I most certainly do. To start with, I swear I am not this camp when I’m outside the classroom!
I also magically gain the ability to sustain a conversation without pauses, something that students are shocked to find disappears outside those hallowed walls- hence absolutely no socialising with students.
And you?
TEFLtastic 
Absolutely Alex!
But not only personality …. Mood. On the dreariest of days I can be sunny and cheerful all the way through the lesson and out the other end.
:-)
Chris
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Alex,
I’m much the same and when I work with teachers, I really truly try to get them thinking about creating a teaching persona.
When I was in teacher’s college, the mantra was “be yourself”. The worst advice you can give a teacher I believe. Yes, deep inside you are yourself but you also have to “get the job done” and that entails being whoever the environment demands.
During that time, I read a book called (if I remember correctly), “Teaching as Acting”. It really transformed me and he recommended that when you enter the class, you get a mental image of a confident, illuminative person and go with it. I did that religiously and now it is just automatic.
Teachers react the same to me, as you. Outside on the street, I’m not talkative at all for the most part. I’m completely different when needed in class.
Same with online too – we all have “voice” and “persona” and this can really be used effectively.
David
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Hi Alex,
I’d say that I’m a larger-than-life version of myself when I’m teaching most of the time, although like Chris I can (& do) switch moods if the need arises.
I would go along with the “Teaching as Acting” thing.
I have a drama degree & did a fair bit of acting and performing before becoming a teacher. I know a fair number of other teachers who come from some kind of performance background as well.
I think having (or consciously developing) performance skills can help a lot.
Sue
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I switched from elementary school to vocational school over a year ago. When teaching 11 year olds, I was definitely in a role. Something I didn’t enjoy to stay in for so long. When I switched to Vocational (16-23 year olds) I could drop the roleplaying and be myself more.
Although I do need to use certain behaviour more in class than I would in my personal life, I can say that I love being able to be myself for about 90% in class and that I can run into my students during weekends and not having to ‘put on my’ acting self.
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I have the same thing as you Erik, but with small classes as much as older students. The problem with small classes I have for a long time is that I become too much myself, and a little less of the real me would lead to much better classes!
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I used to be shy, quiet and reserved, so I developed a more outgoing, enthusiastic, jokey, interested in everything (yes, do tell me more about your experiences replacing the windows on your father’s house) classroom personality. If my students asked me about my ideal job I always told them that I wasn’t pretty enough to be an actress so I became an English teacher instead and I really do think that that statement had a lot more truth in it than my students ever believed.
And now after years of teaching I have forgotten where I stop and the teaching character begins. I have become my persona.
If talking to native speakers I have to make a huge effort to remind myself not to repeat everything three times, nor to greet all their sentences with enthusiatic nodding and encouraging noises. Before opening my mouth I also need to carefully consider how interesting they will find a lengthy lecture on how to protect gas papelines from acid soils.
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Hi Alex,
Sure I do! I am very shy in most settings, but completely change once I get into my classroom. I like what Sue said about being a “larger-than-life” version of myself in the classroom. I also agree with Chris and David. Weirdly (?!?) enough, thinking back my teaching persona doesn’t restrain herself to the 4 walls of my classroom. It also (frequently) emerges when I run into students outside the school… But I don’t feel like putting on an act, because the way I am in the classroom is also the way I am with my good friends. So maybe I am not as shy as I believe myself to be?
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I think any job requires us to become a different person. I know I am different with my students, but let’s be honest, I am different with all the staff at my school.
Isn’t that one of the requirements of getting paid to work? To be nice to everyone, care about everyone, and keep our personal problems out of the office.
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Absolutely not! I’m a miserable, tyrannical bastard when I’m in the classroom, and exactly the same at home. I do value consistency, y’see!
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I didn’t realise how much until my students started asking why I was so serious outside of class. Like the posters above, I’m much more of an actor/entertainer in class.
And evidently a boring sod out of it!
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I certainly do! To create a more positive atmosphere, i just become someone else, students like the way i’m in the classroom you know..sometimes i feel like i’m on a stage perfoming a play or a concert :) but students like when i’m cheerful, tough. that’s what matters i guess..
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I definitely change my personality when I’m in the classroom. I feel a lot happier and focused when I’m teaching. When I’m outside of the classroom I start to lose focus and wonder around in circles. I think I get lost if it wasn’t for teaching.
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Sometimes I drag myself into the classroom feeling on the edge of burnout, but when the class starts I get a sudden surge of energy. A similar thing is said to happen to actors on stage. Teaching / acting = a passion!
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I had an extreme form of what Carla said when I went into class on Saturday with a rapidly developing migraine (runs in the family) and left 90 minutes later feeling fairly okay.
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