We have teachers as young as 25 and as old as 60, and a wonderful balance of men and women. Some teachers are dramatic and extroverted. Many are relatively reserved and nurturing. Quite a few teachers are rather conservative in their style and values, while others are fairly liberal or borderline radical. Some teachers tend to be academic-orientated. Others are more action-orientated. A number of teachers are particularly talented at engaging low-level students. Several have a penchant for teaching advanced students. At GV Vancouver we aim to keep a large and rich variety of teachers to ensure that the right teacher is matched to the right program and level, and also to ensure that students are kept challenged, interested and motivated, especially if they are studying at the school for long periods of time.
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In spite of the eclectic mix of teachers we have at GV Vancouver, students can be assured that they are getting teachers that are personable, appealing and approachable. They can also be assured that the teachers are highly qualified and experienced: all hold a university degree and a TESL Canada approved teaching qualification as minimum requirements. Many teachers do postgraduate training, become specialists in particular areas of teaching, and lead workshops at professional development conferences.
Another highly unique feature about the GV Vancouver teaching staff is the low turn-over rate. Our teachers seem to really enjoy teaching and working at GV Vancouver! Rarely do we see GV teachers take up work at another school. Instead, they develop strong bonds with fellow teachers and maintain supportive professional relationships with their colleagues and with the managing staff. David Oliver, who has been teaching at GV for 10 years, says the staff is an " eclectic mix of intelligent and interesting people." Jennifer Oster, a newer staff member, describes her colleagues as "an inclusive group of warm and outgoing people." The staffroom is a place with a great deal of sharing in expertise, materials, ideas, tips and support.
Most teachers at GV also have experience teaching not only in Canada, but also abroad, in countries such as Germany, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. By living and working abroad and learning other languages, teachers are able to better understand and relate to the experience students are going through here in Canada. This experience has made our teachers more understanding of cultural differences, bringing a heightened sensitivity to culture and difference in educational styles to the classroom. |
