A1–A2 Version

When I was a little child, I wanted to be a crossing guard. They help children cross the street. I thought the job was cool because of the bright vest and the big stop sign. (In the UK, people call them “lollipop ladies” because the sign looks like a lollipop!)

Later, I wanted to be a teacher. I was always curious and asked many questions. Teachers looked magical to me. They seemed to know everything, so I wanted to be like them.

As I grew up, I changed my mind many times. I thought about being an archaeologist, but I didn’t want to work in the hot sun. I thought about being a lawyer, but after a class trial, I decided no. I studied English literature, then East Asian Studies and anthropology. Later, I went to Japan and taught English.

 

Since then, I have tried other jobs, but I always return to teaching. I think it is because I love learning and I am curious. Teaching makes me happy because I can share knowledge and meet new people. My students also teach me many things, so I learn while I teach. That is why this job is special.

B1 Version

When I was a small child, the first job I wanted was crossing guard. They are the people who help children cross the street. I thought it looked exciting because of the reflective vest and big stop sign. (In the UK, crossing guards are called “lollipop ladies,” because the sign looks like a lollipop!)

After that, I became interested in teaching. I was always very curious and asked a lot of questions. Teachers seemed amazing to me because they always had answers. I decided that one day I would become a teacher too.

As I grew older, I thought about many other careers. I considered being an archaeologist, but I didn’t like the idea of working all day under the sun. Then I wanted to be a lawyer, but a class mock trial showed me it was not for me. I loved learning, so I studied English literature, and later East Asian Studies and anthropology. That choice brought me to Japan, where I taught English. I had taken a long road, but I finally became a teacher.

 

Since then, I have tried different jobs, but I always return to teaching. What always brings me back is my love of learning and my curiosity. Teaching allows me to share knowledge and meet interesting people. My students also share their experiences with me, so I learn a lot from them, too. That is what makes teaching so special.

B2-C1 Version

Do you remember the first thing you dreamt of becoming when you were a little child? For me, it was “crossing guard”—one of those people who help kids cross the street at intersections. To be fair, I was in elementary school, and I guess the job looked pretty cool with its reflective safety vest and big stop sign. (By the way, did you know that they call “crossing guards” lollipop ladies in the UK? It’s because the sign they hold looks like a lollipop! If that’s what we call them in Canada, my attraction to the job would have made more sense!) Once I overcame my infatuation with that occupation, my fixation shifted to teaching. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a curious person - much to the dismay of my parents (and much later, Japanese coworkers) who had to deal with a constant barrage of whys. Eager to learn, teachers appeared to me like magical beings, the very incarnation of the fount of knowledge. It seemed to me that there wasn’t anything they didn’t have the answer to, and so I decided I would become a teacher myself. As I got older, I changed my mind a few times about what career would suit me. I could have become an archeologist, but the idea of spending hours toiling under the sun with a toothbrush convinced me otherwise. Then I considered becoming a lawyer, until our class’ mock trial showed me that idea was better off shelved. All the while, I still loved learning, so I decided to study English literature and have an academic career. However, one encounter changed my life, and I ended up majoring in East Asian Studies and anthropology before landing in Japan, where I taught English. I had taken a long detour, but I was back to the job of teacher. Following that, I took many more roads away from teaching, and yet, here I am yet again, helping people improve their language skills! I think what ultimately always brings me back here is my passion for learning and my curiosity. I love teaching because it allows me to share with others knowledge that brings me joy, and, of course, to meet new people, which is a way for me to feed my curiosity since I get to meet plenty of interesting people and hear their life stories. So I might be the teacher, but I also learn a lot from my students, and that’s what makes this job so unique.