Jane Kasanga, English Teacher

What is your nationality and where do you currently reside?

I am Zambian and currently living in Zambia, Copperbelt province to be precise.

What is your professional and educational background?

I am a teacher by profession. When I did my bachelor’s degree my major was English, so, I am specialized in teaching English. I have a CELTA certificate.

Which Bridge certifications or micro-credentials have you completed?

None yet, but I’m in the process of registering for a course.

How long have you been teaching with BridgeEnglish?

I have been teaching with BridgeEnglish since June 2023.

How long have you been teaching languages and what inspired you to become a language teacher?

I have been teaching English for two years now. I have always had a passion for teaching. One of the reasons I decided to become a language teacher was to break down the communication barriers I have experienced. Without a common language, I’ve found it difficult to communicate. Because the English language is global, teaching it to speakers of other languages opens those communication lines, which is important to me, and my students benefit from it.

Can you share a memorable experience or success story from your language teaching career?

When I was working with a company from Mexico, I was teaching level six students which was the last level. For my students to graduate they then had to score more than the passing mark. I utilized different teaching methods to help my students’ performances and all my students scored well.

One of the most beautiful things that happened is that, during graduation, I received appreciation messages from my students that melted my heart. That’s why I love what I do.

What is your teaching philosophy or approach to helping students learn a new language?

I believe that everyone deserves to learn; therefore, it’s up to me as a teacher to make sure all my students’ goals are reached. My teaching approach is always based on my learners’ needs. I always infuse my classes with a lot of practical activities that are not forgotten easily. This helps my students to love the language because I use real-life situations to teach.

What do you think sets Bridge apart from other language schools, and why did you choose to teach here?

Bridge puts its students and teachers first. I say this because, as a teacher, my lessons are observed so that I can keep developing my teaching skills and helping my learners archive their goals. I choose to work for Bridge because its teaching pool is really diverse. I feel honored to be part of this dedicated team.

What are some of your favorite teaching tools or techniques to engage students in the learning process?

I love and enjoy using a word wall, utilizing breakout rooms for group classes, using audio, video, and pictures to get my students invested in the topic, and
many other tools.

How do you tailor your lessons to meet the specific needs and goals of your business students?

When planning for my lessons, I don’t put much focus on what they already know or teach everything in a chapter or unit. Instead, I focus on the areas that my students need to improve in. Doing this helps my students to develop and archive their set goals. I know this through testing them; their performance speaks volumes and from that, I’ll know if they need a different approach or if we can move on to another thing.