Adriana Bălaj, Babel Secondary School Timișoara: "A good teacher is the one who transmits his passion for the subject he teaches."
29 September, 2022
For World Teachers' Day, we asked passionate teachers in the Kinderpedia community some questions about the qualities and vision of a good teacher.
Discover below the answers of Adriana Balaj, Teacher at Babel Secondary School Timișoara.
In your view, what is the impact of a good teacher on a child's future?
I think the impact of a good teacher on a child's future is greater than we imagine. From an academic point of view we all know how valuable a good teacher is for a student's professional preparation. But I am fascinated by the emotional impact that a good teacher can have on a child's future. The teacher can transform and change lives, and sometimes they don't even know what a huge responsibility they carry on their shoulders. Sometimes one teacher is perhaps the only adult in a child's life who sees and believes in the child's potential. By seeing and supporting each student's growth we can change the trajectory of their lives. Unfortunately the reverse is also true, we can just as easily clip their wings.
We are just a part of their journey through the world, but such an important one, I would metaphorically say we are a crossroads in their lives, through our impact we can open up new worlds for them.
What are the key attributes and skills of a good teacher?
A good teacher is one who conveys to you their passion for the subject they teach. It is that teacher who loves to teach and it shows. I believe that in addition to pedagogical and specialist skills, he is adaptable, empathetic, emotionally intelligent, a leader in his classroom. Love of children and learning is a must.
What the teacher of the future will look like?
I think the brief portrait above is still valid in 30 years. Passion, perseverance in pedagogical preparation and continuous adaptation are needed now and are valid in 20 years. I hope that the teacher of the future will have a better image in society and be the professional that society trusts.
What about education as we know it today do you think will stand the test of time?
There are countless examples of ideas, philosophies and practices that have stood the test of time, teachers who remain as relevant today and whose ideas inspire us. What has and will stand the test of time is respect for the child, concern for his or her beautiful development as an individual, as a personality, his or her academic and emotional development.
What do you see as the role of technology in education - now and in the future?
In my view technology can be our friend and an aid in learning and professional organisation. I am one of the teachers who uses and integrates technology in the classroom, I am grateful that at a click away I have dozens of interactive apps, the museums of the world open their doors, any place in the world can be auds in my classroom. Organizationally, I can use Kinderpedia to note absences or grades and it saves me precious minutes that I can use in my educational work. I think my students were born into a time where technology is naturally part of their lives, I can just use technology to their advantage for learning. Obviously that doesn't mean that's all there is to our work, used at the right times and in the right way it's a big plus.
A classroom story you'll never forget.
One of my students was late, came into the classroom, hugged me and told me that although the night before the police had been at her house today she woke up, more slowly, but she came because she knew she had history. An unforgettable moment, daily motivation.
How was your first day as a teacher?
Very nervous, a bit funny because I stumbled in the schoolyard and hoped all day that future students didn't see me.
Now, after 20 years in the same school, I am a mentor to young students, just as my teachers once were.
What was your first day at school like as a child?
Unforgettable. I could read and I saw my name on the desk, I told the teacher I knew where I belonged because I read. Kindly and smiling she told me why I came to school then.
What is your role model in the area of education?
For me a model of love, devotion and respect for the child is Janusz Korczak. I am inspired by many teachers of the past, but I also admire teachers of today. I am working to be the teacher I always wanted to be.
A book that you would reread anytime with pleasure is...
Janusz Korczak - "How to Love a Child". A child's right to respect in education, the book is Circe by Miller Madeline.
Who is Adriana Bălaj?
Adriana Bălaj is a history teacher at the Timișoara Secondary School No. 1 and Babel Secondary School Timișoara. She works in a private school and also in a state school where she works with vulnerable groups. In both schools she teaches history in an engaging way and creates a learning space where every child feels valued, valued. Adriana is a graduate of the West University of Timisoara, with a degree in history, she has also completed a Master's program in specialization, but continues her learning and is currently a Master's student in education at the West University of Timisoara.She is vice-president of the association Initiative in Education in Timișoara, where she coordinates a reading club for teachers and education enthusiasts. The desire to be part of innovative projects in education made her also involved in the project Education at Height through which she has held a series of live drone lessons from national historical locations, but also in the international premiere broadcasting a lesson from Troy, Turkey.
Her work was recognised with the Merito 2021 award, when she was awarded nationally alongside 10 other top teachers from Romania.
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This year, UNESCO is celebrating International Teachers' Day under the slogan "Transforming education starts with teachers".
We asked teachers in the Kinderpedia community how they see the role of the teacher in education today and in the future. Their answers have resulted in a new column on the Kinderpedia blog called Teachers of the Future.
So we invite you to discover ideas, find inspiration and join a community of teachers who value education
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