Teach English in Yuangong Zhen - Hanzhong Shi

Children are vast storehouses of imagination, possessing at times complex thoughts and ideas, offering immense perspective through curiosity. Parents, who are considered to be not only caregivers but also a child's primary educator, have a fundamental role to play in helping their children process and analyze the information and data they gather on a daily basis. In most cases they are the first teachers of a child's native language, often encouraging them to say their first words "Dada" or "Mama", and rewarding them greatly when this has been achieved. Parents then often allow their children to be messy, understanding that at a young age, this is one of the ways children begin to learn about the world around them. They then continue to pay close attention to what their children love as they grow and nurture this for further development. They become a role model for children's learning watching educational videos or teaching ABCs and colors as they prepare them for the outside world. Then the time comes when the child leaves the nest and ventures into society where he will interact more with others his age and meet the 'third parent', the teacher. Teachers play vital roles in the lives of children, both inside and outside the classroom. While teachers are best known for their role as educator or instructor, their responsibilities are much greater than this. Certainly, one of a teacher's chief tasks is to impart knowledge and skills to students as the 'knower' of a particular subject area, but with teachers often spending most of the day with children, the stage broadens and the teacher becomes casted to play varying roles. Teachers are now set to play the roles of facilitator, counselor, mentor, and psychologist, to name a few. As educator, teachers are given, or in some instances create, a cirriculum of pertinent knowledge and skills necessary for students to learn at a particular level. These knowledge and skills will differ in content and context based on state and society. Ultimately, students are often taught fundamentals which should prove essential to becoming efficient and effective members of society. By playing the character of facilitator, teachers create the classroom environment by ensuring that the atmosphere is warm, happy and enjoyable. As children tend to be keen on observing positive and negative energies, it is vital that teachers maintain a positive attitude especially during class. Students often learn by mimicking and should teachers be angry or respond in a negative manner, this can drastically affect how the students perceive the (day's) lesson. Teachers are also responsible for the social climate and bahviours in the classroom and as such, it is imperative that the environment is a friendly and pleasant one. This encourages students to relate well with others by being respectable and attentive to the needs of others. There will be times when students will need advice or help on how to move forward in areas of higher education or career goals. By wearing the hat of counselor, the teacher lends an ear to students and then offers sound advice on the options which may lie ahead. By virtue of being a teacher, it is important to understand how each student learns or what may be the child's dominant intelligence and personality type. This will help in motivating students and propelling them to explore areas or fields which may prove of great interest to them. Teachers don the mask of mentor, be it intentional or otherwise, for they become (and are seen as) natural role models. Because students spend a great deal of time with teachers, the become people children grow to respect and admire. By mentoring students, teachers encourage them to be the best they can be, often creating the belief that "once the mind can conceive, it can be achieved". Teachers help to build confidence, especially if this is not offered at home, and extend love and care to their students. As role model, teachers help enrich through education, enhancing students' growth and development. We know that children are very impressionable beings and many times factors outside the classroom can have a great impact on them. It therefore becomes imperative for teachers to pour themselves into the capacity of psychologist. By observing students' behavioural changes, teachers can assert themselves to understanding the challenges being faced and offer solutions. Whether it is some form of abuse at home or on the playground, this can significantly affect how a child conducts himself in the classroom. The child may act negatively towards other students and even become disruptive. Teachers are therefore encouraged to remain attentive to their students and help in any way they can in order to have their students thrive in a focused and comfortable learning environment. Teachers continue to adapt in their roles as they remain important characters to an ever-changing societal platform. Good teachers help and encourage students to be not just competent, but exceptional beings in society. They offer not only knowledge, but insight into personalities, intelligences and perspectives to their students. Teachers carry the mantle of influencers and life changers in many different ways and in varying walks of life. They do this not only by helping to correct false notions students may have on certain topics, but also by facilitating and inspiring new thought. C.S. Lewis once said, "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts."