Teacher Feature: Ms Železinger

Briefly describe your journey as a teacher.

I was always fascinated by how children learn and how they develop various skills at certain stages of life. Working with children and young people was already something that was part of my university psychology course and I enjoyed it immensely. I feel like the path had been set for my career early on, as I found myself teaching in all different areas and subjects, including music, drama, art and languages. Looking back, I realise that I have been teaching now for over 30 years and feel grateful for all of the opportunities and experiences I have had in a variety of educational settings in different countries.

Why did you decide to specialize in teaching?

I feel very lucky that I have been able to get involved in educating students of all ages on my teaching journey, which has given me a broad insight into what students need at various stages in order to grow as individuals, develop their social, emotional and academic skills and thus set foundations for adulthood. With recent research showing alarming decline in student mental health and wellbeing, effects of which are becoming apparent in many schools, my career path has taken me to further specialise in the field of student welfare and developing a PSHE programme across the school, which is incredibly important aspect of a well-rounded education. I firmly believe that students need to have the tools to help them navigate through not only academic but also social and emotional challenges in and out of the school setting. I am really excited to be working with staff that are committed to provide support for our students and to see more and more students getting involved in activities that promote awareness and importance of mental health and wellbeing.

What makes BISL such a unique place to work?

BISL to me is like a second home and this is mainly due to the fact that I have worked here since BISL was founded in 2008. What I particularly like about it is that it has remained a fairly small school and therefore everyone knows each other. There are many opportunities for teachers to learn and develop their practice, by getting involved in or offering activities in areas of interest. Students and staff are extremely friendly and there is a positive atmosphere, which is lovely to work in.

How would you describe a typical day at BISL?

There isn’t one really - the nature of my work means that every day there may be something new or unexpected that comes up, and I try to support and help as much as possible. There are also lots of events going on, so there is never y dull moment. Even in weekly lessons the students make sure they keep me on my feet!

What is the best part of your day at BISL?

Seeing students overcome their fears or challenges and succeed in something that they have persevered with. Having informative but also fun lessons with students, where they all take something away that will help them in the future.

Why is the experience of an international education important for a student?

International setting is crucial for learning about various cultures and traditions, developing language skills, and installing in students the importance of tolerance towards others and the beauty of diversity. If students can learn to appreciate the differences and work together to solve conflicts in a respectful way at school, this is a lesson for life that they can take with them anywhere their life journey may take them.