A life of teaching

My name is Luminita Gabriela Ionel. I am a very enthusiastic and passionate Romanian Language tutor from Romania with 22 years of experience in teaching Romanian and a degree in Romanian Language and Literature. Teaching all levels from A1 - C2 remotely and in person.
I am a dynamic and inspirational teacher who is committed to raising standards and ensuring that pupils acquire and consolidate their knowledge.
Having studied at a degree level has equipped me with valuable information about the child psychology of and techniques of teaching. My motivation for teaching comes from personal experience of wanting to make a difference.
I have taught in my home country and in Cyprus. I am leaving in the United Kingdom and i am teaching Romanian language here. I have experience of teaching children of primary school, but I have also taught older children and young people. I have taught Romanian language for adults for more than 10 years.
I enjoy both the practical and the theoretical aspects of the role and believe that I have something of a natural talent for teaching and for devising new activities which will stimulate children’s interest.
Over the years I have learnt to communicate with children of different ages who have different levels of understanding and communication. I have learnt to be patient, to speak and explain clearly what I am expecting the children to do and to check their understanding. This has improved my clarity, an important skill for a teacher whatever and whoever you are teaching. I have observed, and used myself, a range of motivational tools such as targets and reinforcement and how to encourage pupils.

I strive to safely provide the means for students to enjoy the subjects taught, become more confident with their abilities and increase their knowledge.
I do everything within my ability to provide students with attainable goals, as well as challenge them in ways that will help students observe their improvement. The use of various assessments that measure the student’s progress and improvement will provide tangible evidence of student growth. Assessments are a form of opportunities to succeed and will consist of projects, journals, task achievement checklists, and quizzes.
My major focus is to make the subject taught as enjoyable as possible. This goal starts by providing a safe and comfortable environment. This occurs when every student feels physically, and emotionally safe, and anti-bullying is implemented. Enthusiasm and respect for the students is also integral to fostering an enjoyable environment. To further develop respect and provide a fun environment I am open with all students and encourage them to challenge me in ways where there is the opportunity to learn from each other.
My time in school has developed my philosophy of valuing each child as an individual, as well as part of a community. I aim to give children as many learning opportunities and experiences as possible in order to engage, motivate and prepare them for future life.
It is fundamental to this profession, and as a role model, that teachers lead by example.
I have in particular come to understand the value of sharing learning objectives and success criteria with children. Knowing exactly what is expected and how they can achieve allows children to focus more clearly on tasks. This also facilitates effective self and peer assessments, as there are clear criteria and objectives to assess against, encouraging children to take more responsibility for their own learning.
I feel that support and encouragement are key to participation in and enjoyment of lessons.
My previous roles have extended my leadership skills and self confidence. I have been actively involved in teaching sessions and have used a lot of one on one coaching. I have also taught pupils how to coach others which has been a rewarding experience. Persuading and negotiating with young people can be difficult, but very rewarding. My problem solving skills have also improved due to increased experience.
Time management is a key aspect of teaching. Times are adhered to rigidly in order to provide routine for the pupils. This provided experience of working under pressure as it was essential to provide all relevant teaching points in a small amount of time.
Coaching particularly interests me because I enjoy meeting new people and working with them, finding ways to explain things to them and helping them realise their own potential.
I have developed a passion for teaching since studying for my degree. It is a career that is immensely rewarding and offers me job satisfaction.
One of my major strengths is my ability to work alongside others in a team, although I am equally happy working individually and using my own initiative.
I strive to build student self-esteem and encourage understanding of cultural diversity, gender differences and physical limitations.
I am committed to professional ethics, standards of practice and the care and education of children.
I am accustomed to working in a multicultural environment that emphasizes inclusion.
I have the ability to remain flexible, ensuring that every child's learning styles and abilities are addressed.
Through all of my tasks, it is imperative that I adhere to all relevant policies and procedures, carefully completing any related paperwork and online documentation thoroughly.
Most importantly, I have a great passion for teaching.
My university course, especially my teaching practice, has confirmed my belief that teaching is one of the most challenging, demanding, exhausting but varied and exciting careers there are. I really look forward to working in a job that is so important, being privileged to be such a vital part of so many young lives and making a real difference.