Before embarking on a career in teaching, I completed an undergraduate degree in Modern Foreign Languages at The University of Sheffield and after four years of study I found myself unsure of where to go next. Thanks to the COVID chaos, my plans of moving on to do event management were stopped in their tracks. It wasn’t until a family member, who also works in education, suggested doing a PGCE that I began to consider the possibility of going into teaching. At the time it seemed like a sensible Plan B. However, less than twelve months later I now couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.  

I’ve now spent time in two different schools, and I’m had my fair share of highs and lows along the way. Having said that, the highs definitely outweigh the lows! One of my favourite things about teaching is being able to see a student have that light-bulb moment when something finally clicks and starts to make sense. I had one of these moments during my first placement when, after months of battling to get the bare minimum participation out of one particular student, the last day before the Christmas holiday and said “y’know what Miss, French is alright”. It doesn’t sound like much, but I’ll always remember that as being one of my first big classroom wins.  

I’ve never been the sort of person to shy away from a challenge, and it’s fair to say this past academic year has had plenty of challenges. However, with the support from the Calderdale & Kirklees School Direct, I’ve discovered a real passion for teaching – something I never expected to end up doing! I look forward to further contributing to the world of education as I develop my practise and hopefully inspire young people to love languages as much as I do.  

Faith Eccles