Staff Spotlight: Dennis Francis Lawlor

The excitement in the faces of every student in every class is something I could never have imagined. Each student is prepared to learn and arrives on time with their respective work materials in hand. Month after month my students absorbed the curriculum as quickly as I could present it. For a new teacher like myself, the effort put forth by my students each day was the most remarkable thing. My students have truly inspired me to become the best teacher I can be.

I was a commercial painting contractor for most of my adult life. A wholly respectable occupation which I will always enjoy. When I began volunteer coaching I quickly realized my ability to build confidence in even the most disinterested kid was second to none. My students were progressing at a remarkable rate and other coaches and parents began to take notice. One of those parents was an elementary school teacher and asked me if I had ever considered a career in teaching. He complimented me on my ability to engage large groups of kids, but then explained the difference between coaching and teaching. Students being coached have a genuine interest in their respective sport and of course will be doing their best to improve, while teachers often must find a way to make a class fun and engaging to those students disinterested with the subject matter. It made me think. I really love to teach. I love watching students gain confidence and realize successes, however small. I contacted Jerry Stark at TESOL Voyages and arranged a meeting. I completed the course and received my certification and immediately began seeking employment in Shenzhen. I was flooded with offers from many recruiters as well as other reputable schools and found my current job with the help of my relatives in Hong Kong. Everyday I wake up happy because at age 53 I am doing what I love with kids who appreciate my efforts and work hard to become better English speakers. My accommodations are suitable and my salary quite fair. My life has changed drastically and my friends at home in the U.S. are equally amazed and proud of my efforts thus far. I have become an educator.

I can only speak for Shenzhen, where I live and work. I have family in Hong Kong but remain in Shenzhen during the week, even though I could easily return to Hong Kong each night. I personally enjoy Shenzhen and spend my free time playing basketball or trail running. After school each day, I prepare my lesson plans for the following day and still have plenty of time for exercise and entertainment. Hong Kong is less than an hour away so for myself, Shenzhen has been ideal and I intend to continue in my current post.

TESOL voyages helped greatly in building confidence in my ability to teach English. Building confidence in my lesson plans was my most difficult task only because, as a coach, I had never developed a lesson for a classroom. I was able to attend classes as a teachers aid and observe as lesson plans were administered by professionals with years of experience. I was able to translate some of my coaching techniques to teaching and became increasingly confident that I could teach and perform well enough to produce results from my pupils.

The students all seem so happy to see me everyday so I am especially proud of their gracious and respectful conduct so lacking in American public schools. Our students show up for each class eager to learn and eager to improve their English skills.

Being able to build confidence in your pupils or your respective staff is paramount to the long term success of any business endeavor. Happy and confident people will always perform better and continue to produce positive results given the proper instruction. Rewarding students of staff for achieving predetermined goals and giving recognition to those who show exemplary work ethic is the lifeblood of any successful organization.