"English is such an exciting subject. If pupils can find the fun in a subject, it makes learning a joy for them and opens up a whole different world. "

Bhishma Asare, Teacher of English & Founder, Rap Therapy

What made you want to be a teacher?

I teach English, and the biggest motivator for getting into teaching was the opportunity to work with young people. My mum suggested teaching, but I wasn’t really sure what career I wanted to pursue. I tried a few jobs, and then I became a Teaching Assistant, which was my gateway into education. I wanted to teach English in a way that I wasn’t taught – I was taught in a very black-and-white manner, but English is such an exciting subject, and I knew I could make it more than that. If pupils can find the fun in a subject, it makes learning a joy for them and opens up a whole different world. I did my PGCE at University College London, and when I was called for an interview, I was surprised because I knew that my undergraduate degree and my experience to date weren’t what they were typically looking for. When we started the interview, it became clear that my experience with Rap Therapy was a big reason I was selected, and as soon as I left the building, I received an email to say I had been offered a place on the course.

How did Rap Therapy start?

In 2017, I created an EP which got a lot of media attention. It was about my area and things that needed to change; it meant a lot to me. I was getting a lot of media attention, but I couldn't see how to leverage that into a career. I sat down with my brother in a coffee shop, and he challenged me to think of five things I could do to leverage this opportunity by the time he’d finished his sandwich. And he eats really quickly! The idea that really stuck with me was to help young people express themselves through rap. Rap Therapy was born, and we trialled it in a school in Croydon, working with four pupils initially. The feedback from staff was that it completely got those pupils back on track, which was amazing to hear. Now we have a team of eight people who work in schools across London, which I’m really proud of.

What would your advice be for anyone who wants to get into teaching?

Teaching is the best job in the world – the biggest challenge, in my opinion, is time management. Before I got into teaching, I had other jobs and tried lots of things, but I wasn’t passionate about them. I think it’s important not to be in a rush to know exactly what your career is going to be. Representation really does matter, and if you don’t see someone like you working in any industry, my advice would be to be that person! You then become the role model to inspire others in their career. My final tip would be to take advice from other teachers, but, like all people, everyone has their own experience, and one teacher’s opinion of their career will differ from every other, so make sure you speak to a variety of people.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Interacting with the pupils, for sure. When you’re explaining a concept to someone who’s unsure, and then they suddenly get it and you can see their expression change, that’s amazing. Also, when you see them implementing that in their work, it is really satisfying.  

You’ve written a book yourself, which was published earlier this year, but what are you reading at the moment yourself?

I’ve just finished 'Natives' by Akala and am currently reading 'Black Like Me' by John Howard Griffin. I’m actually a big audiobook fan, and if I’m driving, I will always listen to a book. I use them quite a lot in my teaching, as I think it’s such a good way to get the emotion of a story across to the pupils and spark their imagination. 

And finishing with rap, who is your favourite MC?

Oh, that’s hard! American artists – Papoose, J Cole, and Nas. UK artists – Wretch 32, Kano, and Getts for the energy.