Annette du Toit has taught Afrikaans and music for 21 years.
How did you get into teaching?
At school I dreamed of becoming a teacher as I idealised a teacher’s role in school life. The dynamics of teaching a group fascinated me. My father was a teacher who also inspired me.
Teaching highlights?
For me it is a single student here and there whose eyes start shining when she/he improves significantly for the first time, or whose soul is touched in some way by what they are learning.
And challenges in teaching?
One of the most difficult things in my teaching career is to instil a strong enough desire in English-speaking students to learn their second language, Afrikaans, as they are often despondent about it. I only overcome this with time by patient and ongoing efforts to motivate them and to make classes as participative as I possibly can.
How do you maintain discipline in the classroom?
I am not very good in this area! Discipline areas in Afrikaans are often related to the different levels of language proficiency skills present in one class, as well as the lack of sufficient motivation from the pupils. I don’t try to discipline anybody by scaring them, but rather see it as a long-term challenge of building mutual respect and self-confidence within students. But our school has an excellent system in place where grades 9 to 12 get bimonthly ratings on behaviour and work effort, which helps the discipline in class a great deal.
Any thoughts on school
management?
If the management of a school has sound and meaningful goals in mind, which will serve the most important outcomes of education, things will go well in that school. Besides the disciplinary role, I think it is also crucial for management to play an inspirational role, especially to staff.
How do you maintain your enthusiasm?
I just relive past good expe-riences and keep my dreams firmly in sight.
The youth of today?
They are far better equipped technologically, and more mature in a realistic, hard way than us; but many are emotionally deprived and desensitised by the hard world and media around us.
How have you coped with changes in our education?
I flourish when change means renewal, and in many ways the educational changes are a positive adoption of strategies. I am just concerned that the OBE system is rather an administrative or structural change than a real shift in approach to enable learners to reach the skills and knowledge outcomes for life role functioning.
Any survival tips for young teachers?
Have lots of patience, enthusiasm and willpower. I think its essential to keep growing personally to be able to find new solutions to difficulties – keep studying or reading for new ideas. Never give up!