More than a love of language

I am applying for the Certificate in Teaching English at the New School.  Application requirements included writing a 300-word essay on why I want to teach English.  This is what I submitted.

More than a love of language

As a self-described cultural anthropologist, I have a definite interest in learning about other people and their way of life intimately.  I have spent a lifetime exploring the history, languages and customs of people from across the globe and as a child I was dedicated to paying homage to my worldwide regional crushes.  I spent many hours teaching myself about  places like Anne Frank's Germany, the Moorish-Spanish explorer Estevanico's New World, last Emperor Puyi's China and Napoleon Bonaparte's France.  The opportunity to teach English will allow me to continue cultivating my cross-cultural love affair with the world.

With each one of my new lessons, I was determined to also learn the language of the land.  Although, I did not become fluent, I did pick up a basic understanding of everything from French, Italian and Spanish.  As an instructor of English, I will be able to continue my linguistic education through an exchange with students wishing to expand their own language lexicon.

Teaching English would also be a stepping stone to fulfilling my personal and professional travel goals.  An editor and writer with a long list of research topics and localities to cover, teaching English would give me a means to support myself while pursuing a diverse writing career that includes authoring unique travel guides for women and exploring the social context of language in international political forums.

In addition to the self-satisfying advantages of teaching English, the possibility of giving someone leverage, as they work to secure a better life for themselves through education, is an exceptional benefit of becoming an English instructor.  The most widespread language in the world, English is the dominant international idiom in the areas of communications, science, business, entertainment and diplomacy.  Gaining a working knowledge of English would give non-native speakers an upper-hand as they expand their careers and professional experiences.

Although my reasons for teaching English are abundant and varied, they closely reflect my ever-evolving desire to not only take from, but give to the global classroom belonging to all of us.