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English teaching is an art form and like any other art form, it requires dedication and perseverance. If we were to ask each student what makes a great English teacher, we would end up with a myriad of answers. I think one of the most important qualities that an English teacher should have is patience. We cannot build rapport with students in the absence of patience. Most would argue that a good command over the English language is the ”it” factor when choosing the most suitable English teacher. In general patience and flexibility are what actually helps a teacher build rapport with their students. Students all learn at different paces and have different requirements, so a good teacher must be able cater to each of their individual needs. A good teacher knows how to connect with their students, either through humor or sharing common experiences and these are some of the characteristics of a good communicator. Being able to impart the English knowledge to your students requires years of experience, which for some, comes with a lot of trial and error. A teacher with good communication skills will know how to read their students. They will be able to read if their students are keeping up with the lesson and actually understanding what is being taught. Being a good listener is also very important in that it helps the student know that the teacher actually cares and is taking the time to address their English needs. Being well prepared and organized is an exceptional quality seen in good English teachers. Getting lesson material ready in time and having the lessons organized in a way that the students can follow and digest, help tremendously. Some teachers are so carried away with teaching that they forget to actually teach the students. It’s always important to have a self analysis of one's day of teaching, and see where and how their lesson could have been better and whether they managed to have some progress with the students. Knowing when to change teaching methods not only helps drastically improve the learning curve of the students but it also helps build a better relationship with the students. They will know that you have their best interests in mind and are doing your best to push them towards their English learning goals. Some teachers are blessed with a lot of great qualities, but as teachers we all have to work on our craft. Experience goes a long way, but constantly striving to improve our teaching methods, ourselves and the way we connect with our students will ensure that our classes will always have quality. We want to provide students with a learning environment that will actually motivate them to learn and know that the English language can be fun even after a stressful day at work or when they are not in the mood to study. I've always been a firm believer that a teacher with high EQ, can actually be a good motivator and educator. To sum it up, there's no perfect recipe for being the best English teacher, but we have a pool of wonderful teaching methods and qualities that every teacher can add to their repertoire.
