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As in any occupation, there are certain personal characteristics that are fundamental in making one a great employee. It goes without question that English teachers should also possess certain qualities that will help them achieve their maximum potential in the classroom setting. In my opinion, integrity, humility, flexibility, and organization are key personal qualities that are essential to all teachers of English. First of all, integrity in the classroom setting is a conscious choice to uphold to a certain code of conduct as a teacher. It means giving your best effort as a teacher and not placing expectations on your students you are not willing to meet yourself. It means following through with your commitments and leading by example. It is honoring your word and saying what you mean. It is doing what is best or right in a given situation even when it is not convenient. It is easy for a student to pick up on a teacher who is being inauthentic and a lack of integrity only serves in growing distrust on the part of your students. Secondly, humility is an important quality for an English teacher to possess. Humility in the classroom setting is best defined by the word teachable. We must never assume we have fully “arrived” as there is always room for improvement. The best teachers are those that remain students at heart, who continually find ways to refine their skills and teach with a greater level of excellence. Humble teachers are approachable and available while continuing to remain professional in nature. They create trust in their students without compromising their role as the instructor of the class. In addition, flexibility as a personal quality is also one of the keys to being a successful teacher. It goes without saying, that different teaching settings bring their fair share of obstacles and challenges. Flexibility, can help any teacher navigate problems that arise due to student cultural norms, age range, group dynamics, and level of English. As teachers there are many challenges that are beyond our control, but we are always in control of how we respond in any given situation. The flexible teacher is not defeated by challenges, but empowered to adapt and find a way to overcome obstacles by remaining positive and compliant to the situation at hand. Lastly, being organized is paramount to teacher success. A teacher who does not take the time to learn how to be organized will wreak havoc in the classroom. Not everyone at their core is naturally wired to be organized, thankfully however, organization can be a learned personality trait. A teacher with an organized personality always comes prepared, creates lesson plans with achievable goals and with a logical progression, and maximizes the use of their time. In conclusion, integrity, humility, flexibility, and organization are all personal qualities that help form a solid foundation for every teacher. As a teacher learns to grow more and more in these areas, so grows the potential scope of their impact on the lives of their students.
