Teaching Philosophy

West Virginia University

Patoimbasba Nikiema
French Instructor

Parents send their children to school, but very few of them really know about the influence
teachers have on their children. The influence teachers have on students is of paramount
importance and as Henry Brooks Adams said, A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where
his influence stops. My goal, therefore, when I am in front of my students is to empower them
to influence their world and eternity positively.
As a language teacher, I aim to present learners with the targeted language culture, and inspire
them to develop the ability to speak the language. This is done with very meaningful examples,
starting outside the classroom and ending in the classroom with the students and the teacher. I
therefore hold a particular importance to visual aids and cognates as an easy way for students to
master input.
While starting to plan a lesson, I put students in the center of the planning. And one of the goals I
tend to reach is how to get the students involved in the learning process. Their participation is
important and I cannot start planning without thinking about the ways in which most of them will
participate actively. For that reason I focus on what they are interested in. I introduce the
activities sequentially; starting first with interpretive activities, going next to interpersonal
activities where I have students exchange with one another on the input but end with an output,
and I then end with the presentational activities where students provide their output This allows.
the whole class to master the input but also it enables them to use the language in a very creative
way. In general, my classes are communicative. Everything starts with the students and ends
with them through a questions and answers basis. They learn to do something with the grammar
or the vocabulary that they acquire in very meaningful projects. These projects incorporate
listening and reading activities with authentic material of native speakers and it is based on the
native speakers culture. It is therefore easy for students to discuss current news they sometimes
hear about French speaking countries.
I give special attention to personal contact. Students tend to progress easily and accept learning
when they know the teacher values their progress and creates a familiar atmosphere with each of
them. That is why I encourage them to come and see me during the office hours. For me students
must always ask questions when they dont understand a part of a lesson, I then encourage them
and show an interest in their questions.
I am a friendly teacher, with a hardworking background. I always say to myself teaching is the
best of the works for me. This makes me do my work with passion and creativity. Alongside
with having passion and creativity, I am flexible with my students, understanding that they dont
have the same pace in learning.

In summary, I believe teaching is a very sensitive work. Therefore teachers must be responsible
in everything they do in class. This allows students to develop the sense of responsibility they
see in their teacher and they are able to assume their responsibilities when their time comes.