Thu, 09 Apr 2020

What is a Teacher and What is Their Responsibility in the Classroom?

The role of the teacher is to guide the student to success. They are the main source of motivation, knowledge of the subject, and plays a key role in the possible atmosphere of the classroom. The vitality of the role cannot be understated because it is the difference between helping the student reach their full potential or failure to learn the subject matter. From the beginning, the teacher must let the students know that they care and all questions are welcomed so that it becomes an open space to create opportunities to learn.

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

Teachers’ Attitude and Behavior

Subconsciously by the way the teacher acts will tell the student if they care about the student's well being and success. Unfortunately, I have had experiences as a student, sitting in front of a teacher, that does not care. I could tell from their lack of enthusiasm, knowledge of the subject, and unwillingness to build rapport with the students as individuals. As a future teacher, I will change that I wished for a student.

Also Read: What are the start up costs for teaching English abroad?

My Usual Routine

In the first hour of the first lesson I will introduce myself, and then immediately tell the classroom of students that they belong in this classroom. Studies have shown that if the teacher shows genuine interest in the student's success and is told that they are competent and capable of being successful, the students more likely to score higher in the class overall.

The second value I will instill in my future students is the high importance of learning English and what positive opportunities it could bring in to their lives. Learning English will give them a chance to speak the universal language of the world so that they are more likely to be successful in their future careers with two or more languages on their resumes, no matter what field they eventually pursue.

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My tactic for keeping the students interested in the subject matter is creating a variety of tasks that help all types of learners. As a teacher, it is important to recognize that every student learns differently. Some are audio learners and memorize material better if it is in a song, whereas others are visual learners and would benefit more from flashcards with pictures of an item and the translation underneath. Depending on the age of the classroom of students I may be teaching kids who are hyperactive and need physical stimulation as well. If I were to teach young learners every hour I would add in a fifteen-minute physical activity incorporating or testing what was just taught so that the kinesthetic learners, as well as the students with too much energy, can stretch out or burn it off. Recognizing the different types of learners and ranges of energy levels in the classroom is a vital and sadly overlooked aspect of the students that need to be recognized. For example, my experience in the U.S. education system was one of the teachers teaching to help students pass exams, not to impart knowledge that will last a longer period.

Also Read: How much can I earn teaching English in Costa Rica?

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As a future teacher, I will not underestimate the potential knowledge and success I can impart to my students. I would pay attention to each student's needs and create fun activities that help the student learn and grow as a person and an English speaker. I will incorporate teaching methods that help all types of learners including auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. I wholeheartedly believe that the student's success will equal to the teacher's success.

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