Teach English in Wuli Zhen - Ankang Shi

“Kids don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are”- Jim Henson. The education of a child is so valuable, but one needs to consider how to go about nurturing the minds of young individuals and being much more than just a teacher. Teachers often follow students through pivotal times in their lives and as an educator, you become one of the most influential people they will encounter. Much of what students learn is not detailed on a syllabus or written out on the board, but rather in the day to day interactions. It is often believed that the student’s interest in education has much to do with their teacher. Adopting the role of an instructor is the main thing we often think of when we hear the term teacher. The teacher is the “knower” of a certain body of knowledge and is there to share the knowledge with the students. Each educator varies in their familiarity, skills and attitudes in teaching, but it is important that as a teacher you find the right ways to engage all students to encourage the most learning all while having students enjoy coming to class. A teacher’s role in the student’s life may also be defined as a psychologist. Teaching and learning are linked to social and behavioral factors of human development, including motivation, social interaction and communication. For this reason, it is crucial to get to know your students and read their emotions. As a teacher you should be there to help a child overcome their fears, shape their mind and the way they see the world and encourage and support them through personal problems whether they be at home or at school. Similarly, being a counsellor and providing help and advice is going to be a key role in being an educator. When a student is looking for advice, it is important to build rapport, allow students to express themselves, be non-judgmental and maintain confidentiality. As a teacher being a counsellor, familiarize yourself with community referrals and resources and if possible, draw parents into school involvement and send them positive messages. Students will often reach out to you for what their future will or could look like and although you may not have all the answers, helping a student figure out what those answers are is vital. A facilitator is a person who assists a group of people in grasping their common targets and achieving them and the provider of learning environment. This means the teacher should not be the king who controls all the activities of the learners. It is important to provide the students with space to express their creativity and innovation. The learners must get involved and actively participate. This may mean participating in discussions, debates, teamwork activities or games so that the process of learning becomes comprehensive and enjoyable. This is a key role that a teacher will play day to day. One of the biggest roles a teacher may have is to be a mentor. Students look up to teachers and often pattern their own behavior and work ethic to match the instructor. An effective mentor relationship is characterized by trust, respect, understanding and empathy. It is crucial as a mentor to share life experiences and wisdom, as well as technical expertise. Mentors will try to know, accept and respect the goals and interests of all students and establish and environment in which the student’s accomplishment is limited by nothing but their talent. At its best, teaching is partnership between pupil and teacher dedicated to achieving the best possible results, but at its basic it is all about crowd control or being “a policeman.” When dealing with children, the classroom could get loud and out of control, likewise with teenagers, they could be defiant and rowdy. It is vital to police this behavior and provide effective ways in controlling the classroom dynamic to ensure each student is getting the best education possible without distractions. This may mean moving students around, disciplinary actions after class, or acting as a psychologist and seeing if there is something else going on with the student outside of the class. In the heart of every teacher is a student. If we are teaching now, we were once a student in some way to get here. To be the best teacher you can be, think about what you would have needed from a teacher when you were growing up, or what an inspirational teacher did for you that still has you thinking about them now. We need to recognize the importance of our relationships with our students of all ages and cultures, change our roles to help enrich every student’s lives and always be there with a smile. They wont always remember what you taught them, but they will remember what you are and what you did for them.