The Practical Importance of a Teacher in a Classroom
People might think that teachers' job is easy and anyone can do it as effectively as they can. In reality, they have lots of duties and responsibilities to play and fulfill. In fact, teachers play a very special role in education. The education system wouldn't be possible without them.
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Julie Ann P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
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Lesson Planning and Creating the Material
Even before the class starts, teachers are PLANNERS and DESIGNERS. They plan for every day's lessons and design activities that will be effective for his/her students. This requires time and careful designing. If the plan is not carefully made, the whole lesson will not be successful. Additionally, designing for the materials you are about to use in the class also matters. You have to gain the student's attention and interest in a class, part of it will depend on your materials and the activities you have prepared. Teachers must be creative in deciding what materials will be effective for each set of students he/she has.
Also read: Group Teaching or Private Lessons?
Knowledge Transferring and Advice Giving
Teachers are also considered as the FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE. As the saying says, "You cannot teach what you do not know", teachers must also know what he/she will teach before coming to class. However, being the fountain of knowledge doesn't mean that teachers will be just talking inside the classroom. Effective teachers are also FACILITATORS. 21st-century teachers must know the disadvantages of a teacher-centered class. As facilitators, they should encourage students to learn by themselves. Allowing them to work in pairs and in groups are the best ways to establish a student-centered class. This is also a good way to address the different types of students. Surely, it will help some students to build their confidence and to also be able to express their thoughts and brainstorm with their group mates or classmates. But, keep in mind that designing these activities alone will surely help students learn. A teacher is also a MENTOR and TUTOR. Personally helping your students and giving time to help and talk to them will surely contribute to the students' development. At times, there will be students who will need more attention from the teacher. Giving a one-on-one talk or even doing house visit (public school teachers) will help us know more about the child's situation and understand them better. This means teachers are also LISTENERS and ADVISERS. Teachers are also LEARNERS inside the class. It is given that they have more knowledge about the lesson, but it should not be a reason not to learn from the students as well. As much as possible, teachers must encourage students to also share what they know in class and learn from them too. Giving them a chance to speak and share is a help to build their confidence. This is also an indicator that the student/s are interested in the topic.
Also read: Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach abroad?
Evaluating and Assessing
One major role of a teacher is being an EVALUATOR or ASSESSOR too. Learning of the student must always be measured at the end of the day to say that the lesson was successful. It is the responsibility of the teachers to prepare activities or examinations and be able to see the students that excelled and who needs more attention.
Are you ready to teach English abroad?
Teachers, indeed, play a lot of roles in education. In fact, in some countries, they are also expected to be ROLE MODELS, not only for the students but also for the whole community. People have a high expectation towards teachers, and this high expectation also carries a big responsibility for the teachers. Some might think that being a teacher is simple, but, we do not know how much responsibilities they have. Handling these roles all at once will make us realize how hard it is to be teachers.
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