Teachers play an essential role in students’ lives. Students come across numerous teachers throughout their journey, whether it’s elementary school, coaching, or university. But there are only a few who leave a mark on a student’s mind. Often there is one question that crosses over everyone’s mind, what qualities does a good teacher acquire? or Who is a good teacher?
But are there any defined ways that justify the characteristics of a good teacher? Does it solely depend on the achievement of a student, his/her marks? Or there are some factors that separate great teachers from average ones? Like being able to emotionally connect with children or having the creativity to explain complex topics in a fun and simpler way?
Among the ocean of thousands of tips on what makes an effective teacher stand apart from the crowd, we were able to gather these 5 characteristics from taking an inside look at our own faculty and no. of expert teachers at Aakash.
1. Ability for developing relationships with students
The most important characteristic that a teacher should acquire is being able to connect with their students for creating a better relationship with their students. Teachers need to be able to acquire the trust of students in order for creating a better safe, productive, and positive learning environment. It could be anything from providing a listening ear when a student is in need or hosting extra classes for students who lack the understanding of certain topics.
2. Friendly, Caring, and Patient
Teachers are like role models for children and they should have a personality that makes students comfortable around them. Personality traits like compassion, empathy, and patience are some qualities that justify if someone is a good or a great teacher.
3. The ability to motivate students
Just like each student is different and has different interests, the things that motivate them will also be unique. Many students get inspired or motivated by their teachers but it’s not always the case, as some students might be creative or have different interests, and the idea of studying or scoring good marks might not make sense to them. But a good teacher should be able to explain why studies are important and it will help students in their future.
4. Great Communication Skills
Apart from knowledge, a teacher should possess great communication skills. But no matter how knowledgeable a person is but if he/she is not good at sharing that knowledge, then what’s the point of it? Communication skills aren’t just about verbal communication, it also includes gestures, writing, body language, imagination, being able to pick the right audio and visual materials, so that they can convey their message thoroughly. Great communicators are great at judging if their audience has understood their message or not, the same goes for a good teacher.
5. A Good Listener
In addition to being a great communicator, a good teacher also tends to be excellent at listening. According to a Turkish proverb, “Speaking is silver, listening is gold”. For effective communication, good listening skills are as important as speaking skills. So, in-classroom when the teacher asks questions then he/she has to actively, empathetically, and carefully listen to what the student is saying. Otherwise, they will never be able to know if the child understood something or what he/she is trying to convey.
6. Should Have Vast Knowledge About The Subject
A teacher should be an expert on the subject he/she teaches, from the history, resources, to the practical implications, a teacher should know it all. A lot of time students do not understand a concept theoretically but the moment a teacher explains them with practical examples in a less complex manner, students grab them immediately. This is what makes faculties at Aakash the best, as over time they have discovered their unique ways of teaching that are a lot easier to understand.
There is not a straight answer to the question “Who is a good teacher”, for those who have never taught, it is very difficult to understand how a teacher plays a very dynamic role along with keeping up with the demanding and busy classroom setting. So, if you want to find out if your child is in the right hands, consider the above 6 characteristics before judging a teacher.
