English Teaching Qualities

Teaching is a difficult occupation, Teachers play an essential part in training children, teenagers,... etc. although every great teacher has their own special, unique style, a good teacher must have some special qualities. Which are: knowledge, authority, confidence, empathy, sense of humor and passion.

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

Knowledge

Knowledge is One of the most important qualities for a teacher to have. A good teacher should understand the major concepts and have an understanding of the subject that they teach and be able to demonstrate a large knowledge of the subject matter, and also need to increase her general knowledge on culture, society, biology, geography… to provide students what they want to know.

Also Read: Can I get a work visa to teach English in the Czech Republic?

Authority

The second quality a teacher should have is authority. What I mean is that she must show that she is the teacher and that she has sometimes to be strict to prove that. This quality is so important, because if she is too friendly in class, nobody will listen to her, and the students will do anything they want. I recall a very good teacher myself that we had in our school. He was a great teacher, but he was too friendly to the students and they disrespect him and even threw objects at him, and he didn't know what to do about it. However, a good teacher needs to believe that she can solve any problem that she faces in the classroom. A teacher is a window through which many young people will see their future, so she has to be a great role model. she needs to show her confidence, that way the teacher can teach students how to believe in themselves. Empathy is the fourth quality. A teacher must have the ability to bond with the students, to understand and acknowledge their feelings and emotions.

She needs to put herself in the students’ situation to understand and solve their problems. A good teacher must know that the aggression, negative attitudes in some students have a root reason. This will keep the teacher calm and have control and he will gain the students' love and respect.

Also Read: How long are TEFL contracts?

Humor

For teachers, a sense of humor is key to surviving. Teachers' sense of humor is very useful in creating a classroom climate and a healthy and enjoyable learning process. By telling funny stories, joking with the students, a teacher can make the class more enjoyable and makes students pay attention to the lessons. And most importantly, with its sense of humor, a teacher would show that she is a person who has a personality and mental health, to enjoy life, and be able to live a normal life without the stress of her career.

Also Read: Do I need a visa to teach English abroad?

Interest for work

Last but not least, a good teacher must be passionate about what he/she does. Teachers with passion, work with enthusiasm; their dedication and commitment grow and they believe in the importance of their job which in turn yield improvements in student learning. Also, Passionate teaching makes students take their studies more seriously. At this point, teaching isn't considered a job only but also an inspiration for the students.

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Lastly, if any teacher has these characteristics and qualities, whether the teacher wants to teach in an elementary school or a university, she/he can become a great teacher.

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