Thu, 25 Jul 2019

Rocket Science of Being a Teacher

Teachers are arguably one of the most important figures in society. They are the people that shape and influence society. Teachers have been around since the beginning of time. Some remarkable teachers, such as Jesus and Buddha, continue to leave their influence on society today. Many great teachers have similar qualities. It doesn’t matter where they came from. What made them great was that they had a passion for what they taught, led by example, and had a sincere desire to make a difference. In my opinion, the role of a teacher is to have these three qualities and the rest will follow.

This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melissa V. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.

Teacher’s Attitude

If teachers have a passion for what they teach, it will have an effect on their students. Passion can be contagious and the students will feel more inspired to learn. By having a passion, the teacher will always be reading and updating him/herself. They will always be updated with what the best teaching methods and strategies are. In an ever-changing world, a teachers’ role is to be constantly updating themselves. Students are continuing to change in their needs and teachers need to adjust. Furthermore, research will continue to change on what the best teaching methods and strategies are.

Also Read: What a Year at Beijing Normal University Taught Me

Role Model

The next teacher’s role is to lead by example. For example, if a teacher is teaching a second language, they should also be trying to learn a second language. How can they convince their students that learning a second language is important if they are not learning a second language themselves? Furthermore, it helps them to better understand the difficulties students go through in learning a second language. Teachers will know what methods helped them to learn a second language can also help their students. This will make them a better teacher.

Lastly, a teacher needs to have a sincere desire to make a difference. Teachers have to do a lot of research and back work that they will not get paid for. However, a teacher that wants to make a difference will do these things without being asked. A teacher that cares about his/her students’ learning will do whatever it takes to make a great learning experience. This may mean buying learning materials with his/her own money or spending unpaid time to continuously educate and update him/herself. A teacher that sincerely wants to help will not keep score of these things.

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When the teacher has the three qualities listed, his/her role will become obvious. The teachers’ role is to do everything in their power to become the best teacher they can be. This means constantly reading and updating oneself about great teaching methods. This means constantly educating oneself on the material that they are teaching. Lastly, teachers need to care about their students. By developing a rapport and getting to know their students, they will know how to cater to their individual needs. The students will not feel afraid to communicate their struggles and the teacher will be able to help them better. This is what I feel the role of the teacher should be.

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