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The thought of teaching a classroom full of students, or even just a single person in a 1-on-1 setting may be enough to strike fear into most people. There are so many factors to consider that it may seem overwhelming at first. What should they teach? What materials should they use? Should they use a wide variety of media, such as DVDs and Films, or try to restrict themselves to fewer methods? One question that I believe is at the forefront of all these thoughts, is “How should I teach the students?” Almost every person that has been through the entire journey of the education process, from Primary School all the way to University, would know what kind of teaching styles they enjoy when they are the ones being taught. But when said person is now in the position of being the teacher, they may be at a loss as to how they should go about with their approach to the lessons. It is safe to say that no teacher wishes to be boring to their students, for to be boring would cause them to lose the class’ attention. In a worst-case scenario, this could give off a false impression of the teacher and the subject matter itself, which is not at all desirable. With that being said, there are likely to be some individuals that may be of the mind that because they know what they like and dislike, as well as the fact that they are qualified in terms of the TEFL Certification, that teaching a classroom full of students would be a relatively easy task to undertake. While it is good to possess sufficient theoretical knowledge and also get in some practice with yourself, the latter which could be done by doing things such as rehearsing in front of a mirror, one can never know the true effectiveness of their teaching methods until they have stepped into the classroom and begun the lesson. Logically speaking, the discovery of one’s teaching style is not something that is discovered in a single lesson, perhaps not even a single year. The style of teaching that one employs would be cultivated and morphed as the teacher gains more experience over the years. The interaction between the teacher and the students from a wide array of backgrounds would also allow the teacher to finetune their skills. This can range from things such as the tone of voice that is utilised, to seemingly insignificant actions such as the movement of one’s hands and gestures during an explanation. It is also crucial for one to remember that even if a particular teaching method is deemed to be rather successful by themselves, the students and any other relevant parties (such as the management), the teacher must always be cognisant of the fact that every classroom changes. Even if the teacher has been able to deliver lessons of the utmost quality consistently over the past few batches, he or she must keep in mind that not only may the next student or students be a whole different matter, but also that being complacent would prove to be detrimental to both the teacher and the student. Within the lesson itself, regardless of the teacher’s teaching style, they would do well to not be too mindset in their ways and intentions for not only the day, but even the entire term. If the lessons are conducted in the way that the teacher has envisioned but end up being disrupted for one reason or another, and the teacher is unable to respond effectively, this can once again reflect poorly of said teacher. The disruptions could be a student making a fuss or just a simple technical failure of the equipment, but what matters is the teacher’s response. When it comes to the disciplinary issues of a student, the teacher’s method of approaching the problem should not be excessive but should also get the point across. The teacher needs to let the students know, especially the younger ones, that disrupting a lesson shall not be tolerated, but the teachers will also need to find their own way of doing so. In conclusion, while every teacher can and will find their own styles when it comes to the teaching of their students, there will always be a few facts that would ring true for most, if not all teachers across the globe, be it an English teacher or a History Professor.
