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Teacher
Features Profile

Andrew Hamilton Northern Ireland
Matrix International School

“My most memorable moments in teaching
are the interactions with the students: the
times when they have that ‘Eureka!’ moment,
or when you support them in overcoming
their own challenges, or the times they make
you smile by their words or actions.”

Subjects Taught What is the best thing about teaching
Year 6 IPC at your school?
The best thing about teaching in Matrix
How long have you been teaching? International School is the students. Their positive
Ten years. attitude to learning, eagerness to develop and
Parent Communication whole-child learning provision incorporating the arts, desire to achieve their dreams make me look
Parental involvement with their child’s school has sports, the environment, the development of creative Why did you become a teacher? forward to going to work each day.
been increasingly offered in a variety of ways. Some and independent learning skills, and extracurricular From a young age, I have always dreamt of being
international schools host classes focusing on a provision. School fees vary, often reflecting the range a teacher, so it allowed me to be focused in my Who or what inspires you?
range of skill development for parents from language of education provision. own studies of what I needed to achieve. My own Some of my former school teachers are my
and maths, to online safety. Many other schools educational experience, alongside being involved inspirations. They saw the potential in me from a
offer more social solutions for parents such as Notably throughout South East and Eastern Asia in youth work, was useful in identifying good young age and helped me to achieve my dream
coffee mornings and yoga classes, some of which is the increasing emergence of bilingual schooling. practice in learning and teaching to prepare me job. I still keep in contact with them and greatly
are currently being delivered online. Schools are also Some governments now insist on national students for the profession. In addition, I was grateful for appreciate the advice and support they continue
increasingly providing parents with ongoing access being provided with local culture, history, tradition the people who helped invest in me as a student to provide.
to their child’s learning journey and engagement with and language provision and this requirement can so I strongly believe it is important to do the same
teachers and leaders via a secure parent portal or app. include international schools. Many international for future generations – they will be our future Tell us about your online teaching experience.
schools independently recognise the value of this. leaders, medical and educational practitioners and Did you face any challenges?
Those schools with such provision already In addition, many parents want their child to value entrepreneurs. The positives of online learning are engaging
established found the experience of supporting their home language and cultural heritage as well ways to cover lesson content, students can learn
parents through COVID-19 more efficient and as becoming fluent English speakers. This is driving Tell us about your own education journey. and progress at their own pace and it reinforces
effective. The volume of communication with parents the growth of bilingual learning in international I studied at a teacher training college in Northern important life skills (e.g. time management, being
noticeably increased during this time as more schools and this now represents one third of Ireland for four years. disciplined, critical thinking). Some challenges I
parental participation in learning requirements and the world’s international schools market. This faced were overcoming internet connection issues
wellbeing support was required. As a result, there demand trend is another that is expected to grow in What is the most memorable moment for my class, having to take more time to help
has also been an effort by some schools to develop forthcoming years. in your teaching career so far? support students than being in the classroom
more creative forms of communication such as My most memorable moments in teaching are the and supporting students and staff in using online
pre-recorded video updates and live parent sessions interactions with the students: the times when they software.
through video conferencing solutions. Many parents Janelle Torres is the South East Asia Research have that ‘Eureka!’ moment, or when you support
will want this level of communication from their Consultant, part of the Field Research Team at them in overcoming their own challenges, or the While I will implement the valuable parts of online
school into the future. ISC Research. Janelle works with international times they make you smile by their words learning into day-to-day teaching, I still prefer being
schools throughout the region to gather the or actions. in the classroom with my learners.
Traditional Motivations for International crucial intelligence to enable ISC Research
School Selection Remain Strong to produce an accurate and comprehensive What do you like most about teaching? What lessons did you learn in 2020?
Whilst new school selection factors are emerging view of the international schools market. My favourite part of teaching is assisting in the Value the little things. We can often take for
as a result of COVID-19, the traditional reasons why ISC Research supports international schools progression that students make over an academic granted the small things in our life – teaching in
many parents choose an international school remain with their positioning, business planning and year. Every child has potential, sometimes they just a classroom, meeting with family and friends,
the same. These include the language or languages development strategy. For more information, need guidance on how to unlock it. going to buy food or eating at a restaurant. It has
of learning, the academic outcomes, the supported please visit www.iscresearch.com reminded me to appreciate them more.
pathways to global higher education, and the
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