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Original poster

Any teachers out there - career advice please

32 replies

whatnow47 · 20/10/2021 14:34

Hi everyone

Would love to know your experiences if you are in the teaching profession.

I am seriously thinking about training to be a teacher, specifically teaching English. The issue is I am very shy and introverted even though I am passionate about my subject and think teaching could be a really rewarding vocation.

Is it even possible to be introverted and a good teacher?

Thank you for any advice

OP posts:
Pemmican · 20/10/2021 14:36

Is it even possible to be introverted and a good teacher?

Introverted - yes, although it is exhausting if you are drained by human contact (obviously).

Shy - no. Some effective teachers are very quiet - but none are what I would call shy.

WholeClassKeptIn · 20/10/2021 14:40

I think it will be very difficult. SO many teachers leave in the first 5 years or during their PGCE course. It is exhausting.

bettertimesarecomingnow · 20/10/2021 14:58

I think you need good classroom presence to deal with teenagers.

Not sure if Shy and introverted would fit with that? When the 14th teenager of the day tells you to F off and the whole class is talking and won't stop....

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

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JurassickJay · 20/10/2021 15:19

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Aliceinivfland · 20/10/2021 15:41

Another teacher here 👋 I don't mean to sound harsh but as a teacher you really need to have the skills to control and dominate a class. 50% is subject knowledge and the other 50% is psychology/behaviour management. No teachers in my school are introvert and shy, they may be quiet and reserved, but not introvert and shy. I hope that helps you.

Notdoingthis · 20/10/2021 16:31

I am quite shy but a good teacher. You develop a persona I think. Not all teaching styles are the same, it's ok to be you ans work with your strengths. I am calm and measured where other teachers lose their temper.

Nuffaluff · 20/10/2021 16:59

I was shy when I first started but teaching broke that out of me! I did start when I was 21 though.
I am in primary teaching. Would you consider that? I think a shyer teacher would do better because the kids generally want to please you (although behaviour management is still very challenging obviously).
I have an English degree and I’m very passionate about English teaching. (I write and read a lot in my spare time).
Teaching writing is good - we do ‘Talk for Writing’ by Pie Corbett, which is great. What I love most is teaching reading. I’m getting my year 3s (7-8 year olds) to study The Iron Man by Ted Hughes which is just brilliant literature. It’s great- I love it and so do they. (We’re using the approach outlined in a book called ‘Reading Reconsidered’).
My wonderful, kind, gentle, shy cousin tried teaching Physics. She only lasted one year. Secondary school kids can be brutal (not all of them obvs).

Nuffaluff · 20/10/2021 17:01

I’m still an introvert.

Whyarewehardofthinking · 20/10/2021 17:08

In my (embarrassingly too many years') experience it can be a struggle if you are shy and can't create a confident teacher persona. I've seen many teachers come and go simply because it is exhausting to maintain that if it isn't naturally you. You do have to have a presence and confidence to teach in most secondary or the kids will walk all over you.

Teaching a core subject can be very challenging (I'm science, so we are the same). They have to do your subject and get no choice in the matter, so you have to guide them through and get the most difficult and resistant students through a GCSE. That can be really, really hard. A passion for the subject is great, but the ability to get through to a teenager who doesn't want to do it, and to be able to manage a class of loud, hormonal and stubborn kids is a must.

It is a brilliant, rewarding career, but itnis exhausting, frustrating and challenging, especially right now.

Fifthtimelucky · 20/10/2021 17:13

I'm not a teacher but my daughter is currently training to teach. She is an introvert.

She is currently teaching 7 lessons a week and really enjoying it. All her feedback has been encouraging, culminating in a really good formal review yesterday.

It helps that behaviour is very good in her school. She is currently only teaching sixth formers though, so I imagine those pupils are likely to be more engaged and presumably class sizes are also smaller and easier to manage.

ChittyChittyBoomBoom · 20/10/2021 17:23

Being an introvert is different to being shy so you need to consider where you lie.

I was certainly a shy child and teenager but as I developed in my career, I developed a persona. Teaching is like being on a stage! I’m quite reserved really but I’m a different person in front of a class.

I’m an introvert too and I think this one is more difficult to overcome. Everyday leaves my drained and wanting to lie down in a darkened room when I get home. It’s been at the detriment of my mental health at times.

Soontobe60 · 20/10/2021 17:26

A teacher of over 30 years here. The quiet / shy / introverted teachers I have come across in my career have not lasted very long I’m afraid. Even in the ‘nicest’ of schools, teaching can be brutal.

