5 Films That Made Me Want to Become an English Teacher
Here are five that made me want to become a teacher… particularly an English teacher:
Dead Poets Society
Teaching is often misunderstood as the delivery of knowledge.
But Dead Poets Society reminds us that it is something much deeper.
It’s about helping children see the world differently.
To notice beauty.
To think for themselves.
To feel something.
At its best, teaching wakes children up to life.
The History Boys
This film captures something difficult to explain, but instantly recognisable to anyone who has experienced great teaching:
The electricity of ideas.
The way language can come alive in a room.
The way a teacher can stretch a child’s thinking beyond what they thought possible.
It’s a reminder that education is not just about answers — but about curiosity.
Dangerous Minds
Not every child walks into a classroom believing they can succeed.
Some have already decided they can’t.
Dangerous Minds is a powerful reminder that teaching is, at its core, an act of belief.
Belief in children who may not yet believe in themselves.
And sometimes, that belief is what changes everything.
To Sir, With Love
At the heart of this story is something simple, but often overlooked:
Respect.
Great teaching isn’t built on control.
It’s built on relationships.
When children feel seen, respected, and held to high expectations, they rise.
Connection comes first. Learning follows.
Matilda
If there was ever a film that captured the magic of reading, it’s Matilda.
Books are not just tools for learning.
They are escapes, companions, and doorways into new worlds.
And one kind, attentive adult can completely change the course of a child’s life.
A Final Thought
These films all tell the same story in different ways:
Teaching is not just about what we teach.
It’s about how we make children feel.
When we help children learn to read, we’re not just teaching a skill.
We’re giving them access to ideas, imagination, and independence.
Whether you’re a parent reading at bedtime, or a teacher in a classroom…
You are doing something that matters more than you might realise.