Teaching

[lonely_student]

I'm starting a teaching degree on the 6th.

It's always been my dream to work with people and I love teaching, the irony is that I feel fine teaching and working with people...but I'm worried about the staff room. I can't bear the prospect of sitting alone and not knowing how to converse with people who already know the job so well. Even worse the staff room is even more clique based than the playground.

Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid just talking rubbish constantly?

[Ludo]

Hey LS, welcome to BAF!

In someways teaching would certainly not seem like the easiest occupation for the socially anxious, but it sounds as if you have an really great passion for the job, and I would imagine that the ability to communicate that passion to others would make you a wonderful teacher, so congrats for pursuing your dream! You sound as if you are most of the way there when it comes to being able to deal with certain aspects of your anxiety, and really it's mostly the perceived pressures of the staff-room that are worrying you at the moment.
Not knowing anyone on the first few days, and taking that leap into the unknown often seems fraught with fears, especially if we put pressure on ourselves, and concentrate on what we perceive to be our social failings. I also struggle with these feelings at times, but more and more I'm learning to start looking outside myself, and develop little tricks and strategies to cope when in a new environment, or situation that cause me stress. The thought of walking into a staff room where there is already an established pecking order is a brave thing to do, and I know that you will feel like you're "talking gibberish" as you say, but really maybe that is just your own self-consciousness fooling you, when others around are possibly too caught up in their own fears and worries to even notice, they will probably just think you're a new colleague being friendly and interesting!

It's good to be prepared though, so have you considered trying some simple breathing techniques? There are a few on this website that might be usefulhttp://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html
Also try reminding yourself of all the positive things you have already achieved, being able to teach a class room full of people is no easy thing to do, and it sounds as if you are good at it. Build your conferdance by thinking of these things. I'm a doctorate student and I'd love to be able to do some teaching myself one day.

Best of luck, and do tell us how you get on!

L
 

[Alexandra]

Even worse the staff room is even more clique based than the playground.

How do you know this? Just asking because if you're anything like me, you're predicting the future. Worrying a lot about a situation that we haven't even been in, will not make our fears come true.

If you go into this worrying about it, then it'll make things difficult for you. So, I imagine you've got some time before you actually go into a placement? Use this time to convince yourself that it's going to be great. Here are some good reasons why it's going to be great:

1. You're going to do something you really enjoy. You said it's your dream! So that will definitely help with the anxiety overall because you'll be happier.
2. Teachers come and go from schools, even more so nowadays. You're not going to go somewhere where the only teachers are super old people who've been teaching there for 50 years and all know each other.
3. You'll have something in common with all the teachers because you're all doing the same thing. You're not being shoved in with a load of randoms.
4. Best tip for self confidence I was ever given: FAKE IT. Pretend you're confident even if you're shaking. It's difficult but practise makes perfect Start by simply walking tall, back straight, head held high and people will think you're confident even if you're not. Also, when you meet another teacher, shake their hand. I remember having to get used to this, and it was super scary. What you've got to do is just go for it, don't even think about it. As soon as someone comes up to introduce themselves, say your name as you shake their hand and then say their name back to them (if you're anything like me and can't remember names). This gives of a good first impression. After all that, just smile and be yourself!

As someone who did a music degree, I know lots of people who went on to do teaching, and they all agree that while it's challenging, it's also a great job. They're all really enthusiastic about it, and many of them have certainly changed for the better since starting the job. You're going to be great!

Oh and one last thing - as for talking rubbish constantly, I do it all the time, and I don't have social anxiety. There is nothing wrong with talking rubbish, pretty much everyone does it sometimes

[Ludo]

Some great tips there Alex! Especially the advice about faking conferdance even if you don't feel it, I try this all the time now, eventually if you "fake it" enough the act becomes in some way real and you start to manifest a more self assured persona. Top tips!

L