Fluffyowl00 · 20/10/2021 17:27

If you are thinking secondary - why don’t you do a year as a cover supervisor and see how you get on. I did and as a previous poster said you quickly develop a persona

Marelle · 20/10/2021 17:31

Yes, you can be introverted and shy and still teach effectively. But you’ll cope much better in a “good” school with well behaved pupils where you don’t need to do a lot of behaviour management. I still recommend you don’t go into teaching though. Nothing to do with being introverted - it’s a terrible miserable job with a ridiculous workload which will destroy your mental and physical health.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 20/10/2021 17:35

What age are you interested in teaching? I recommend contacting a few schools and asking if you can do some work experience. That will give you a better idea of whether you feel teaching is for you.
I’m not sure whether an introvert would be suited to being around people all day and constantly performing, but you will be the best judge of that by experiencing it for yourself.

Waitingfirgodot · 20/10/2021 17:36

I'm introverted and shy and teach English in a difficult school. You learn to pretend not to be shy quite quickly. I had issues in my training year when my mentor couldn't accept that anyone who didn't have pretty much the same personality as her could possibly be a teacher - she made me miserable. I love my job (but I'm apet time and that definitely helps).

MooPointCowsOpinion · 20/10/2021 17:38

I was introverted and shy when I first started teaching. I’d say it was harder for me, my first few years I floundered a lot, but I stuck with it and loved more than I hated and now I don’t feel shy ever in a classroom.
The idea of standing up in a department meeting used to fill me with dread, now I lead training across multiple schools to 100s of people.
Practise and a bit of bravery!

AttaGirrrrl · 20/10/2021 17:56

Like PP have said, it depends on your level of introversion / shyness. I’m introverted (and pretty awkward socially) and need plenty of time on my own to decompress. I’m not particularly shy though. I’ll happily speak to strangers or voice an opinion. I manage at school because I can take on the ‘role’ of being a teacher. I’ve seen plenty of other people do similar.

I think you might be asking the wrong question though. It’s not could you do it, it’s do you want to? Do you like teenagers? Do you enjoy working to tight deadlines? Do you like explaining things to people? Do you enjoy fast paced environments?

Best advice, as a PP said, is to arrange to spend some time in schools. Shadow an English teacher for a few days. See if you enjoy it. It’s not the kind of job you can do it you don’t find it fun.

YoungGiftedPlump · 20/10/2021 18:07

Think of yourself as an actor.
You are on stage for 35 hours a week in direct pupil contact

Peppaismyrolemodel · 20/10/2021 18:39

Teaching is acting- if you are shy, but can learn how to stuff your hands in your pockets and act not-shy, then it isn’t a problem.
Learning scripts and phrases so you don’t have to think too much at first can be helpful, and also practicing your ‘loud voice’ can help!

Original poster
whatnow47 · 20/10/2021 19:11

Thank you for your brilliant advice!

Now I have digested your advice and reflected, I don't think I am that shy now. More introverted and quiet. I have a masters degree and feel it's wasted as I have no outlet for it. I would love a job where I am paid to talk about literature.

I will give it some thought and already looking for work experience. Thank you so much.

OP posts:
Musmerian · 20/10/2021 19:29

@Marelle

Yes, you can be introverted and shy and still teach effectively. But you’ll cope much better in a “good” school with well behaved pupils where you don’t need to do a lot of behaviour management. I still recommend you don’t go into teaching though. Nothing to do with being introverted - it’s a terrible miserable job with a ridiculous workload which will destroy your mental and physical health.
@Marelle - I’m sorry that’s been your experience but I’ve been teaching for over 20 years and still absolutely love it and find it energising and hugely rewarding. I work in a lovely department in an academic independent school. I think there are lots of different styles that work in Secondary and introverts can be fine if they like it.
Scarby9 · 20/10/2021 19:35

It is possible.
I know some excellent teachers who - outside of the classroom and away from the kids - are introverted, quiet, and in a couple of cases socially awkward or anxious when with adults.
But you need to find your inner actor in order to be 'on it' while in the classroom. Whether you can manage that full time, and the toll that may take on you in needing recovery time, only you can tell.

MrsTophamHat · 20/10/2021 19:40

I am an introvert and a secondary English teacher. I can 'turn it on' when I'm in the classroom and I don't have any behaviour management problems. It is a lot like playing a character in some ways, so it depends on your ability to do that.

It's tiring but I love it.

FourEyesGood · 20/10/2021 20:05

@whatnow47

Thank you for your brilliant advice!

Now I have digested your advice and reflected, I don't think I am that shy now. More introverted and quiet. I have a masters degree and feel it's wasted as I have no outlet for it. I would love a job where I am paid to talk about literature.

I will give it some thought and already looking for work experience. Thank you so much.

Bear in mind that the vast majority of secondary pupils won’t share your love of literature, no matter how passionate you are about it. Also, you’re highly likely to have to teach a lot of English Language too (I’m a secondary English teacher and have no literature on my timetable at all this year, which is very disappointing, but that’s just the way the timetabling works sometimes). Language tends to be more dry to teach than Lit, with much more focus on the skills they need to pass exams in comparison with the (in my opinion) richer syllabus of literature, which enables us to explore characters, themes and links to context (as well as all of that lovely language analysis that I really enjoy but which students seem less keen on!).