I’m still continuing to teach my ESL lessons, but I’m taking this time to do some reflecting. I remember starting out as a chronic overthinker, spending hours on lesson plans and making sure that everything was perfect. Now, as my LiA project is slowly coming to an end, I’ve learned how to be so much more flexible. When students are not engaging with the activities I’ve planned for the day, I don’t panic or worry what they think of me. Instead, I’ve learned how to switch gears and quickly bring in a different type of activity, or have the students engage in a conversation with one another. I’ve learned how to adapt, which is so different from how I usually respond to a challenge! 

But I feel like flexibility is a necessary skill in ESL instruction, or really in any form of instruction. Although they can be planned, lessons should never be rigid—they will always be a dialogue between educators and students. My students guide the flow of our lessons, letting me know if we need a more fast-paced day or if we need to go slower and work through the activities in a more detailed manner. I truly appreciate the students who have attended my classes and I hope I’ve given them the confidence to speak English, be it within their family, with their peers, or in workplace settings.