Every one of us remembers several teachers from our primary school, high school, or university. They are part of who we are today, and some of them are so influential that they change our paths in life. In this article, we want to know why students decide to become teachers despite the hardships of this profession. This article is particularly helpful for those sitting on the fence about becoming a teacher. Hopefully, by the end of the article, you will find out what it takes to be a teacher and if you have what it takes to be a teacher.
- Teaching is a valued and prestigious job.
- Teachers shape the future of their society.
- Teachers play a significant role in pupils’ lives.
- Teachers have the opportunity for life-long learning.
- Teachers are appreciated and remembered by the students.
- Teachers have the time of their lives.
- Teachers feel proud of themselves and their position.
Why Choose Teacher as a Career?
Teaching is a demanding job, and it takes tremendous effort to qualify as a teacher (I will discuss the cons of teaching later in this article), but it is still the career path for many people. As a teacher myself, I cannot deny that the job is very addictive, and all it takes is 90 minutes of teaching to fall in love with the career. So, let me share with you first-hand information about the motivations that led me towards teaching.
A Job for Ages
In a rapidly developing world where machines do most of the work and computers do most of the thinking, it is not easy to find a job that is not easily replaced by technological and industrial tools and devices. Luckily for teachers, technology is not human enough to substitute for this profession. In more precise words, technology is capable of teaching, but who prefers listening to a teacher to working with a computer or some sort of robot? So, no matter how far technological discoveries advance, these earthly prophets will always find someone to teach, which is another motivation to be a teacher. Put differently, teaching is an in-demand position, especially now that the world’s population is growing.
To Make a Change
As mentioned earlier, teachers have a significant influence on their students so much as changing young people’s lives. Young people look up to their teachers as role models. As a teacher, nothing is more satisfying than watching a pupil grow into a mature and responsible person. For a teacher, a pupil’s success is their success, and so is their failure. That is the reason why responsible teachers use all their resources to the pupil’s advantage. Additionally, teachers can contribute to the betterment of society and change the quality of life for the better. In Education and Crime, a research article by Criminal Justice, the findings show that a functional education system acts as a strong preventive factor in crime. In other words, there is a negative correlation between crime and education. Teachers, as the main players in the education system, can revolutionise life quality.
Another research article also indicates the positive correlation between the rate of happiness and education. Click on Does Education Make People Happy? Spotlighting the Overlooked Societal Condition to find out more.
To Feel Alive
Working with youth makes teaching a lively job. Children and young students are bustling with life and teachers have their fair share as well. Each student is like a whole different universe, and it is exciting to explore what happens there. Moreover, teaching is a job where no two days are the same. Teachers teach various subjects to different students, meaning that even those who have been teaching for many years still find something new in the class. In other words, teachers who truly love their job are never bored. Also, teaching helps teachers to age properly. That is, they do not wake up one day and realise their good days are behind them. Instead, what they find is a meaningful experience and a fully-lived life.
To Attain Self-Growth
Before starting a career as an English teacher, I used to think that I needed to know all there is to know about teaching and the English language to qualify as a good teacher. But this was a misconception. As a teacher, you never know what questions will be raised in the classroom, and no matter how knowledgeable you are, there are still questions you cannot answer easily. For this reason, teachers are always on the cutting edge and learn a lot in their teaching experience. They need to stay updated and be aware of the latest trends in the subjects they teach as well as general knowledge. In addition, since teachers work with many pupils with various personality types, they develop an awareness of different people and how to treat them. Ultimately, teachers’ jobs result in self-growth and self-development; the longer they teach, the more knowledgeable they become.
To Be Remembered
The ultimate goal of the human race from the very beginning of history has been to survive and live forever! Unfortunately (or fortunately), that dream cannot come true. But through words and ideas, people can survive the passage of time. In other words, you cannot live forever, but you can live as a memory long after you are gone. Teaching is one of the easy ways to do so. Given that you are good at it, teaching guarantees that your name is remembered at least one generation ahead. I still remember most of my literature teachers and how dramatic they were when teaching literature. Ultimately, that is what any teacher wants: to be remembered.
To Have an Enjoyable Experience
As I mentioned earlier, teaching is addictive. Let me elaborate more on this point here. Since you have a way with words and teach enthusiastically, students automatically become engaged in learning. When you see the look on your students and realise they are all ears, you will not understand the passage of time. As a colleague once said, the right job for every individual is the one where they lose track of time. Furthermore, there is nothing more rewarding than when you answer students’ questions and see the “Aha!” moment. That is why teachers cannot get enough of their jobs and sacrifice their personal lives to shine in their careers. That is why teaching is addictive!
To Have a Prestigious Job
Teachers are valued and honourable members of every society. By becoming a teacher, you gain your community’s respect and feel proud of yourself. The moral benefits of teaching also benefit your family and make them proud.
Read more: How to write a resume for tutoring jobs?
The Dark Side of Teaching!
