TEFL’s (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) 15 good teaching qualities
Here are 15 good teaching qualities and skills that make for a good teacher:
- Effective communication
Teachers need to be effective communicators in order to relay information to their students, manage classroom behavior, and build positive relationships with their students.
Good communication skills allow teachers to manage difficult conversations, provide clear instructions and check for understanding. Additionally, when teachers are able to communicate effectively with their students, it can help create a more positive and productive learning environment.
- Good listening skills
Good listening skills are vital for teachers because they allow them to understand their students’ needs and concerns. Being able to listen well is a key pillar of effective communication and is, without doubt, one of the most important teacher qualities.
Different students have different needs. By listening to and understanding their students, teachers can create lesson plans that cater to their needs and help them learn in the most effective way possible. Furthermore, good listening skills allow teachers to build stronger relationships with their students.
- Empathy
Empathy is important in the classroom because it allows students to understand and connect with you and each other, as well as the material they are learning. When students feel understood and supported, they are more likely to be engaged and learn effectively.
Empathy therefore goes hand in hand with listening, because by listening to your student’s you can gain more of an understanding about them. Seeing things from their perspective can help you help them if they are struggling. After all, everyone learns differently.
- Patience
No matter who you teach, you will always need patience. You will be constantly working with students who have different levels of understanding, backgrounds, and personalities. Not all students will be able to work at the same pace, and you may need to go slower than you want to in order to allow the whole class to take effective notes. This can be frustrating if there is a lot of material to get through, but it’s your responsibility as a teacher to remain patient and make the most important points are covered.
Patience, without a doubt, is one of the most important qualities of teaching. A teacher who is patient will be able to work with each student to help them understand the material and reach their full potential.
- Adaptability
Another of the necessary characteristics for teaching successfully is adaptability. Teachers need to be adaptable because they are constantly working with new students, new material, and new teaching methods.
It is not unusual for teachers to have to deal with a wide range of age groups. They therefore need to be able to adapt to their audience. This helps when filling in for other teachers and when teaching different students. For example, teaching a child is very different when compared to teaching an adult.
Teachers also need to be able to adapt to the changing needs of their students. As they grow, they can change. What worked for them one year ago might not work now. Additionally, and over time, students, the curriculum and the resources available can change. To be an effective teacher you need to be ready for this.
- Creativity
Creativity is important for teachers because it allows them to find new and innovative ways to engage their students in learning. For example, you might decide to create you own teacher website or make use of fun games to play with your students.
By being creative, teachers can make learning fun and interesting, which helps students to better understand and remember the material.
- Engaging
Part of what makes a good teacher is to be engaging. This is arguably one of the most important qualities of teachers who are well regarded by their students. By being engaging, teachers can make learning fun and interesting, which helps students stay involved in the classroom or lesson.
Another aspect of being engaging is being available to your students, which helps create a rapport and builds trust. Interacting with them in a positive way encourages growth and cultivates a good learning environment.
- Passion
There are many reasons why passion is one of the important qualities for teaching. Firstly, passionate teachers are more likely to be fully committed to their work. This often translates into enjoying teaching, which can make them more effective in engaging their students.
Just by being passionate, teachers can inspire their students to grow and pursue their own passions, and this is one of the qualities of a good teacher.
Furthermore, passionate teachers are often lifelong learners, constantly seeking out new ways to improve their teaching. This knowledge can then be transferred to their students who will only benefit from this.
- Knowledge
Teachers need to have a strong foundation of knowledge in their subject area in order to be able to teach it effectively. Knowledge enables them to answer student questions and help them learn.
Teachers also need to be constantly learning and acquiring new knowledge themselves. Without this, the information and techniques they are using to teach their class may not be up to date. One of the worst things you can do as a teacher is teach the wrong information.
In relation to this, a teacher needs to be knowledgeable about different teaching methods and how to best teach their subject.
- Collaborative
A good teacher is a collaborative teacher. Collaboration is key when it comes to teaching. Teachers need to be able to work together to create a cohesive learning environment for their students.
Collaboration allows teachers to share ideas and best practices, which can help improve the overall quality of education. Also, what happens when you get sick? If you collaborate with your colleagues they will be ready to step in and cover your lessons for you.
- Prepared
One of the vital characteristics for teaching is being prepared. Having a good work ethic and organizing time and preparing materials in advance are crucial to ensuring a lesson goes smoothly and that you maintain your teaching authority.
You also need to make sure that you know the subject matter beforehand in order to teach it effectively and be ready to answer any potential student questions. That way you will be prepared to handle any situation that may arise in the classroom. After all, failing to plan is planning to fail.
- Classroom management
Classroom management goes hand-in-hand with being prepared. You could be the best communicator in the world and be well prepared but without managing your class effectively it can all fall apart.
Fortunately, good classroom management techniques help teachers establish and maintain control of the class, while also promoting positive student behavior and a good classroom environment. A key part of achieving this is defining classroom rules and establishing a routine. In order to do this you need to be able to lead your students.
- Leadership
Leadership skills are one of the most valuable qualities for teaching. Everybody looks up to a good leader and as a teacher, you should be a role model for your students.
For a teacher, being a good leader enables them to manage their class and inspire and motivate their students. A good leader can also help create a positive learning environment in which students feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. Additionally, leadership skills can help teachers deal with difficult classroom situations effectively.
- Motivational
Teachers are important role models for their students, and it is important for them to be motivational in order to inspire their students to learn and do their best. Teachers can set a positive example for their students by working hard and being passionate about learning themselves. Through this they can help foster a love of learning in their students.
- Lifelong learners
Being a lifelong learner is one of the key characteristics for teaching longevity. The best teachers are usually lifelong learners because they want to continue growing and developing as professionals. They know that learning is a never-ending process, and they want to be able to provide the best possible education to their students. This is all part of having a growth mindset.