Teaching English can be a wild ride, filled with unexpected twists and turns. And we all know what’s the key to surviving (and thriving) in this unpredictable profession, don’t we?

Yes, it’s the F-word . . .

Flexibility.

Think about it – we never know when something might come up and derail our lesson plans. That’s where being flexible comes in. In my view, it’s all about being open to new approaches and finding creative solutions to keep our classrooms running as smoothly as possible.

But being flexible isn’t just about adapting to the unexpected, is it? It’s also about being attuned to the diverse needs and interests of our students. For example, a student who has a specific interest, such as sports or superheroes, might be more engaged in their learning if we incorporate this interest into our lessons. As flexible teachers, we could find ways to connect the material we are teaching to the student’s interests, which can help increase their motivation and engagement in learning.

So the 1-million dollar question is: how can we cultivate flexibility in our teaching? For starters, we can do so by staying up-to-date with the best practices in education, keeping an open mind, and being willing to try out new technologies and methods. Last but not least, I believe we shouldn’t be afraid to seek out feedback and suggestions from colleagues and students as they can provide valuable insights on what works and what doesn’t in the classroom.

Flexibility is a crucial quality for English teachers to possess. By being open to new ideas and adapting to the needs of our students, we can most certainly create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that is bound to set our students up for success.