Katie's Love to Learn entry talks about her journey from inspired pupil to teacher and the impact that learning has had on her life. Let us know what you think in the comments below!

I have always been interested in learning. From being a little girl in reception refusing one morning to go to school, I have many good memories of learning and learning places. Of course, that morning I only wanted to stay at home because it was far more exciting. I had my little vegetable patch at home and that weekend had been learning about all of the vegetables I could grow.

The love of learning grew

Once my parents and elderly neighbour had convinced me that going to school that morning was not the worst thing, I enjoyed the rest of that day. I was taught by many teachers during my time at the primary school and each of them I remember with happy memories, including Miss Busby the music teacher who played the same classical piece of music on the piano every assembly. I am an inquisitive learner and even now I like to know about everything and anything.

I like to read leaflets, notice boards and newspapers. I became the ‘vocab queen’ of the French class when I was in the second year of high school and continued to have a thirst for knowledge. My desire to learn has given me so many opportunities. My first significant memory of France was going to Bolougne, playing rounders on a beach and then eating biscuits all week in the hotel as I did not like the French food! The experience of going to the market and using real French with real French people was fabulous.

Going on to teach

By sixth form I had decided that I was going to become a dentist or a French teacher. I opted for the latter and with this, at the age of 17, I started to study Spanish too at a local night class. I was the youngest by about 40 years! However, I enjoyed this experience and from it I realised that I had a real passion for languages. I went to University from here and studied French and a bit of Spanish. I spent my year abroad in Murcia and Dijon making friends, learning about life and culture whilst writing my dissertations on learning and education. When I became a teacher after finishing at university, I decided that I would love to take part in job shadows, learning how other people in other countries learn.

Inspiring a new generation

I have enjoyed making friends and meeting new colleagues along the way. Now as a teacher of almost 18 years in one school I have started to teach children of children I taught during my first few years. It's fascinating to meet ex pupils in the supermarket or street and they say ‘I remember when….’ and something they did in the class such as writing a penfriend letter or taking part in a school trip I organised is a distant, happy memory for them.

Learning all of the time, I have taken on the role of not only teaching a modern foreign language but also engaging with the wider community. For example, working part time has allowed me to get involved in a project at Martin Mere wetland centre too. There have been other things too that are unrelated to my role in school, such as when I and others from the education team had to dress as stone age people, learning how to thatch and living as they would have done (just for the day). Highly amusing I know but I enjoyed every part.

Seeking out new learning challenges

Now my journey moves on. I have secured a post at another local school, waiting for new challenges. I read on the gym wall ‘If it doesn’t change you, it doesn’t challenge you’. I like that thought of being challenged and learning along the way. 

Has Katie's blog inspired you to write your own? Enter our Love to Learn competition before midnight on the 28th February and you could win a £100 Waterstone's Voucher (T&C's apply)

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