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"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires" (Ward, 1970.) This memorable quote answered the most fundamental debate within this wonderful career. What makes a great teacher? The answer is inspiration s/he instill to his/her students. Nonetheless, one would wonder: How do we inspire our students? From my ten years of teaching experience and being in this industry, an inspiring teacher should be a good facilitator of knowledge, knows how to create a positive environment, and possesses great personalities. First and most important of all, it is mandatory that an inspiring teacher must be a good facilitator of the knowledge s/he possessed. S/he should have the skills and intelligences s/he claims to be the master. It is quite elementary for one to know one's trade before going about and making a living out of it. It is truly quite simple. If you are a math teacher, know your math. If you are an English teacher, know your English, and know every aspect of it. Moreover, it is mandatory to update and revise your knowledge since it might have changed when you last learned it. It will not reflect well on you if your students ask you something and you do not know or they find out later that what you taught them was wrong. Another vital quality that supports well-rounded knowledge is the ability to convey your lesson. Having all the information you required is not enough to make a great teacher if you cannot transfer what you know to your students. Thus, it is crucial that you articulate your lesson well and implement the effective approach, methodology, and techniques to your teaching. This is to ensure that your student can grasp the knowledge you offer with ease. Only then can you be proud of your role as the "inspiring" facilitator. How does a teacher create a positive environment within a classroom? I believe that good climate among teacher and students can be fostered with motivation, inclusion, and fairness. The decreased intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of students is proven to be a factor in ineffective learning. Thus, tailoring your curriculum to appeal to students’ interest is now more important than ever. Next, in this globalizing world where the cultural barrier is fading, cultural inclusion should also be practiced without fail. Regardless of race, class, age, gender, and ability, teachers should instill the concept of acceptance and tolerance in the students as it will promote world peace. Lastly, fairness should also be practiced within the class as it will create a positive ambiance among the learners. Teachers are humans and it is true that we are partial to subjectivisms. Nonetheless, teachers should try their hardest to be fair. They should practice transparency in assessment and conduct themselves with high ethics. In addition to this, they should provide each student time and space to shine equally. Last but not least, the personality of the teacher is what made him/her memorable. I am confident that the projection of one’s personality indeed affects people. Therefore, a teacher should be patient, kind and positive. Teachers should possess a calm and forbearing nature. Just as we were children, our students can be unreasonable, rebellious, or difficult to deal with at times. Sometimes they are just simply frustrated or struggling from what they do not understand. It is not in anyone’s benefit (them or us) to lose our head and get angry. Instead, it is fundamental to never give up on helping them. After all, they only have you to rely on for knowledge and support. Perhaps this is also where kindness comes in as well. Teachers should also be kind and understanding of their student’s plight in learning and in life. As educators, it is not only the lesson in class that we should give them but also the lesson in life. Finally, being positive is also a great trait that teachers should have. To be able to enjoy your wonderful career of educating the future at every moment, even when times are low, will help you brave through any hardship you encountered. All these qualities are, in my opinion, what makes great inspiring teachers. It is hard to do it perfectly in your everyday teaching. I cannot say I have achieved it flawlessly. Nonetheless, this is what I aspire to be and I will try to improve myself every day for this goal. References Ward, W. A. (1970). Fountains of faith; the words of William Arthur Ward. Anderson, SC: Droke House.
