Teach English in Maoba Zhen - Ankang Shi

A College degree, experience working with children, and, of course, patience are the requirement of most of the schools. But as the technology infuses into our lives, they affect the way students learn and the way teachers teach. Modern teachers need to be competent in not only with knowledge of their subject matter and experience, but new skills. Here are a few professional development skills I think that today’s teachers should possess. First and foremost, knowing how to use Technology Technology is growing at a rapid pace. In the past five years alone we have seen huge advancements and we will continue to see it grow. For example, and my example would be based on the subject I teach which is the English Language. Up until 2016, I was using CDs and DVDs for the listening skill but post-2016 our new syllabus requires internet and QR code for the listening skill. Not only do you need to understand the latest technology, but you must also know which digital tools are right for your students. It’s a process that may take time but will be greatly influential in the success of your students. Let me give you another example to clearly drive the point home. One day in one of my classes, as it was the time to practice writing, I noticed that none of the students had pens and notebooks, but everyone had a smartphone connected to the WIFI. Instead of forcing them to get pens and notebooks, and as the saying goes necessity is the mother of invention, as a teacher I was in desperate need of finding a solution. So, the immediate thought crossed my mind was to create a Facebook group add all the students in the group and ask them to practice their writing skill there. And that’s what I did. After witnessing the positive effect of the usage of technology in our classroom settings first hand, I strongly advise all the teachers to know how to use the technology in a classroom. Because ever since the fun my students and I have in the classroom during the class in this era of boredom is unprecedented. Even though I haven’t received any formal education of the usage of modern technology in a classroom. Effective and Clear Communication and Strong Rapport Effective and Clear Communication and Strong Rapport, with students, staff and parents are essential skills. Because, all day long teachers communicating with students, colleagues and most importantly with parents, so it is crucial to be able to talk clear and concise in order to get your point across. As a language teacher, I always find myself like a member of the family and to be more precise like the father or mother figure. I mean teaching a language is not like teaching other subjects. Take a mother or a father for example, how do they teach their language so effectively? I will not be totally wrong to say that a strong and positive rapport plays a big role in it. To sum up, clear communication and positive rapport walk hand in hand. A strong rapport requires clear and effective communication and a clear communication paves the way to strong rapport. Team Player and Continuous Learner Part of being a teacher is to have the capacity to work together as part of a team and open to healthy criticisms and objections which in essence are the best ways if not the best of the learning process. Plus throughout my teaching career I have personally experienced and learned that a teacher might have the knowledge of the subject matter, but students as one body will teach the teacher how to teach. A teacher who is always willing to go that extra mile to learn will always be an effective and successful teacher. Modern educators create curiosity, inspire, flexible and passionate. They empower them to be able to learn, to be creative, adaptable and have a purpose. They give them the tools both digital and intellectual and a laboratory (school) to practice and masters those tools to be not only harmless but also beneficial and more importantly productive member of the society.