Jo Haracz

Teaching EFL in Poland since 1998: “I had planned to stay for only a year!” I’ve taught English to all ages and levels, though I’ve been more involved with young learners ever since my escapade with Teddy Eddie began more than a decade ago. No one was more surprised than I when, over time, teaching the young ones turned out to be a rather enjoyable experience. And so our friendship has grown through Savvy to Edward. My work with new teachers means I haven’t forgotten how overwhelming the whole thing may be when we’re starting out. I find this contact inspiring as it reminds me not to get buried in my own routines, to remain open to new possibilities even though they may be out of my comfort zone, to jiggle things up every once in a while before things become slow, staid and, yawn, too predictable. Some of the best teaching moments are often unscripted, spontaneous ideas improvised in the classroom together with the kids, the success of which surprise both us and our students. Such stories are worth sharing, are they not? Looking forward to hearing yours!