HAITHAM RAJA HUNEAFAT
I have always enjoyed working in the field of education that deals with actual teaching. Having worked as a teacher, trainer and acting headmaster, I have been able to use my strengths and have also learnt a tremendous amount in how to improve/develop teachers. This experience has been valuable to me. I have a passion for English and learning, as a teacher I have used a hands on approach where pupils are allowed to explore, investigate and draw conclusions via discussions. Teachers should facilitate learning in a variety of styles and continuously strive to develop themselves and bring in new methods into their teaching. I have developed materials/activities that would engage pupils from all abilities, and then try and apply new ideas in the classroom. Having worked as a teacher here in Qatar, I have been able to see the current attitudes and perceptions many teachers have and what they view as ‘good’ teaching. This is quite often different to my perception. I have assisted with inservice at my current school and have been trained to be an observer and provide feedback to my fellow teachers. Changing minds and attitudes is a challenging task. I find that ideas are best shared when I am able to demonstrate new practices and then share them with others. I get new ideas from other staff and encourage them to use new ideas. Being open to new ideas and genuinely sharing with others can often lead to better learning for students and developing for teachers.