Week XVI

 

This week was also filled with new topics, following with the trend where we described the types of learners, now it's time to talk about the teachers. In order to determine the quality of a teacher, we must take into consideration the following aspects:

1. Teacher’s role in the classroom.
2. As an organizer prior to a lesson.
3. As performers (activity-behavior). 
4. Their rapport (+ or -).
5. As teaching aids (input, gestures).
6. As native or non-native speakers.

The teacher as an organizer

It is important to remember that teachers always plan their lessons and reflect on them before, during, and after these have been developed.

Teachers as performers

Upon what they are doing, teachers vary their behavior. In other words, the activity that is being developed inside the classroom shapes the way teachers act. 

Rapport

A. Recognizing students 🡪 Students love it when their teachers know their names.

B. Listening to students 🡪 Students respond very well to teachers who listen to them. 

C. Respecting students 🡪 Especially at the moment of being corrected. Teachers should have their emotions in check.

D. Being even-handed 🡪 Even though some teachers have “favorites”, they should try to treat all students equally because not only does it help to establish and maintain rapport, but it is also a mark of professionalism. 

The teacher as a teaching aid

Even though most of the teachers always have many resources available, they sometimes have to convey meaning and instruction through their expressions, body language, and pronunciation. 

Native-speaker teachers VS Non-native-speaker teachers

Strengths of non-native-speaker teachers: since they went to the experience of learning a foreign language, they understand the struggles and needs of their students. 

Strengths of native-speaker teachers: their knowledge and competence on the language they teach is greater and more natural.