Why Your Teaching Philosophy Matters 

Consider your teaching philosophy as a guide, or roadmap, and a reflection of your beliefs about the role of the teacher, how language is learned, and the kind of learning environment you want to create and foster. A teaching philosophy that is well-defined can help keep you grounded when challenges arise and guide you in making consistent decisions.  

According to Bowne (2017), a teaching philosophy should consider the following components:  

1. Reflect on the “why”: Why did you choose to teach in this field? 
2. Identify your key beliefs: What contributes to an engaged classroom environment? How do you believe language learners learn best? What values do you think are important to promote? What does cultural awareness mean to you? 
3. Connect beliefs with actions:  Create a guiding call to action for yourself. For example, if you believe adult learners learn best with autonomy, identify how you can implement more self-directed activities into your teaching approach.  

Keep in mind your teaching philosophy can change and develop as you gain experience, adapt to different learning circumstances, and encounter new research.  

A well-defined teaching philosophy has the potential to benefit you, your students, and your career. According to Rudolph (2019), the benefits of defining your teaching philosophy include:  

1. Promoting consistency: Students and the classroom environment benefit when they experience consistent, purposeful, and clear instruction.  
2. Encouraging reflection:  Revisiting and reflecting on your teaching philosophy can promote consistent professional growth.  
3. Guided decision-making: Your teaching philosophy offers you clear direction if you are faced with a difficult decision.  
4. Communicating your values: Your priorities are clear; colleagues and employers understand your values. 

As a result, developing and defining a clear teaching philosophy is vital for language instructors. With culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms, an established teaching philosophy can help you navigate complexities with more clarity and intention (Rudolph, 2019).  

Consider your teaching philosophy to be more than just a professional guide, but rather a reflection of your beliefs, practices, and who you are. Your teaching philosophy will guide your instructional approach and be impactful and purposeful for you, your students, and your career.  

References  

Bowne, M. (2017). Developing a Teaching Philosophy. Journal of Effective Teaching, 17(3), 59–63. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1175767 

Rudolph, J. (2019). View of Brookfield, S. D. (2017). Becoming a critically reflected teacher (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass. | Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching. Journals.sfu.ca. https://journals.sfu.ca/jalt/index.php/jalt/article/view/165/141‌