The video features Sylvie Canal, a primary school teacher in Chantilly, France, who transitioned from a career as a data analyst. She explains that she pursued teaching after becoming a mother, seeking a more meaningful profession [02:40].
Sylvie’s teaching philosophy focuses on the joy of helping children learn and grow, and she finds it rewarding to see their progress and pride in their achievements [04:06]. A key strategy she uses is incorporating English into her lessons to keep students engaged, which led to her school creating an “English immersion” project [08:44]. She believes a primary teacher’s role is special due to the close bond they form with students, spending six hours a day with them [10:48].
She offers these tips for other teachers:
- Don’t be shy about your accent: Being spontaneous and unafraid of mistakes helps students feel more comfortable [12:15].
- Use games and literature: Engaging activities like songs and books make learning fun [13:30].
- Focus on speaking: For young learners, building confidence through speaking is most important [14:52].
- Embrace continuous learning: There is no single method, and teachers should constantly experiment to find new ways to engage students [17:15].
Sylvie concludes by stating that she is much happier as a teacher, and the genuine appreciation from her students reinforces that she made the right choice [20:00].
