Rodrigo

How can an intelligent teacher apply empathy in English Language classroom correctly?
How can a teacher avoid falling into the empathy trap? How does tactical empathy help
English teachers level up and construct correct rapport in their classrooms? 

Introduction

Empathy is one of the best qualities humans could have, because it helps us to understand the
feeling and behaviors of others. In classrooms it could be used as a tool which helps the teachers
to connect with their students in other to create a better learning environment.

The only problem of being empathic is when one person cares more about others´ feelings than
his ouns; it is called empathy trap. To avoid failing in this situation, the person who is empathic
should always be prepared to explore and meet his/her own needs.

Empathic could be used as a tool in classrooms which helps teachers to connect and influence on
their students, it is called tactical empathy; a good example could be when a student who has a
good ability for a subject is going through a bad situation, and teacher could try to be empathic
and create a confident relation with the purpose of helping this student to become confident in
him/herself again. However, one person can use tactical empathy in a bad way or to reach wrong
purpose according to what people consider correct behavior; therefore, being empathic is not just
a way to act, it should be a way to be.

Bearing that in mind teachers should be able to create a healthy learning environment for
students by being empathic and using it as a valuable tool to influence on a positive way on
students.