The Great Teacher

It cannot be denied that a teacher is the center of learning and teaching proses. Hence, a teacher does not only teach students but also builds up students’ motivation and becomes figure for students, a teacher who can teach us both professionally and inspiringly. The school is indeed flooded with teachers who have qualifications but the ways they present their knowledge into practice become the subject of this discussion.

Who is a great teacher? Before we answer this question, we must know what the word ‘great’ means. The word ‘great’ can have quite a few interpretations. For the purpose of the essay, it is assumed that ‘great’ here means ‘effective’-that is, a teacher can impart his knowledge and whatever other values it is his responsibility to spread to his charges. There are some characters that a great teacher should possess. They are as follows:

Firstly, a great teacher masters the materials. As its own purpose that the aim of teaching is to create faithful, pious and virtuous human, strong, independent, competent, intelligent, discipline, hard working, professional, responsible, productive, progressive and healthy both in physical and spiritual, a teacher must know his profession thoroughly. He must know his subject far beyond the point he intends to teach.

Secondly, a great teacher communicates effectively with students. Effective communication will be the right way for a teacher interacts with students. Communication both directly and indirectly in a proactive, positive, and respectfully assertive fashion with those whose support and goodwill is essential to the teaching success, even when the information that must communicate is unpleasant and difficult. Students are generally more receptive and cooperative when they are approached in a courteous, begin your communication with them as positively as possible. Starting positively is especially helpful when you know that a discussion will eventually cover some difficult and unpleasant topics.

Thirdly, a great teacher masters teaching methods. Teaching methods, in that the way a teacher transfers knowledge to students are important to possess. Only knowing his subject is of no use if he does not knowhow, or does not bother to, to teach it most effectively to his students. Though it is true that students should take the responsibility for their own learning, it would be dull and boring to learn from a teacher who does not present his subject in an interesting manner. It is the teacher’s duty to promote love of his subject among his students. This he will do by first of all loving the subject himself. His enthusiasm and love for his subject will catch on with his students and if they learn to love a subject, they can learn it better. A bad teacher, usually by his lack of enthusiasm and interest, will cause his subject to be hated. It is for such reasons that a teacher should adopt good teaching methods instead of resorting to easier methods like just reading out of a textbook.

Fourthly, a great teacher understands children psychology. Children psychology, it means knowing the characters each students, is also very important to be mastered in order to create effective process of teaching and learning due to the fact that different children develop at different rates. A teacher is to know personality each student and give right service to them. Here, to understand children psychology, what a teacher does is similar to what the servant does, they are to know what the customers want and give them the best service.

Fifthly, a great teacher builds up students’ confidence and challenges. Students’ confidence is thing that is almost forgotten. On the other hand, that is urgent for students  developing their productive skills. I have found that without confidence even the smartest student in the class, he couldn’t do anything well when his teacher asked him to deliver a speech about “The Importance of English” in front of his friends, he just trembled and spoke nothing. Consequently, what a teacher is to do is builds up students’ confidence by the challenges arousing their confidence. Ask students  to speak first and listen carefully to what they say, make supportive and empathetic comments, suggest solutions to any problems presented then end all communication on a positive note by making honest and tactful statements about the current situation. They will be challenged and by the challenges, they will be usual to be productive and grow up their confidence.

Sixthly, a great teacher builds up students’ motivation. Students are almost same with children. They are motivated learner. They indeed need motivation to develop their knowledge. Hence, in this case the great teacher is to give motivation to students  in the hope that they can build their self-motivation. It can be done both by telling your great experiences and any other great experiences. Then, ask for what their dreams are, go on to their plan to reach the dream, help them to execute optimistically the dream and give them reward.

Seventhly, a great teacher is disciplined. He has to come on time along the teaching process. The biggest footprint in students’ soul will mostly come from their teacher. Therefore, being disciplined is the thing to be planted to students becoming good learner. Over and above teaching his subject, a teacher has the responsibility to develop the characters of students  in his life. Quite often, a teacher is a student’s role model. All of us who go through school, hero worship at least one teacher whom we would like to emulate. A teacher should always be aware of this responsibility.

Lastly, a great teacher is professional. He needs to be en expert. For example, if he is teaching literature, he should know all the plays of Shakespeare or at least most of them, rather than just the play he is teaching. He can then make cross references and answer all the questions that arise in the minds of his students.

From time immemorial, teachers have been the pillars of society. Staying in the background, at least for most of the time, they have been indirectly responsible for the advancement of the race. Often, it is their lot to go unnoticed. But time and again, all great men and women have been unsparing in their praise of teachers. This is by far their greatest responsibility. Teachers are the one who guarantee that our tomorrows will be as good as, if not better than, our todays. By shaping characters they ensure that the world continuous to be.