Teach English in Miaoguan Zhen - Jining Shi

6. How teachers can increase their confidence in the classroom. The introduction of the essay. The quest of this academic piece of writing is to show how teachers can increase their confidence in the classroom. The paper stems from the realization that confidence is such an important attribute for a teacher. The supposition is that any lack of confidence on the part of a teacher, has very negative consequences on the teaching and learning processes. It shall be cited that personal grooming is a sure way by which teachers can increase their confidence in the classroom. As shall be seen as the essay unfolds, adequate preparation by a teacher prior to the time of the lesson is a great confidence builder. The writer shall also allude to the need for a teacher to continuously engage in professional studies as a way of professionally developing oneself. The paper will highlight the need for teachers to embark on professional on-line studies as a way of sprucing up their skills. These among many other ways are going to be discussed so as to clearly show how teachers can increase their confidence in the classroom. For clarity and presentation’s sake, this essay shall be structured as follows, the first part which is the introduction, then the definition of some key terms in the question, the main body of the essay and lastly the conclusion. The definition of some key terms in the question. Teachers. Teachers are professional classroom practitioners who are well versed with theories of pedagogy. Confidence. Confidence is an inner feeling of being competent. Classroom. A classroom is a physical location where formal teaching and learning processes take place. The main body of the essay. To start with, teachers should always know that their job entails great precision and accuracy. Bearing the above, a teacher should always make sure that there has been adequate preparation well before the commencement of the lesson. A teacher should have professional documents like the daily lesson plan done prior to the lesson time. A lesson plan shows the different lesson phases and also activities that have to be carried out during the course of the lesson time. Although the daily lesson plan may not be an exhaustive document, it nevertheless serves as a very important guide to the teacher. As such if a teacher has a lesson plan prepared well before the time of the lesson, there will not be any need to fear or panic. This in itself boosts one’s confidence. Along with this is also the need for a teacher to make provision of all the needed teaching and learning aids. These teaching aids are things that a teacher needs in as much as they enable smoothness of instruction. Teaching and learning aids help a teacher in eliciting responses from the learners. Provision of teaching aids into the classroom makes it possible for there to be interaction amongst the learners. This has the positive effect of enhancing the teacher’s confidence in the classroom as there will not be any awkward moments whereby only teachers themselves are found talking and the class will be quiet and confused, a situation that erodes a teacher’s confidence. Looking at all the above sentiments, it can be asserted that preparation before the commencement of the lesson is good as it boosts the teachers’ confidence in the classroom. Moving on with the discussion, it can also be pointed out that personal grooming and up keep also has an effect on enhancing a teacher’s confidence. The point to note is that teaching is a profession and as such it requires certain codes of conduct and dressing. Depending on the culture in which a particular teacher is in, a teacher has to conform to the cultural standards pertaining to the way one should be dressed. If one dresses awkwardly, far from the expectations of the society, they may find it difficult to present themselves before their learners. This has the negative effect of eroding self esteem and confidence. With regards to dressing, it is important for a teacher to compartmentalize within the expectations of the society that they find themselves in. This makes a teacher to be acceptable and it will not be difficult to create rapport with the learners. This is a sure way by which teachers can increase their confidence in the classroom. It is also crucial to posit that for a teacher to be confident in the classroom, one has to be knowledgeable. Teachers are supposed to be harbingers of knowledge although it should also be stated that they are not supposed to perceive themselves as, “all knowing persons.” This follows that a teacher has to always professionally develop self by engaging in on line professional courses. This is a great way by which teachers can increase their confidence in the classroom. Teachers who study are always abreast with the current pedagogical theories and professional practices. It is necessary to allude to the fact that modern teaching practices are always changing and as such teachers should try as much as possible to make sure that they keep on studying so that they may remain professionally spruced up. This actually boosts the teachers’ confidence in the classroom. Teachers who always engage in professional self reflection and who always upgrade themselves by taking up professional courses are usually confident in the classroom. The point is that they are always on guard and cannot be taken by surprise this leads to a wholesome way of implementing and fulfilling the curriculum. The conclusion of the essay. Epitomizing, it can be seen that this academic paper has shown how the teachers’ confidence can be increased in the classroom. The writer has highlighted many ways by which the confidence of the teachers can be increased in the classroom. Personal grooming, the need to adequately prepare for the lesson and the need for teachers to always engage in professional studies are some among many other ways by which teachers can increase their confidence in the classroom.