What kind of education, training, or background does your job require?

Hi Wendy!

When it comes to education, it depends what kind of educator you would like to be. If you're interested in pursuing a career as a philologist, a liberal arts education is definitely the way to go. If you're interested in becoming a physicist, a degree in math or science is definitely what you need. Now, training! Personally, I am a EFL teacher (i.e. I teach English as a Foreign Language to non-native English speakers), and all I have to say is this: training to become a teacher has nothing to do with being a teacher in an actual classroom. We discussed a lot of learning theories, and we even spent a few hours auditing actual classes taught by other teachers to observe their method, however, at the end of the day the only skill you truly need is the ability to adapt your method and tailor your teaching material to the audience you are addressing each time anew. It the only skill you will truly need, because everything else you already know, provided that you are familiar with your field of expertise. If you become an EFL teacher, like me, for example, it goes without saying that you'll know everything about Present Perfect anyway. The challenge is to find a way to talk about Tenses to a very uneven and heterogeneous audience of students. It is the teacher who has to match the student's level, not the other way around. Last but not least, background doesn't matter either—in my opinion, at least. All that matters is for a teacher to be a "citizen of the world," as I usually say. Which is to say, a teacher needs to be aware of what is happening in the world, to be open to each and every student's point of view, to be sympathetic, and, most of all, willing to teach to a student how to be the best version of him/herself. Because our ultimate task is to raise people (and not simply to train them) in ways that inspire them to conduct their lives always in relation to others—others whose claim to liberties and rights is as incontestable as our own.

I hope this answer helps. If you have any additional questions, or if you want any clarifications, please do not hesitate to ask.

I am a training manager for an energy company in Boston. I need analytical, communication, writing, and presentation skills. My education in speech communication and writing was very helpful. Graduate education in organizational behavior helped with analysis. I've also done continuing education in project management, change management, and educational technology.