Teaching is a work of heart

“I reached my personal objective to make learners fall in love with my subject without asking them to.” - Josefine Alfeus

Josefine Alfeus

Grade 8 to 12 teacher at Hage G. Geingob High School

She teaches English and Oshiwambo

1.When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

I always knew that I wanted to teach. I wasn’t sure about the subjects I wanted to offer until registration day, but I can safely say I’m one of the few that believe teaching is not a career but a calling.

2.What is the best part about being a teacher?

I get to directly influence learners’ lives on a daily basis and most importantly I never stop learning because teaching is a lifelong learning experience.

3.Can you tell us your journey towards becoming a teacher?

A very emotional one full of dents. I thought of quitting at least five times.

Going to varsity is not easy when you are from a poor background. I remember my sisters putting coins together the night before registration. Taxi money was always an issue, not to mention missing important test dates because I was digitally illiterate. Imagine, I thought the portal was an office!

4.What has been the highlight of your teaching career thus far?

I have a few but one that stands out the most is when I delivered content and the learners asked in amazement “so English is just a proper subject with so much to learn apart from letters and essays?”

At that moment, I reached my personal objective to make learners fall in love with my subject without asking them to.

5.What are some of your hobbies or things you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I read a lot, from e-books to printed novels. I watch crime investigation series

My favourite at the moment, Law and order: SVU, airs on Studio Universal channel. I learn traits like empathy, connection, patience and meticulousness from the character Olivia Benson. I dance too.

6.What lessons have you learnt from your learners?

I learnt empathy! I have learnt how to deal with feelings of perceiving a learners’ difficulties. Things that appear obvious to us might be a nightmare to learners.