HOW TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF, AS A TEACHER, TO BE A PROFESSIONAL

HOW TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF, AS A TEACHER, TO BE A PROFESSIONAL

By MEY Sopheakdei

In the new era of globalization of the millennium, the world has been changed rapidly, both number of population and modern technology. Whereas teachers also have to develop their own career in teaching to be a professional one, but we can ask why some people want to be the teacher because being a teacher is regarded not as a good job that provides enough income. We will explore why they decided to pursue teaching as a career. Actually, there are many reasons why some people want to be teachers. Later on we will think of how to motivate to be a professional one in the career of teaching.

First of all, there are many reasons to motivate some people to be teachers. The first one is social in origin, which in­cludes the opportunity to influence the next generation, to raise the ambi­tions of less fortunate youth, and to make a worthwhile social contribution. This emotion pushes some people want to be a teacher because they think that they want to help young generation to succeed in their lives. However, I myself have the feeling like that. The reason why I want to be a teacher is that I have my goal to lead young generation to succeed in their lives. I wish if I can become a professional lecturer at one university in Cambodia I will help young people to be active in the society and especially, lead them to compete with the world society. If I have that chance I will have more time to participate with the society. This kind of goal or purpose can push teacher to work much harder to be a professional one. However, I can earn my reputation and destiny from being a professional teacher.

A second motivation is intrinsic, such as being interested in and liking teaching and that teaching is suited to one’s abilities. One own ability is the main impetus that can motivate teacher to work much harder to be a professional one. When the teacher has most powerful talent and skill in teaching they will pursue their teaching. Their skill and talent will force them to work harder to compete with the obstacles of the society. Actually, when the society lacks of human resource, the teachers will have the strong willing to help in building human capital. Sometimes that kind of teacher never cares of his or her own tiredness and expense to help his own society. What he or she likes to do that derives from his or her heart is the most important actor or impetus to push him or her to work and research harder. For example, I myself like teaching career; I used to spend my time teaching without thinking of money. When I was a Buddhist monk I taught English lesson to everyone who liked to learn. Sometimes I agreed to teach students at 4:30 am if I was invited. Teaching makes me happier. Actually, I used to teach 5 hours a day even I did not have much time to study myself. What I like the most is teaching and teaching makes relax. I work what I like make my life to be the happiest man in this world.

The third motivation is extrinsic; teaching of­fers a secure career path and a reliable source of income. Workings as a teacher is not only match with my talent and skill or pursue my knowledge but also do what I like or I can say it is my happiness to be a teacher and teaching career can provide me proper legal income for my survival in the society. We work for money, but that money derives from our legal act and enjoyment such as we provide our skill and talent to get money in teaching career and what we do is also what we like. Furthermore, we can get both physical and mental happiness.

In short, the three factors such as social in origin, which in­cludes the opportunity to influence the next generation, to raise the ambi­tions of less fortunate youth, and to make a worthwhile social contribution, intrinsic, such as being interested in and liking teaching and that teaching is suited to one’s abilities, and extrinsic; teaching of­fers a secure career path and a reliable source of income. These three factors will help teacher working much harder to be a professional one in the career of teaching.