“A Dream Turned into Teaching”

One day, while I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across a beautiful quote: 

“If you are a teacher, try to be the teacher you wished you had when you were a child.”

It really touched my heart. When we were young, some teachers’ actions didn’t always give us a good impression of them. Sometimes,

  I used to think, “If this teacher had taught us in this way, it would have been so much better.”

So, when I became a teacher myself, I tried to become the kind of teacher I had once dreamed of being.In rural areas, children often find it a bit difficult to learn English. The main reason is that they don’t get the chance to learn it in an enjoyable way. Because of that, English becomes something they fear or dislike.

When learning English, a child should develop all four skills . reading, writing, speaking, and listening  together. So, in my teaching, I always try to cover all these areas. I didn’t want my class to be just another tuition class; I wanted it to be something meaningful and rewarding  not only for me but also for my students. I wanted to give them new experiences and opportunities.

That’s why I planned a special event called “Student of the Year"

At the end of the year, I held an exam to select students who showed great skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The top students from each grade received a gold medal and a gift.To make it more exciting, I also planned a trip for them. During the trip, I organized a practical speaking activity. The goal was to help the students talk confidently in English with strangers — to make them feel proud and fearless about using the language.

        

I took them to the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, where I had arranged for some of my friends from the university to talk with the students in English. Those little children faced the challenge successfully and did their best. After that, we awarded them their gifts and medals.

That day, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction for being able to do something different and meaningful. The children were so happy, and I felt that the effort I put into their learning was truly worthwhile. Every time, I try to give them something fair and valuable for what they pay and that gives me great personal joy.

 🌿 Behind the Scene

This story comes from my real experiences as a teacher working in a rural area. Every day, I see how eager yet shy my students are when learning English. I wanted to give them something more than lessons — an experience that would build their confidence and make them love the language. The idea for “Student of the Year” was born from that wish. It gave me the chance to see my students shine, laugh, and believe in themselves. That moment reminded me why I chose to be a teacher — to inspire, to guide, and to make learning meaningful.