The Primary Skills For Being a Good Language Teacher

There is a high probability that you still remember a particular teacher who taught you when you were a child or teenager, a teacher who inspired you in some way or simply with whom you enjoyed every lesson they taught. A good teacher can make a huge difference to a student. A good teacher can connect with students and turn a subject into something exciting and relevant to them. It's not just about knowing a lot about the subject, it's about knowing how to convey it to the students.

To be a good teacher, and more specifically, a good language teacher, you need some specific skills that I will list below.

 What are the primary skills to be a good language teacher?

1- Have a broad and thorough knowledge of the language to be transmitted.

 This first skill is the minimum requirement for anyone who wishes to practice teaching: know the subject matter in-depth and speak the language they intend to convey at an expert level.

 2- Possess the ability to motivate your students.

 Learning a language requires much effort and sometimes it is difficult to stay motivated as we do not see much progress initially. A teacher who is committed to his or her students, and is able to get the best out of each of them while maintain an emotional bond, will be more likely to stimulate and motivate them, this in turn will be a crucial pillar in optimal language learning.

 3- Be a person with creativity and passion for teaching.

A good teacher's job is to make his or her classes fun and entertaining while being educational. A good teacher should be creative and prepare activities or focus lessons differently in a diverse way. With a bit of imagination in place, a routine lesson can become an exciting lesson, and that passion for teaching that you possess will be conveyed to your students and make learning much more immersive.

 4- Be patient

 A good teacher is a patient person who must understand that unforeseen situations can occur at any time, and they should be able to overcome them. On the other hand, it is necessary to make it clear to your students that they can ask any question as many times as they need. No matter how crazy the question is, the teacher must allow them confidence to ask. Going home with doubts is the worst thing that can happen after a class.

5- Be able to inspire and encourage students' self-awareness.

A teacher who can inspire is a gem. Students want to learn more about the subject, so language study will not be limited to the classroom or the duties that the teacher may impose on them. Therefore, it is essential to arouse interest in continuing to learn on their own, reading books in that language, watching TV series in the original language, and all the resources that are on hand today to continue learning.

 6- Practice active listening.

A teacher is in direct contact with his or her students and these students are always sending a message. These messages can be heard if they are authentic, but they can also be read in the expressions on their faces, tone of voice, participation, gestures, posture, or gaze. The teacher who listens to his or her students will have a much more in depth knowledge of them. This is essential: setting new goals, choosing appropriate materials, planning classes, and creating dynamics. Active listening is a critical step in effective communication.

 7- Know how to use the resources you have available today.

Until a few years ago, language classes could be limited to only workbooks, cassette tapes, and oral lectures by the teacher. Today, fortunately, there is a wide range of teaching resources that make language teaching a much richer and more enjoyable world. Youtube videos, podcasts--an combination of materials mixed with traditional ones can serve as the perfect blend for balanced and optimal language learning.

 

 Brought to you by: Annamaria@NU-OTECE