Teaching English Home Language for the past 27 years, Wendy Gibbs a teacher at Curro Langebaan can teach one a thing or two.
Gibbs became a teacher for several reasons. She said: “I loved my own school years, so it made sense to pursue a career in that environment and encourage other young people to love their school years too. I also love the relationships that teaching brings, and the fact that no two days are the same.”
Gibbs added that the variety of each day’s experiences is important to her as someone who gets bored easily. “Thirdly, I love my subject.”
Before qualifying, she studied towards a BA for three years, majoring in English and psychology. She completed her HDE (higher diploma in education).
“I was invited to do Honours, but I had a government bursary and could not afford to study further at the time.”
With the passing years Gibbs still has a great passion for teaching and children.
She explains learners need teachers who are willing to look beyond the surface and see the whole person. “They need teachers willing to build a relationship with them, to see them as a fellow human being and not a number. They need teachers who are real, who apologise when they are wrong, and are able to acknowledge that they don’t know everything.”
She adds that teachers need to be willing to learn from their students. “I believe a teacher communicates most effectively when he or she has established a relationship of respect and trust with the students. There has to be relationship if there is to be real learning. This is my core philosophy of teaching.”
Gibbs sees her career as one that has purpose and fulfilling and encourages young people to venture into this field if they want the same experience.
“It is tiring and sometimes frustrating,” she said. “It does not pay as well as many other careers, but the reward in terms of emotional fulfilment is incomparable. For those who need variety in their work, relationship and being a member of a team teaching is it.”
Gibbs concludes: “The privilege of being able to help shape young minds and hearts is what makes this beautiful career so sacred. I could not see myself doing anything else.”
