'By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.' - LATIN PROVERB

I always wanted to be a teacher.

Back in the day we started school when we turned five and as I was born in December, my January was filled with new uniforms, a brand new suitcase, and the feeling that turning five was not all that pleasant. Our school was tiny and made up of red face brick which was blanketed with creepers - it really was rather pretty although I didn't actually notice this at the time. It was only when I was older and we used to drive past it that I realised its aesthetic value compared to the conglomerate of buildings which was my high school. Not much registered initially except that I had no friends as I could barely speak English: learning to do so was a long and slow process I shared with my mother, who could also not speak English. Janet and John and their dog Spot (my first reader) formed the centre of our world for a long time and I can still remember the sensation of turning the pages of those small blue covered books and sounding out the words until they had some meaning.

One day that is very clear is when I realised that I had understood something my teacher had said: soon followed the knowledge that I had two words for certain things, each in a different language. And I have been fascinated with words and with languages ever since. As my confidence grew so did my fascination with my grade 1 teacher - Miss Carter. I thought she was wonderful, and as young children tend to do with their teachers, I transferred to her the power that she could do nothing wrong.  My memories of her are inexact but I know that she had a lovely voice and that it was when I was in her class that I knew I wanted to be a teacher. That desire stayed with me throughout school and university and 36 years later I am as passionate about what I do as I was when I lined up my dolls and taught them all to read and to write. 



Some have told me over the years that I lacked ambition as I did not allow myself to consider any other occupation or career. Perhaps they are right but you know what, I really do not care. I love teaching and as a teacher of English, I consider myself to be that most fortunate of all beings, someone who has never regretted doing what she does and who has never resented getting up in the morning to do so.