How do you balance your time and energy between teaching, learning, and networking as an ESL teacher?

As ESL teachers we should mainly help students become proficient in English skills. However, our role goes beyond this task. Firstly, we need to organize our work according to priorities, and this includes teaching, mentoring and planning. It’s essential to be creative, active, responsive, inclusive and have a positive attitude in the classroom. We can set time for networking because this can help us get feedback from other colleagues and share our ideas too. Building these connections is a very powerful tool for us. If we are truly organize we will set a time to slow our pace and set time off working and have that energy for some self-care.

First and foremost, we must keep up to date with new developments in our profession. This can be achieved in many different ways: - subscribing to teaching journals - attending face-to-face & online educational events - following well-known authors and teacher associations in social media The good thing these days is that there are plenty of reliable free resources, so the cost invloved cannot be an excuse. However, it's crucial to choose well and not allow oneself to be overwhelmed by the amount of information there is available. One or two sources may be perfectly enough. But in addition to "learning" about what's going on in our profession, we must do someting with that new learning. More about this in my next contribution!

This is a tough one because most teachers are teachers because we don't want to be salespeople. But, as an independent language teacher, one has to work hard to find clients — networking, creating content, etc. Using AI to create content and scheduling it in advance on LinkedIn, or using other social media scheduling tools is helpful. Block out 1-2 work days for marketing, and try to use the others for teaching only, while doing small outreach tasks, such as commenting on others' posts & sending LinkedIn video messages to prospective students as the opportunities arise.

A valuable piece of knowledge that I got from my mentor was that when you want to sell yourself as a freelance teacher, you need to learn how to think business and when you teach, focus on teaching.

?Hay tiempo para hacer algo mas que ense?ar como docente de ingles? Si! No solamente debes de tomar ese tiempo, pero es vital para tu crecimiento. Las personas son detrás de las redes, y detrás de las personas ahí esta el nuevo conocimiento para poder aprender nuevas técnicas de ense?anza o de tecnología. El tiempo no se pierde cuándo se hace el due?o de ello. Hazte el due?o de tu tiempo, y serás el due?o de tu destino.

The second step in balancing my time and energy is managing my workload effectively. I steer clear of overcommitting or taking on more than I can handle. Learning to say no to requests or offers that don't align with my goals or interests is crucial. I delegate or outsource tasks that aren't essential or can be done by others. I streamline and automate processes and systems where possible, utilizing templates, rubrics, or online platforms for assignments, and leveraging apps, podcasts, or videos for learning new skills or languages.

Comece identificando as atividades essenciais que contribuem diretamente para seus objetivos principais de ensino, aprendizado e networking. Use ferramentas de gerenciamento de tempo, como agendas ou aplicativos, para planejar suas semanas, reservando blocos de tempo específicos para prepara??o de aulas, desenvolvimento profissional e intera??es de networking. Aprenda a dizer "n?o" a compromissos que n?o se alinham com seus objetivos principais ou que sobrecarregariam sua agenda. Além disso, delegue tarefas administrativas ou menos críticas quando possível e incorpore técnicas de eficiência, como automa??o de tarefas repetitivas e uso de recursos educacionais prontos.

Je pense que la gestion du temps de travail est essentiel sur ce volet. ma propre expérience est que je donne des cours d'anglais privé en ligne et si vous avez plusieurs apprenants à la fois cela pourrait être tres dérangeant si vous n'avez pas une bonne organisation. ma solution est de se donner un jour de repos et des heures de travail. Dans mon cadre. depuis 2017 ayant pris plusieurs professionnels les heures de cours les plus probables sont généralement très t?t en matinée de 06h à 08h avant les heures de travail entre 12h et 14h et en soirée de 19h à 22h. ce qui donne generalemnt la latitude de bien planifier son temps pour autres choses et autres activités.

One of the things I've done this year, which has been a game changer for me, is to not teach on Mondays. That is now my day for projects, planning, developing resources, admin and marketing. It really changes my week and Monday's is one of my favourite days now.

Isso envolve designar blocos de tempo específicos para cada atividade, garantindo que haja um equilíbrio saudável entre trabalho e descanso. Utilize um calendário digital ou físico para planejar suas aulas, dedicar períodos para desenvolvimento profissional e reservar momentos para atividades de networking. Importante também é incluir intervalos para descanso e lazer, essenciais para manter o bem-estar e a produtividade. Ser disciplinado no cumprimento desses horários ajudará a evitar o esgotamento e a garantir que você esteja investindo adequadamente em cada área de sua carreira profissional, maximizando os resultados sem comprometer sua saúde e qualidade de vida.

There are points that I find non-negotiable. I always schedule my classes with students in the second half of the day, and I devote the time before lunch to professional development, studying, and preparing materials for students. It is important to find a schedule that works for you. I am more comfortable with this option. But some teachers prefer to teach in the morning. I never mix teaching and studying during the day.