Despite the numerous advantages of teaching, there are some facts that make teaching an undesirable job for some people. For starters, in the school season, the teacher’s work is not finished by the end of the day. There is a heavy workload, depending on the number of students, that needs to be done at home. For instance, teachers must correct the homework, grade exam papers, and give students feedback. Therefore, teaching interferes directly with your personal life and can easily change your priorities.
Besides the challenges of maintaining a balance between work and personal life, teachers face other challenges in the classroom, from classroom management to dealing with difficult students and meeting the requirements of the school curriculum. Furthermore, frequent changes in policies and school curricula require teachers to modify their teaching methods or adopt new ones. All these factors can make teaching a stressful job, which can seriously distort the teacher’s life.
Low Salary Rate
Another reason why people might disregard teaching as a career is income. Considering the significance of the job in a modern and civilised society, as well as the energy and time teachers put into their jobs, they do not get paid enough. For instance, in the UK, the average annual income of a teacher in 2024 is around £31,500. The sad news is that teaching is not even among the top 50 high-paying jobs in the UK. This can demotivate teachers and prevent them from doing their best when teaching lessons to pupils. A teacher’s performance is maximised when their mind is at peace, and the most important factor for a peaceful mind is sufficient income.
Become a Tutor To Compensate for the Low Teaching Salary
It is generally hard to make ends meet with a teacher’s salary. Teachers usually have to cut back on their expenses to save some money for their children’s education or other major expenses such as mortgage payments. Therefore, teachers need an extra income source to improve their living conditions economically. The best way teachers can earn extra money is through tutoring. Teaching experience is a prerequisite for tutoring positions. Therefore, with several years of teaching experience, you can maximise your earnings through tutoring. According to the statistics, Private Tutor average salary in the United Kingdom ranges from £39,000 to £67,698, and the average annual income is around £48,750, which is high above a teacher’s average annual income. Plus, you can tutor any courses online or offline.
If you’re new to tutoring and don’t have a background in this area, here’s how to build an Entry-Level Tutor Resume.
Teaching Online vs In-Person Tutoring
In-person tutoring allows for a more personal touch and decreases the effect of distracting factors as the students are in a one-on-one session with the tutor. It also helps the tutor observe the student’s non-verbal reactions and benefit from hands-on assistance. However, in-person tutoring comes with extra placement and travel fees and costs more time and money. On the other hand, online tutoring is accessible anywhere and anytime, given that the students have access to a reliable internet connection. With online tutoring, students can work with expert online tutors worldwide from the comfort of their own homes. Additionally, online tutoring involves working with many digital interactive tools, which can make the sessions as engaging as in-person sessions.
Earn an Income as an Online Tutor at Ostado
Tutoring is the best approach to teaching various subjects and disciplines. Many students in the UK are looking for a tutor to learn or improve their grades. Currently, A-level, GCSE, 11+, and 13+ exam tutors are in high demand in the UK. You can join Ostado’s online tutoring platform to tutor students in various subjects, especially maths, physics, and chemistry. This is an excellent opportunity for you to monetize your expertise and tutoring skills from the comfort of your home. Even novice tutors have a place at our straightforward and user-friendly platform. Register now and start tutoring in your favourite subject.
How Do I Know if I Am a Good Teacher?
Teachers should possess many attributes to qualify as tutors, but some of them are more prominent than others. Patience is the first important attribute of a teacher. As a teacher, you have to deal with a classroom full of students with various learning styles. Some of them are fast learners, and some need extra help. You should be able to remain calm when they misbehave or be ready to re-explain a lesson for struggling pupils. The second essential characteristic of a good teacher is empathy. You need to understand the students, reach out to them, and make them believe they are a valued member of their class. It makes you and the student both better people. We have explained the requirements of teaching in another article in more detail. Click on What Qualifications Do I Need to Become a Tutor in the UK? To read the full article.
Do you want to know if you have a teacher’s personality? If you are still unsure about choosing a career as a teacher, here is a test that helps you make the decision. The Monash Teaching Suitability Test (MTeST) is a non-academic test that identifies your suitability for the teaching profession.
The Decision To Select a Teaching Career; Final Remarks
Despite the downsides of choosing a teacher as a career, the profession can offer a lot and make up for the disadvantages. The best thing about teaching is job satisfaction. As a teacher, you have the opportunity to spend time and work with young people, inspire them to set goals and pursue them to make a difference. Teaching allows you to make a difference and make the world a better place. When you think you need more money to improve your quality of life, you can always try tutoring. A tutor’s job is easier than a teacher’s, but you need some years of teaching experience to make a living out of tutoring. Here at Ostado, we have created an environment where even novice teachers can find clients and maximise their earnings. Become a tutor in the UK now and start your tutoring journey.
Why are the personal qualities of a teacher important?
Teachers' personal qualities are important because they directly influence students' learning development. Without the essential skills and attributes, teachers will have a negative impact on students.
What is the greatest challenge teachers face today?
Understanding different learning styles and developing appropriate communication skills to engage the students in the learning process are among the most challenging aspects of a teacher’s job.