5 signs you have a great English teacher
Do you know the expression ‘a red flag’ which means a sign telling you of things to avoid? Well, there are also ‘green flags’ and here are the ones you should look for when choosing an English teacher.
Unfortunately, finding a good teacher is not always easy. A teacher might seem good on paper (i.e.;having the relevant qualifications) but it does not always translate to good teaching skills!
It’s extremely important to make sure that you have a good teacher! A good teacher can and will make your learning experience enjoyable and you will be more eager to learn consistently.
On the other hand, a bad teacher will make learning confusing and not enjoyable. Chances are, you will be even more confused and it might deter you from learning further.
So, in this article, we’ll share the signs you should look for when choosing an English teacher to make sure you have a teacher that can help you grow and address your needs. So, without further ado, let’s start!
1. They have good oral communication skills
This is the most important skill for a teacher. Do they speak clearly?
Speaking clearly DOES NOT mean that they speak loudly. Rather…
Can they verbalize their thoughts in a way that gets the point across?
Can they explain difficult topics in a simple manner and make it easy to understand?
If you don’t think your teacher communicates clearly, you might want to consider getting a different teacher.
After all, a big part of the learning process in the classroom is centred around the teacher introducing and explaining unfamiliar topics, so it would be very hard to learn if they can’t communicate clearly.
When a teacher can explain the topic clearly, you will have so many ‘aha!’ moments – after all these ‘aha’ moments are what learning is all about!
2. They adapt to your learning style
Everyone has different learning preferences, different needs, and different goals.
A good teacher must be able to identify your style and adapt their teaching method accordingly.
A good teacher should not use a one-size-fits-all approach.
A good teacher should be willing to learn from your input and have your best interest in mind.
A good teacher should let you voice your expectations and agree to set rules together for an optimal learning experience and outcome.
However, if you notice that they don’t accommodate your needs, get defensive when you give them input, and use the same teaching approach for every student, it might be time to run!
3. They let you speak
The most common reason why people take English lessons is so they can SPEAK English!
So, what happens when the teacher dominates the class and does all the talking?
That’s right, YOU won’t be able to practice your speaking and therefore you won’t grow!
Some teachers might be uncomfortable with silences, long pauses, or perhaps they are simply too eager to share their knowledge.
However, again, you are here to improve your English, so you should be given as many opportunities to speak as possible.
As a general rule of thumb, you, the student, should do 70% of the talking.
The role of the teacher is simply to give instructions and explain essential points quickly and clearly, and above all to elicit responses from students and to facilitate all types of speaking activities.
4. They teach you real life application of English
Learning grammar is important, but think about any real life scenario where you have to use all 16 verb tenses?
Probably never, unless you plan to become an English teacher yourself.
A good teacher gives you ideas of how the topic you are learning is applicable in real life.
For example, they might ask you to write a complaint letter to a bank or write a resume. Or perhaps, they can ask you to create a marketing campaign for a specific product. From there, they’ll give you the language you really need to achieve those tasks.
You’ll feel more motivated to learn too if you can see how the topic you’re learning will be used in real life contexts.
5. They are not afraid to challenge you
A good teacher knows when a specific learning point is too easy or too hard for you.
They won’t keep you stagnant and will provide just the right level of difficulty to keep you growing,
They will challenge you with just the right amount of hard work so you will always learn new things without getting discouraged.
So, if you feel like your teacher is not helping you to grow and constantly under-challenges you, run!
Summary
The teacher is an extremely important element in your learning journey and they ensure you have a great learning experience along the way!
So, make sure your teacher is actively helping you to achieve your learning goals!
Next steps
Do you want to speak English with confidence?
Most people lack confidence when they speak English. They are afraid to make mistakes and are embarrassed to speak in front of others.
This is because they have been taught English the wrong way!
Most English courses waste your time and money on useless exercises that don’t bring results. Even worse, they teach you bad habits that are very difficult to unlearn.
As a result, you become confused and lack confidence. This is wrong!
At IELC, we teach English the right way
Our goal is to get you speaking in English with fluency and confidence as fast as possible. We want to give you the skills you need to fulfill your potential!
Our experienced teachers will guide you along every step of the learning process to ensure that you are not wasting your time, money, and energy on useless language exercises & wrong methods.
Our courses
With our modern campus and technology, we are equipped to provide the best possible courses for children, teens, and adults, including:
Online and on campus IELTS courses
Online and on campus TOEFL PBT courses
Online and on campus TOEFL iBT courses
We offer our classes in group classes or private classes.
No matter what your goals are, our team will help you achieve these goals by providing you with Indonesia’s best English courses!
Talk to our team today to get your FREE consultation and take your first step towards success.
Sincerely,
Anthony McCormick
IELC Managing Director