Teach English in Yongle Zhen - Chongqing

Role of a TeacherIn class, teachers will carry many roles at different times, all depending on the lesson type or lesson stage they?re covering. Teachers may have the role of a manager or a controller, which give more attention and authority to them. They take charge of the class and of the activities, putting more focus on themselves and detracting from the students? own experiences. Teachers can effectively take control of the class and the lesson; however, if they overuse or misuse this role, it can lead to issues between teacher and students and create an unmotivated classroom environment. students usually see their teachers as the assessor, the person who evaluates and grades their work. Although the role of assessors intimidates students, it serves to provide necessary support and guidance to correct their English. The teachers must be fair, consistent, and attentive to their students and with their evaluations because every student responds differently to their strengths and weaknesses. Approaching them in a gentle manner avoids teachers from offending or discouraging their students in any way. Often times, the teachers monitor or observe the dynamics of the classroom as well as what is going on in the classroom. Their purpose is to see how the lesson is rolling, how successful or how long an activity has been, and how changes and improvements can be made for the future. Observing and monitoring the class give the teachers distance from the students but at the same time allows them to know what is going on with their students. When students are working or exercising their skills, teachers can carry the role of a prompter, resource, or a facilitator. As a prompter, teachers help out the students when they get stuck trying to say or present an idea. They gently encourage their students along and are careful to not take the initiative away from the student. There are times, however, when the teachers feel as though they should withdraw completely from the activity and leave the students to complete their task on their own; they act as a resource or facilitator who watches over the students as they work. Teachers allow the students to work out problems on their own in order for them to overcome their challenges without any assistance. Nevertheless, teachers need to be available for the students at all times. In the case where students specifically ask or show strong signs that they need proper guidance, teachers need to be ready to direct them. Tutoring is a more of a personal role teachers can take when students are working individually or in pairs. Usually, tutoring targets particular needs of students and approaches them at a more private level. Even when employing the role of a tutor, teachers must give equal attention to all of their students and avoid intruding. The roles of teachers depend mostly on the type of activity or study the students are doing. At times, teachers may need to step in with a dominant role, prompting them with assignments and study materials, and other times, the teachers may need to step in with a less dominant role, such as a participant, to liven up activities and allow students to practice leading. Good teachers know which role to take and when to employ them. They know when to step in and when to back out so that students can effectively learn and the classroom environment holds a strong, motivated attitude. It is also important to note that teachers are influential figures; positively or negatively, they will affect their students some way or another. Therefore, teachers need to act not only as instructors but also as role models to their students. They need to show care, respect, and understanding, while showing that they can lead, instruct, and discipline. Making an effort to better understand their students can help create better relationships between them. Knowing the students aside from their academics, such as their cultures, family, and interests, teachers can get the them to work at their highest potential. Teachers have an important role both when they?re teaching and when they?re not. With more experience and over time, teachers will know which roles to employ and how to assist their students appropriately.