Liezel White,

When did your journey start as a teacher?

I started teaching in 2017 at Tsumeb Gimnasium.



Which subjects and grades do you teach?

I teach Afrikaans first language to grades eight to 12 and Bible studies to grade eight.



Was teaching always something you wanted to do?

While I initially had a language degree and a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad, the school (which is my alma mater) contacted me to be an English teacher. I decided to take the offer, but things at the school changed and I ended up giving Afrikaans instead. I didn't see myself as a teacher at first.

Although everyone always told me that I would make a good teacher. Then I saw that I could make a change in kids’ lives and I loved what I was doing. This inspired me to start my studies in education, and now I am almost done with a postgraduate diploma in education at IOL.



What is the most challenging thing as a teacher?

In my subject, it would be that learners don't think Afrikaans is difficult. The common notion is that you don't study for Afrikaans, and they don't realise that although it is their home language, it is a first language and that it can be complicated as well. In general, I think teaching is much harder work than people realise. We don't work until 13:00 and have the rest of the afternoon off. It is also a job where you are unappreciated by others and what you do is not always acknowledged. You only get a few 'thank yous', and a lot a critique.



What do you love about your profession?

I love that I get to work with young adults and challenge how they think. As a teacher, I never have a dull moment; no one day is the same. Some days are chaotic and others less so, but each day brings a teachable moment. I also get to meet a lot of different kinds of people from different areas of education and you get to learn from them. Teaching is the one profession where you never stop learning. I love that learners let you into their world and in a sense teach you a couple of things. They really make it worth all the work and effort.



What would you be if you didn’t become a teacher?

I always dreamt about becoming a flight attendant, but then I learnt that there is a height restriction, and I don't qualify. So, the next best thing for me was to be translator and interpreter. I love languages and the doors that knowing different languages can open for you.

What keeps you motivated and inspired to keep on teaching?

I love that moment you explain something to a child and suddenly they understand something that they struggled with. I love that learners can't wait for you to read a certain book or get carried away by a story that they are reading and even writing. I love it when a child who struggles with the subject starts to do better and you see that they put even more effort into the work. And I love teaching the most because I get to shape minds and teach them about the grace of God.



What do you enjoy in your free time?

I am a bookworm. I love to read and I usually overload my suitcase with books and then I buy new ones while on holiday. I also love to do gardening. I think I am a flower collector; I love to be surrounded by lovely flowers, so I plant them everywhere possible. I spend a lot of time on our farm as well and I love the outdoors.



What is the greatest thing you have ever achieved?

There are a couple of moments in my life that stand out, but for me personally there was this one time when I taught matric for the second year and I got the highest results for Afrikaans. I must add that it was against a lot of odds and I didn't even believe that I could do it. Although those results depend a lot on the learner with the highest average, it inspires me to work for it each year and to reach that achievement again.



Do you have any motivation for prospective teachers?

Yes, teaching is a very rewarding profession. You grow so much as a person. I love the words of John Ortberg: "If you want to walk on the water, you need to get out of the boat". This applies so teaching for me. If you want to have results, you need to work hard for it. And when your hard work pays off, it is more rewarding than you can ever imagine. Teaching isn't just a profession; you give a little bit of your heart to each child and later they become yours. You will dream of and for them and at the end of matric, you will even pray for them. And the most rewarding part is when a learner sees you years later and thanks you for something that you did for them. It is in that moment that I thank the Lord for putting teaching on my path, because it made me a better person that I ever thought I could be.