The third step in achieving balance with my time and energy is to schedule wisely. I allocate sufficient time for teaching, learning, and networking, while also allowing for breaks, rest, and unexpected events. Establishing a routine and adhering to it is important, yet I remain flexible and adaptable to accommodate changes and interruptions. I balance my time between focused, deep work and relaxed, shallow work. For instance, I dedicate specific hours to lesson preparation and delivery, and other hours to engaging with social media or blogs.

é crucial reconhecer e respeitar seus próprios ritmos de trabalho e descanso. Isso significa identificar os momentos do dia em que você está mais produtivo e energizado, e alocar esses períodos para as tarefas que exigem maior concentra??o ou criatividade, como planejamento de aulas e atividades de desenvolvimento profissional. Da mesma forma, aproveite os momentos de menor energia para tarefas menos exigentes, como corre??o de tarefas ou atividades administrativas. Integrar práticas de bem-estar, como exercícios regulares, alimenta??o balanceada e medita??o, pode significativamente aumentar seus níveis de energia e capacidade de foco.

The fourth step in achieving balance with my time and energy involves optimizing my energy levels. I prioritize my physical, mental, and emotional well-being by eating well, getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly, and staying hydrated. I prevent burnout, stress, and fatigue by setting boundaries, minimizing distractions, and practicing mindfulness. Engaging in activities that energize, motivate, and inspire me is crucial. For instance, I listen to music, read a book, meditate, or chat with a friend to rejuvenate.

The fifth step in balancing my time and energy involves leveraging my network of other ESL teachers. I actively seek to learn from their experiences, insights, and advice, while also sharing my own. Collaboration on projects, events, or initiatives that benefit both myself and my students is key. I actively participate in online or offline communities, groups, or associations that align with my niche, interests, or goals. Additionally, I reach out to potential mentors, partners, or employers who can support my growth and advancement in my career.

Isso pode ser feito ao se engajar ativamente com colegas, participar de eventos profissionais e utilizar plataformas de mídia social dedicadas a profissionais da educa??o. Estabele?a conex?es significativas compartilhando suas experiências, colaborando em projetos ou buscando mentoria. Participar de workshops, seminários online e conferências n?o só expande seu conhecimento e habilidades, mas também oferece oportunidades valiosas para networking. Utilize sua rede para obter feedback sobre métodos de ensino, discutir tendências educacionais e explorar novas oportunidades de carreira.

Leveraging your network can enhance the breath and depth of your learning, but much in the same as it happens with susbcribing to journals, attending conferences and webinars, and keeping up with social media in order to keep abreast with the latest developments in teaching, less is more! In my opinion, nurturing and strengthening a few connections can yield better results than keeping alive far too many, especially when our aim is to enhance our professional knowledge and expertise. In my case, I'm currently focusing on deeping my understanding of assessment (= Cambridge Assessment), Gen AI and ELT (= Nik Peachey), teacher development (=NILE), and positive psychology and education (=positive.psychology.com). Less is more! :)

For those in the profession of education, teaching, learning, and networking are inseparable. While scheduling time is essential, continuous learning and skill improvement are vital for effective teaching. Staying updated with new knowledge is crucial to imparting valuable insights to students. Additionally, reliance on colleagues for support and collaboration is indispensable. Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; it's about being open to learning and fostering a network of support and knowledge sharing among peers.

Consider using tools like Evernote or Trello to document and reflect on your achievements, challenges, and improvements. These platforms can help you organize your reflections and feedback from students, peers, or mentors. Additionally, setting up a regular review cycle with SMART goals can help you stay focused and continuously improve your teaching, learning, and networking efforts. Celebrate small wins and adjust your strategies based on your reflections and feedback.

John Hattie's concept of "visible learning" applies as much to making learning visible to our LEARNERS as as to making OUR OWN learning visible to OURSELVES. This is where evaluating the results and outcomes of our teaching, learning and networking activities comes into play. Think of your objectives, what were you planning to achieve when you embarked on those teaching, learning, and networking activities? If you were to design some rubrics to assess your performance, what dimensions would you take into account to evaluate your results, .e.g. impact on students' learning, personal satisfaction, teaching skills development, breadth and depth of knowledge? Choosing these dimensions well will help you gain from the reflection process.

Instead of seeing these tasks as separate and time-consuming, consider them interconnected. Embrace the microburst mindset: Teaching as Learning. Learning as Networking. Networking as Teaching & Learning. Here's how it works: Transform student questions into research projects and share teaching insights with colleagues. Join communities and forums to learn and connect with peers. Partner with other educators for collaborative teaching and skill-sharing. It's all about reframing your perspective to work efficiently without overwhelm, leading to a more balanced professional experience. And don't forget to schedule mini-breaks for self-care. A clear mind and replenished energy are essential for being your best in all aspects of our role.

Balancing teaching, learning, and networking requires focus and boundaries. I protect prep time religiously to ensure my lessons meet students' needs. I continue developing my skills by reading research, taking courses, and reflecting critically on my practices. And I connect with colleagues to exchange ideas and reenergize, while limiting these interactions so they don't overtake the rest. The key is knowing myself and my priorities at each season of this fulfilling but demanding career.