Colleges Teaching TEFL

Role of the Teacher The main role of ESL teachers is the facilitation of language learning by using specific teaching methods. From personal experience I know that the role of a teacher is so much more than this definition implies. A teacher is not just a medium through which students learn. Yes, she is someone who enables a student to learn, gives him the tools, the explanations, creates the learning circumstances. But this is not all. The Teacher’s Personality plays a role An ideal teacher knows how to talk to students and give them confidence when they lack it, encouragement when they need it, praise when they succeed. A teacher should also model polite behaviour, acceptable ways of resolving conflict and inspire students to reach for the stars. A good teacher notices the strong points of each student's personality and enables that student to get to know himself and appreciate himself. She enables students to become happier and live in harmony with themselves and those around them. The Teacher’s role in the classroom 1. Manager or Controller In this role, the teacher instructs, imparts knowledge, disciplines or cautions the students. 2. Organizer In this role, the teacher organises activities and facilities , pairs or groups students together and arranges for props and other items that may be required. 3. Assessor The teacher acts as an Assessor when she gives feedback, corrects, evaluates and grades. This can apply to their oral as well as written english. 4. Prompter In this role, the teacher has to decide whether to prompt a student or wait a little longer so as not to take the initiative away from him. The teacher may also have to prompt students to use english instead of their native language. 5. Participant The teacher participates when she wants to liven up group activities. Sometimes she has to pair up with a student who doesn’t have a partner or even out the number of students when forming groups. 6. Tutor Tutoring is when the teacher gives personal attention (i.e. 1-1 coaching in the classroom), to individual or a few students. 7. Resource or Facilitator The teacher’s duty is to always be accessible to students when they have queries. She takes on the role of Facilitator when they require guidance or assistance during activities. 8. Model As the teacher is often the only source of real, live english, she serves as a model for speech and pronunciation which the students try to reproduce in their own speech. 9. Observer or Monitor The teacher observes and monitors while activities are going on to note down points for correction or praise later. Other roles The role of the teacher is to provide a conducive classroom environment It should be conducive for learning, a language rich environment full of visually and mentally stimulating material with books, board games and pictures of literary figures so that students can immerse themselves in the english Language. The role of the teacher is to provide a good lesson plan This can be done by collaborating with peers, research on the internet or resource books, etc. Teachers can also work with parents to encourage them to discuss the concepts learned at school in their native language, which ultimately helps students retain all of the new information that they are taking in every day. CONCLUSION Today, because of advancement in information technology and public demand for better learning the role of teachers is changing. Teachers understand that the essence of education is a close relationship between a knowledgeable, caring adult and a secure motivated child. They grasp that their most important role is to get to know each student as an individual in order to understand his/her unique needs, learning style, social and cultural background, interests, and abilities. The most respected teachers have discovered how to make students passionate about learning; by providing project-based, participatory, educational adventures. In order for students to take responsibility for their own education, the curriculum must relate to their lives, learning activities must engage their natural curiosity, and assessments must measure real accomplishments and be an integral part of learning.