Because of years of experience as an Activity Leader at Roeland camps, credit and insurance broker Gilles did not hesitate to step up and become a substitute math teacher.
How did his experience with Roeland lead to this career switch?
“I love my job as a broker”, Gilles states. “But it was a lifelong dream of me to become a teacher. When I was confronted with the proposition to teach math for 10 weeks, ‘Now or never’ was the thought that immediately crossed my mind.
“I am fairly sure I know how to teach. During my first years as an Activity Leader with Roeland, I hosted Dutch language labs to French speaking children, and I also tutored math for 10 years”, Gilles adds.
How did your first days in front of class go?
“My first days as a teacher were exciting and challenging. But soon I learned how to deploy the skills I learned with Roeland, like creating a positive vibe and motivating students, which helped me plentiful in assuming my role as a teacher.”
“Youngsters who keep up with their native language French instead of speaking Dutch, children who are continuously on their smartphones… it is daily routine at a Roeland camp. Sometimes, it can be a real struggle to keep their attention, at camp or when I teach. But you know: I would rather go into debate about it than become mad or something, to show them that I really care about what we are doing together. It is a useful skill I learned with Roeland, which I now apply to my classes”.
Language camps did not just help me discover my passion for teaching, they also enriched my personal life.
How did Your Roeland experience shape you personally and professionally?
“The Roeland language camps did not just help to discover my passion for teaching, but they also enriched my personal life. I learned to apply flexibility, to deal with unexpected situations and to trust my own capabilities. Showing up unprepared before a classroom? No sweat. I know my lesson subject and I know I can teach. At camp I had to replace a teacher last minute multiple times. I know I can do it.”
What is the main thing you learned from this career switch?
“Nowadays I am even more convinced a career in teaching would suit me. I can stand in front of a class with confidence without having graduated from teacher training, because of my experience with Roeland.”
“You do not have to be a teacher or lecturer to be a staff member at the language camps. Roeland provides a choice of training sessions to show you how to set up a creative and educational camp.”
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Discover the inspiring story of Gilles, a credit and insurance broker who found the courage to follow his calling as math teacher because of his experience with Roeland. Read about how his occupation as an Activity Leader taught him how to deal with challenges and how this reinforced his confidence, and how he inspires young people, nowadays in front of a classroom. #RoelandCamps #TeacherInTraining #CareerSwitch.
