teacher5etoiles

by Mélanie Latreille, proud member of the #teacher5etoiles Squad.

What do you think of when I say the word “passion”? Do you think of sports, math, art, music? I think of teaching. Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to teach, to help others and to inspire students to find their passions. I was inspired by my mother, who is an elementary school teacher, as she was always telling me her class stories and the projects she did with her students. From those precious moments, I imagined myself standing in front of my own classroom, answering students’ questions and telling them my stories. I would even study in my basement, where I had a whiteboard, and write my notes on the board, as if I were teaching the material to a class.

Now, at the age of 21, my dream is finally coming true. I am fortunate enough to be in my third internship in a fifth grade French Immersion class. With the end of my internship fast approaching, I reflect on my experience and the connections I was able to make with my students. I have tears in my eyes when I think that they will continue the school year without me…at the same time, this feeling confirms to me that I am truly passionate about teaching and have a dream to help children.

During my internship in an immersion class, I realized the importance of motivation in students. Being bilingual, I understand that learning a second language can be challenging for some students. Therefore, it is essential to provide them with the necessary tools to succeed. It is also important to stimulate their previous interests and knowledge with authentic activities. In my classroom, I always started the day with simple, relevant questions, such as, “What is your favorite movie?” or “What is your favorite book and why?” This strategy gave the students a chance to communicate in French and share their unique experiences. These moments also gave me an opportunity to offer them specific and immediate corrective feedback. I feel so proud when I see a student trying, asking relevant questions, and not being afraid to make mistakes.

With that, I am ending my third internship with confidence and anticipation for the future. I can’t wait to have my very first class where I can continue to inspire students and help them become responsible citizens of the community. So now I throw the question out to you, what are your goals for the future?