الوسم: Listen

You would expect to hear a review of this sort, from someone high in authority or experienced in education. But, today, you are going to hear the thoughts and opinions from someone who worked with teachers near enough everyday of her life though her childhood; a pupil. Surely, everyone, has spent their childhood dealing with the stress and pressure of teachers. But the difference with myself, is, I was working alongside with them. , I have had plenty of experience. I now see how great teachers have been in the past, and also they could have improved their teaching methods, to help me.

Here is the following, in any random order, some things I think are important when it comes to teaching.

1. Experience is not everything!

Every time, in the past, I have ever had an issue with a teacher, I always get the same response. “I have been teaching for many years, I think I should know”. I despise teachers who use this phrase, with a vengeance. Sometimes, I feel as if the older teachers know less, than more. It is as if their head is still floating in the past, to when they disciplined children with the belt! Over the years, teaching methods have changed, new rights and rules have been created, and universities are teaching, teachers, in a whole new way. Perhaps, because they have been teaching for so long, they have missed out on all the new stuff, ignored all the modern methods, and still kept the same routine of teaching as they have in the 70’s., teachers didn’t get the whole idea that you have a little less strict, and, as a result, discipline children for things they do not deserve to be disciplined for, this is very confusing for children, and as a result may cause distress and anger in a child. So, in conclusion, some older teachers may be slightly immature, in the way that they refuse to teach the modern way, because, they hate the idea of being wrong. I think this is very immature! How can an immature teacher teach others to be mature? And trust me, this does happen!

2. Put a bloody smile on that coopin, hen.
This is probably the most important part of teaching. Personality! For example, one teacher is a really pleasant, nice, and soft hearted. She has a great talent of interacting with pupils, speaking the ******** of pupils! Could you image working with people who never smiled, were always dry, and very unsociable! How bored would you be! Well, this is the case with children. If a teacher fails to socialise properly with children, they are likely to get very bored! It makes you feel really depressed, and you simply don’t enjoy the subject, when your teacher is like this. And when you don’t enjoy the subject, you don’t learn anything. It is very true! There is no way, on earth, you can be good at something you don’t enjoy! So, in conclusion, it’s important to have a lot of personality when teaching, you should interact with your pupils, and discuss things other than grades! Of course, only when it’s appropriate.

3. Keeping it balanced.
Okay, I will admit, the teacher I described in the previous paragraph (the good one), isn’t the best type of teacher! She is very soft hearted, and has no idea about discipline. My favourite teacher, probably has to be my physics teacher! She has all the qualities as described above, but she knows when to put her foot down. Its very important for teachers to have a healthy balance. One one side, being nice, friendly, talkative, and on the other side, strict and stubborn. The strict and stubborn teachers, will, get results! But these teachers don’t care how they get the results; as long as they have got them! Once again, this is distressing and depressing for pupils. Being a nice and friendly person, but using discipline when you need to, gets the best results! Meaning, everyone is happy, both ways.

4. Equality
learners are all equal untill they show their success and qualities

5. Understanding, listening, and discussing.
Sometimes, I wish teachers would listen to what you have to say. Sometimes, they purposely put you down because they know they have authority over you. If you are having a problem, sometimes they just repeat what the given task is, and walk away. Then, two minutes later, if you are still having difficulties, your not “trying”. There’s nothing more frustrating when you are being accused of not trying when your trying your hardest. You feel redundant, left out, and disowned. Teachers have to start 1. listen to the problem. Teachers think they can listen to the first three words of your problem, and start explaining what is happening. But sometimes, they get the wrong idea, and their response is “did you just listen to a word I said”. And you feeling like saying “yes, did listen to a word you said, actually, I listened to every word you said, how many of my words did you listen to, three?”. Although, you don’t wish to as you don’t want to cause any more trouble. 2. They should understand. They should help you explain your problem in the best words until the pupil has agreed that the teacher understands their question. This is important especially in lower school S1-S4. As they maybe can’t always explain where they are stuck. 3. discuss. Teachers shouldn’t just lecture on what you have done wrong and right, they should discuss, allow you to be a part of the learning too! And that way, maybe both teachers and pupils learn things from each other.

I would like to congratulate all the teachers who do use these methods, discuss, listen and understand (not in that order). The only person who can really teach you how to teach, is a pupil. It’s like that saying, what comes first, the chicken or the egg? Think about that saying, then think about teachers learning from pupils, and pupils learning from teachers. You’ll understand!

Summary:
Listen to the pupils, and the pupils will listen to you