CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITIES OF A GOOD TEACHER:

Following are the characteristics and qualities of a good teacher:

1. Friendly and Congenial:

I think the most important characteristic of a good teacher can have is to be friendly and congenial
with his students. It is a plus point for a teacher, if his students can share their problems with him,
without being afraid or hesitant. I think students have always thoughts their teachers as their
enemies (in a funny sense though :p). With this mentality, they can never be close to each other,
and besides that how many teachers did you like who were NOT friendly, and were rather arrogant
and rude?

2. Personality:

A good teacher has a very good personality; there is no second thought about it. Students always
get attracted to teachers with good personality and characteristics which leads to better
communication, understanding and ultimately good results. Everyone can have a good, decent,
likable and presentable personality. Just dress sensibly good, smell good, and be a little gentle
and kind. That's all.

3. Knowledge and Teacher's Education:

Another important characteristic of a good teacher is his knowledge and own education. As there
is a saying that 'a teacher is only as good as his knowledge is'. After all, he is doing a teacher's
job, which is to teach. If he himself lacks in the knowledge of a certain subject that he teaches, he
is never going to make a name for himself as a good teacher. So, sign up with only that subjects
which you have really good expertise; and it is a moral duty of every teacher too. Otherwise, it is
not worth it.

4. A Good Communicator:

One of the very important characteristics of a good teacher is his communication skills. He should
be a very good speaker. This characteristic will benefit a teacher in several ways. For example:

i) If his communication skills are good, he can convey his lectures with better skill and results.

ii) If a teacher is a good speaker, his class strength increases automatically. People love to hear a
person who he can speak well enough. There is always a shortage of good speakers in the
world ;)

5. A Good Listener:

Apart from being a good communicator, a good teacher should also have the characteristic of
being an even better listener. As there is Turkish proverb:

"If speaking is silver; then listening is gold."

Remember, a good listener will always have many friends and fans. Because people do not want
to hear every time, they need persons who can listen to them as well. And when a good teacher
develops this patient quality in himself, he starts to become a great teacher. 

6. Good sense of humor:

A good teacher should also have the quality and characteristic of having a good sense of humor. It
is a logical fact, that a person generally teaches the next generation and as they are younger than
the teacher, they are expected to have more fun in the class too. So, a good teacher is the one
who can cope up with his sense of humor, and with his strong communication skills and
personality, can also maintain the discipline of the class. 

7. Be Kind:

The last but obviously one of the most important characteristics of a good teacher to have in his
box of qualities. He should be a gentle, kind, chivalrous and a benevolent person. Students should
love him, and when they do love him, they idolize him. Then ultimately, they will respect him, will
do his homework and eventually will bring greater outputs and results.

Why did you choose this/these subject(s)?

I choose to study languages because they help your brain worth better and faster. I also
like to study history, but I do that on a much more informal basis. I simply read about
any subject that I’m interested in.

Which topic/subject do you find the most difficult/interesting?

In school, I hated math with a passion. I read that some people’s brains simply aren’t
very well-attuned to studying math, and I feel like I’m one of those people who just can’t
get it, and the concepts behind it.

What do you plan to do when you finish studying?

Well, as I said, I think studying is a lifelong journey. I think that if you stop using your
brain, then that’s the beginning of the end for you.

Is there anything else you would like to study in the future?

There’s so much I don’t know. But I’d like to keep studying history and languages for as
long as I’m capable of doing so.

Part II: Group Discussion (Cont’d)

Describe a teacher who you really did not like. You should say:

 who the teacher was

 what kind of person they were
 what their lessons were like

and explain why you didn’t like them.

My third-grade teacher was named Mrs. Marshall. She taught us every subject possible.
She was a Christian lady who could be a little strict and stern. Her lessons were decent,
and we all learned a lot, but she didn’t have any patience for any student who couldn’t
keep up, or who had a lot of questions. I was also sort of a troublemaker and a class
clown, and she didn’t like that at all. She always put me in time-out or she’d make me go
to after school detention. I think she was within her right to do this (now that I look
back), but when I was a kid, I hated that she always punished me.

Additional Questions

Do you think anyone can be a good teacher with practice?

I think so. If you do anything enough, you’ll start to become skilled at it. You just have to
put in the hours in the classroom and see what’s working and what’s not. I’m not saying
that you’ll become a master teacher, but you can definitely become competent.

What qualities do you think a good teacher should have?

I think a teacher should be patient, understanding, open, and friendly. They should also
be able to adapt to the classroom situation and the student’s needs, and improvise and
adjust a lesson plan on the fly, if need be.

Would you like to be a teacher? Why /why not?

I already am a teacher, so I think the answer is pretty clear. I enjoy it most of the time,
because I like talking and working with the students. But there’s still days when you don’t
feel like going to work. Still, I’d rather do this job than I would almost anything else.

Part III: Class Discussion

Do you think the majority of teachers are good at their job? No, but I would say a
majority of them are competent. In America, there are many measures in place to
evaluate teachers and their productivity, and to ensure that they do a good job if they
want to stay employed.

Teachers often complain about being overworked. Do you agree?

I think if you work in a public school, then you’re in danger of this. In American schools,
teachers work a full day, and then have to attend meetings and grade homework and
exams. It seems like an exhausting life.

What can be done to improve the quality of teaching in schools?

Improvements should be made at the institutional level. What I mean by this is that
teachers should be trained better while they’re still earning their credentials. Methodology
must be modified before they start teaching, so that they have the right tools to teach
before they even step into a classroom.

Should teachers be allowed to hit students who misbehave very badly?

I think so, but just a little tap on the shoulder or back of the head. In America, you can’t
do this (it’s viewed as assault) and that’s created a generation of entitled brats, I think.
What do you think can be done to improve discipline in schools?

This is a hard one. I think it starts at home. You have to remind parents that it’s
important for them to tell their kids to respect teachers. If this isn’t done, then at school,
kids will act like spoiled princes and princesses.

What would you do to improve the education system if you were the Minister for
Education?

I would encourage more creative thinking. I think using your brain in unconventional
ways is a great way for you to grow and find out what you’re capable of.
Part 2-style task

Describe a time during your education that you really enjoyed. You should say:

> when this period was

> where you were

> what you were studying at the time

and say why you were so happy.

Caroline:  I’d like to tell you about my time at university … I was a mature student … I didn’t go to university
until I was 25 … and it was my first time away from my parents so it was very exciting … I was doing a
Bachelors Degree and it was a bit of a challenge … some people take a year out but I’d been away from
education for 8 years … plus I had to work my way through uni so I was very busy … and sitting exams at
the end of each year was a new experience for me as well but I really enjoyed higher education  learning
about a subject I loved … history … and the social life was great as well … I don’t think I’ve ever had so many
friends … I had my graduation ceremony last year in the local cathedral and I know my parents were really
proud … so yes … that was a really happy time … I’m thinking of doing a Masters Degree soon … though that
might be through distance learning as I have a full-time job now …