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Unit 1 focused on the qualities of a good teacher, the roles which teachers may need to take on, the qualities of a good learner, the importance of the relationship between teacher and learner, and the factors that can have an impact on how successful a certain teaching style or quality will be in a particular class. Although most people would probably be able to list some of the qualities which make a good teacher, it was beneficial to have these noted down and to reflect on each quality so as to understand why it is important and when it is best employed during classes. I employ many of the roles described in this unit when teaching but have never actually taken the time to note these or to truly appreciate their importance and how, if used too frequently/not frequently enough, these roles can sometimes be counter-intuitive. I think that the \"model\" role which a teacher takes on can sometimes be overlooked or taken for granted but is of significant importance, students will often try to mimic the teacher exactly and so, any mistakes which the teacher makes (even if unintentional) may become ingrained in the students vocabulary. If used properly this role however, is a very significant tool as pronunciation can impact greatly on how easily a person will be understood by a native speaker of English. The factors which affect a class'/individual's learning ability was also something which I had reflected on myself, but benefited from the more in depth explanations given in this unit. This greater understanding of students needs (depending on age, motivation, nervousness, cultural backgrounds, learning experience etc.) will allow me to adapt my teaching styles to suit different types of classes and age ranges, ensure that my classes are as informative and interesting as possible and, to continue to develop as a teacher.
