Connect English

Earlier today I delivered a CELTA training session on teacher development. The focus was on how teachers – and especially new teachers – feel when they face change. For most of my trainees, CELTA itself has been a big change: new routines, new ways of learning, and their first experiences teaching real students.

While preparing the session, I came across Rachel Tsateri’s wonderful blog post, Unpacking teachers’ feelings about change. Her reflections on how change can bring excitement, curiosity, fear, and even resistance really spoke to me, and I knew they would connect with my trainees too.

At the start of the session, I asked them to think about a time when they had experienced change – not necessarily in teaching, but in any area of their lives: a new job, a move to another country, or a shift in career. There was a thoughtful silence, then smiles as they began to share their stories. One trainee talked about leaving his job to do the CELTA course, saying he hadn’t realised how much change could feel like “starting from zero.” Another mentioned how moving to a new country had taught her to be patient with herself – something she’s now trying to apply in teaching practice.

Even though they don’t have much classroom experience yet, their reflections were deep and personal. We discussed how these same emotions – uncertainty, excitement, pride, frustration – often appear in teaching too, especially during lessons that don’t go as planned. In small groups, they worked together to come up with strategies to handle change positively: reflecting after each lesson, asking for feedback, and reminding themselves how much they’ve already learned.
The atmosphere in the session was honest and supportive. I could see the relief on their faces when they realised that feeling nervous or unsure is completely normal, and that every teacher, even experienced ones, goes through it. One trainee said something that really stayed with me: “It’s not that I’m afraid of change; I’m just afraid of not being ready for it.”

Rachel’s blog helped me shape this session in such a meaningful way. Her writing reminded me that teacher development isn’t only about techniques and lesson plans, it’s also about understanding ourselves as learners and human beings. I’m really grateful for her insights, which helped turn this session into a space for reflection, empathy, and growth.

Thank you, Rachel, for inspiring not just me, but a new generation of teachers learning to embrace change with confidence and curiosity.

And here’s the link for Rachel’s blog: https://teflzoneracheltsateri.wordpress.com/2025/09/13/unpacking-teachers-feelings-about-change/