Teach English in Penyao Zhen - Zhumadian Shi

Most people think that a teacher's sole responsibility is to impart knowledge in the classroom. Yes, imparting knowledge or facilitating learning is only one responsibility of teachers. In an age where parents are increasingly shirking their responsibilities in bringing up children, it is also the teacher's responsibility to assist in developing the desirable characteristics or moral values of students. When children are born, they have no manners and a general sense of what is right and wrong. Good loving parents will teach a child the difference between right and wrong and develop other desirable characteristics such as good manners and honesty. But what if parents don't teach their children? Can we say, therefore, that kids are bad because they have no desirable characteristics? No, we can't. It is the responsibility of the teacher to inculcate desirable characteristics into the education of students. If the teacher fails to even try to do this, he or she is a bad teacher. The characteristics of good teaching include the responsibilities of a teacher. Besides being a source of knowledge and truth and facilitator of learning, a good teacher works endlessly to foster the desirable characteristics of students. Honesty and integrity are so very important in life. In the classroom, students must be taught not to cheat on tests, not to copy classmates' homework, and not to tell lies to the teacher and others. A teacher can guide kids to be honest by setting a good example in class. The instructor should always be honest in his dealings with the class. A wise teacher will also read and tell his class stories about honesty and dishonesty, and how dishonesty is never really rewarded. Every teacher wants his pupils to love school and be eager to learn. Nothing is worse than having an unhappy kid who doesn't want to learn come into the classroom. In generating enthusiasm or avidity for learning, a teacher must be a good motivator. The teacher can do this by creating a very interesting classroom environment, and by using textbooks and other audiovisual materials which are fun to hear, read, and study. The teacher can also be dynamic in class in his or her relationship with students. Thomas Edison once said that genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Anyone who really wants to achieve a goal has to set his or her mind to it and work at it. Ambition and hard work must begin in the schools and classrooms. Students must not be allowed to be lazy, and they should be required to complete all assignments on time. Pupils should also work up to their abilities. A good teacher will get his students ambitiously working hard by offering them rewards. These rewards would include comments such as "excellent" or "nicely done" on tests and assignments. They also would include recognition for being number one in the class or getting the highest grade on a test. A teacher can do this by announcing the highest achieving student in class or by posting their names on the classroom bulletin board, for example, as being the student of the month. Curiosity is a desirable characteristic which is missing from many students. There are just too many pupils who accept everything they hear or read and don't question its veracity. Many students have never learned how to ask questions to find out more about a topic they are studying. A good wise teacher will run a student-centered classroom and teach inductively. A Socratic method should be used to lead students to ask questions to get their answers. Student responsibility is one of the most important desirable characteristics. Being responsible and held accountable for one's actions is a necessary behavior for all members of society. There is no better place than the classroom to learn to be responsible. Students must be responsible and held accountable for bringing their books and school supplies to class, turning in assignments on time, making up missed assignments, and being punctual to class. As for all desirable characteristics, the teacher sets a good example by being punctual to class and having all of his lessons prepared. There should be both rewards and punishments for ensuring the responsibility of students. The punishments could include staying after class or doing extra assignments. If a student is going to care about others and display good manners, he or she should have self-esteem. Students must learn to love themselves and take pride in their appearance and clothing. They must feel good about themselves and have self-confidence. Here the teacher can play a big part in developing a student's self-esteem. The teacher can do this by showing concern and love for the student, and by giving the student attention and every opportunity to succeed. Working with others is a necessary part of classroom life. In fostering a good learning environment, it is worthwhile for pupils to join in discussion groups and work together on projects. A teacher sets an example by showing kids hows to work together on a class project. Students could also observe a teacher working closely with another teacher in team teaching. There isn't one teacher who doesn't like a student who is kind and helpful to the teacher and other classmates. Students can exhibit this by doing classroom tasks such as erasing the board for the teacher or helping him or her pass out books and papers. A kind and helpful student will also tutor weaker students in the class. A teacher sets an example by being kind and helpful to his students. Public-mindedness is a desirable characteristic for everyone in society. There is no better place than school to develop this civic responsibility. Students should be expected not to litter, and to volunteer to carry benches and chairs to be set up for a school assembly. Teachers can develop this desirable behavior by setting a good example by not littering and picking up trash in public areas. A good teacher could also show his students films about pollution and global warming and discuss these topics. In preparing students for their roles in society, the development of desirable characteristics or moral values of students cannot be overlooked. If teachers avoid this responsibility, in the future there will be more deviant behavior problems in society. Teachers are founts of experience. They have already been where their students are going, undergone what they will go through and are in a position to pass along lessons, not only regarding subject matter, but lessons on life.