Zoek tussen verschillende Engels docenten...
Jerry
It's all about ME!

Occasionally, I peruse English language teacher videos because....well, I really don't know why.They're entertaining in some way. Now, on to the part that I find odd and jarring.

I completely understand the need to sell oneself in a video. I totally get it. But one thing I've noticed that nearly all of these have in common is the focus on the teacher. Examples: "I have a master's degree in teaching." "I am a language learner too, so I know what it's like to learn a foreign language" { cliches are as common as influenza in winter on italki }. "I have been teaching since 1948." "I.....blah, blah, blah."

I'm not trying to slam anyone. But I can't help but get distracted by all of the personal pronouns "I" and "me." For example, I watched one in which in the space of 1:07 the teacher said "I" seven times.

Is it just me or is the lack of focus on the learner a little odd to you as well? I know this is going to be like stirring a hornet's nest. I fully understand that everyone is not proficient in sales presentations. Maybe this is an odd Discussion since I'm a native speaker of English. Let's hear your thoughts on this extremely important matter. Okay, so it's not extremely important but it will get people talking. And isn't that the point of the Discussion section? :D

Opmerkingen · 25

5

I personally don't care. Not everyone is a marketing genius and some just don't have the self-awareness to understand what students are looking for in teachers.

For me the thing I look at is student reviews. If I see a bunch of students who give glowing reviews (most will) and yet they never take another lesson, I move on. Seeing a teacher who is warm and open and has students with 50+ lessons taken is a good sign.


5
Woody Allen's variation of the idiom: "Those who can't do, teach; and those who can't teach, teach gym." :-)
4
Jerry, I agree. Our videos aren't about the teacher but how the student can be helped.

But it's really hard to say something sensible once the camera is on. So, you just start rattling out qualifications because that's what you'd do in the offline world. 

However, that said, there's a lot you can tell if you pay attention and go beyond the words. The accent, the tone of voice, the demeanor, all these help understand what that teacher has to offer.

4

In Ukraine we usually say, "Those who can't learn, teach. Those who can't teach, teach how to teach."

Some teachers can't teach students so they talk about how to teach in common.

4

Agreed Jerry. I think the intent is not necessarily that people want to talk about themselves, but that they think that they must show how accomplished they are to stand out from the competition. I learned a lot about how to sell a product to customers since I started teaching on italki, and you are right: the "about me" should really be kept to a minimum, and the focus should be on the customers we can help, what they need, and how precisely we can give them what they need, but it's an area where we are tempted to say more. 

On the other hand, when a video is too polished and follows a perfect marketing script (the format ends up being somewhat predictable: leading questions that play on emotions or desires, a description of how the teacher's lessons fulfill your needs, and an exhortation to book a trial), I find it too calculated. There is something charming about the "about me" videos if they avoid too many cliches and don't seem boastful, because they aren't perfect and don't seem to have a calculated intent to manipulate.

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