Dear friends, we are glad to have Dr Jagdish Joshi with us. Dr Joshi works with Academic Staff College, Ahmedabad.
The interview questions were sent to Dr Joshi in a very short notice and so some of you might find it an interview conducted over Twitter 😉
Here goes the interview:
Tarun Patel: Sir, How long have you been teaching English in India?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: I have been teaching English in India for nearly fifteen years now.
Tarun Patel: Why did you decide to become an English language teacher?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: I decided to become a language teacher due to my passion and love of English Language.
Tarun Patel: Which writer / researcher has had the most influence over the way you understand learning and teaching?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: Habib, Dr Rajendrasinh Jadeja of H M Patel Institute of English Training & Research, Gujarat.
Tarun Patel: How did you find your first teaching job?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: Well, it is Interesting, challenging and satisfying.
Tarun Patel: What are the major challenges for an English teacher while teaching in Gujarat / India?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: Second language, more structural approach, not good knowledge of mother tongue.
Tarun Patel: What have you learned from being an English teacher?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: Privilege of  Learning and international language;  English is like my beloved/wife and Gujarati mother.
Tarun Patel: What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming an English teacher?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: Sharpen your mother tongue first, use it at most.
Tarun Patel: Please share some tips on becoming a ‘better’ English teacher.
Dr Jagdish Joshi: Concentrate on skill development.
Tarun Patel: How can ELTWeekly subscribers reach you?
Dr Jagdish Joshi: I welcome them to write me at joshijagdish AT yahoo DOT com.
Good evening. Being amidst the thick of the things, I could never communicate to you but you are doing an excellent job. congrats, keep on doing the same.