In the 1990s, when I graduated from university, Georgia was struggling to gain independence. Zviad Gamsakhurdia, a dissident and the leader of the national movement, took power. He was opposed by other political parties and a civil war broke out. The country’s economic and political conditions collapsed. We didn’t have electricity or gas for months.

I returned home to the small town of Lanchkhuti in the west. Teaching was seen as a hard job with low, frozen salaries for many years. Nevertheless, I began teaching with big hopes to change things.

It was incredibly challenging. Classrooms didn’t have any teaching resources and had broken windows. Students often came to school without breakfast and with light clothing on cold, wintry days. Some of them did not have a fire or stove to warm them at home and school was the only place they felt comfortable. I tried boosting their confidence and encouraged them to seek success.

To my surprise, I soon had an amazing classroom environment. I was inspired by the incredible feeling of teaching younger people. Every day I saw the bright light in my students’ eyes when presented with the opportunity to gain useful skills and an education. I became addicted to teaching.

The years passed and the country recovered. I was selected to go to America for a two-month intensive teacher-training course in California. It was fruitful and beneficial for me, and I gained wide professional knowledge in teaching methodologies and strategies, which I brought back to Georgia.

I’ve now been teaching English language at E Tsilosani Lanchkhuti public school #2 in Guria for 28 years.

I love children and take a great deal of pleasure in instructing them. I am at my happiest when I see a deep desire of learning in my students’ eyes. I do my best to open the door to the world for them and teach my students to not set limits on what they can do.

We’ve seen our students become important state officials and leaders of society, and have established themselves as worthy people. This year, two of my students took amazing opportunities: they became international exchange students. Salome is in London for several weeks, and Mariam is a FLEX (future leaders exchange) international programme participant and now studying in Hawaii, US, for one academic year.

Supporting the next generation

I have always tried to develop my professional abilities and am determined to contribute to the growth of a new, successful generation.

I start my working day following a preplanned schedule and class lesson plan. I fill out the class register to demonstrate my students’ progress and grade them on their written or spoken assessments. I check their attendance and if students are behind, I give them extra classes, encourage them and help them to plan better for their future.

I see how important it is to have the parents’ support, which is something we lack in Georgian schools. I make telephone calls or meet the parents three times a semester to review and remedy problems together, and to talk about their child’s progress and weaknesses.

After school, my students and I often work on mutual projects or clubs in which we share our culture and traditions with schools in other countries, or learn about global issues such as drug addiction, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, domestic violence, bullying, early marriage and personal freedom.

We have also participated in global competitions, such as the Diamond Challenge, which is related to business, and Technovation, which relates to girls coding and science, technology, engineering and maths. We also have a Girls’ Club at my school, established by the American Peace Corps, which has been running for two years. It allows the girls to discuss topics like healthy lifestyles, gender equality, leadership skills and dealing with stress.

Helping colleagues

I am involved with school management. I lead the foreign language department at my school and college, and meet with Russian and English teachers four times a month to review their practice and progress of their classes. If the outcomes are not good, we make a schedule for extra classes and arrange meetings with parents. It’s essential that, as a department, we arrange language competitions or after-school activities for students to participate in.

I also train my fellow teachers in professional-development workshops. I support the 24 teachers at my school to develop their abilities in using technology and developing teaching methodologies to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education. I also observe my colleagues’ open lessons and offer them feedback on their teaching methodology. Sharing teaching and learning methodologies is a great tool for colleagues to reach their goals and to follow government policy as well.    

My typical teaching day includes many activities. I am constantly working to improve my teaching and support my students to broaden their horizons in learning.

They have different backgrounds and abilities, and most of them are from economically disadvantaged families. Many of their parents have left Georgia to go to work abroad and earn a living. Therefore, I feel responsible to give them extra classes, and to support them to meet their interests and improve their skills - to allow them to reach their full potential and shape their lives.

I strive to ensure that my students are able to cope with everyday life. Mastering the English language can open a student’s mind to allow them to exchange ideas, opinions, facts and cultural views with people from other countries.

Vera Urushadze is an English teacher at E Tsilosani Lanchkhuti public school #2 in Georgia