch. I would definitely like to have some more ‘us’ time with my students where we discuss just about anything under the sky and bond as friends.   

Biggest obstacle to teaching ...

The biggest obstacle to teaching these days is the use of knowledge without wisdom. Knowledge may be available at the click of a button but wisdom is not. To balance the two and ensure that students grow to know the difference is the biggest challenge of our times.