Welcome back!

In this entry, we will talk about our beloved teachers. These dedicated individuals deserve our utmost gratitude for preparing and sharing their wealth of knowledge with us. Without those who have a passion for imparting knowledge to others, our world would undoubtedly lag behind in terms of progress and development. Thus, we should extend our appreciation to all the teachers who have ever graced this planet. They play a crucial role in shaping the minds and lives of their students and in turn, enriching our society.

The topic of this entry is “Describing Teachers” and we are going to start talking about key aspects that one should consider when describing them; these aspects include the following:

• Teacher’s role in the classroom: A teacher plays a crucial role in the classroom as the leader and facilitator of the learning process. They are responsible for creating a safe and inclusive learning environment, developing and delivering engaging lessons, assessing student progress, providing feedback, and supporting the growth and development of their students.

• As an organizer prior a lesson: Teachers spend a significant amount of time planning and preparing for their lessons. They must consider various factors such as the learning objectives, the needs and abilities of their students, and the materials and resources necessary for effective teaching.

• As performers (activity-behavior): Teachers are performers in the sense that they engage in various activities and behaviors to ensure effective teaching and learning. These may include using different teaching methods and strategies, creating an engaging and interactive learning environment, and employing various classroom management techniques.

• Their rapport (+ or -): Teachers' rapport with their students is an essential factor in creating a positive and effective learning environment. A positive rapport can help build trust, respect, and motivation, while a negative rapport can hinder learning and create a negative classroom environment. Teacher Orlando was explaining to us that the rapport is the “magical connection” between a teacher and a student, and that it can be negative or positive. 

• As teaching aids (input, gestures): Teachers can use various teaching aids such as visual aids and technology to enhance their teaching effectiveness, but sometimes they have to use their body (gestures, pronunciation or body language) as their teaching aid; these can help students better understand and retain the information presented, and make the learning experience more engaging and interactive.

• As native or non-native speakers: A teacher's language proficiency can impact their ability to effectively communicate with their students. A native speaker may have a better understanding of the variations of the language and culture, while a non-native speaker may bring a unique perspective and experience that can benefit the learning process. However, regardless of their language background, it is essential for teachers to communicate clearly and effectively with their students.


We also talked during our session about the different roles of the teacher in the classroom. Sometimes the teacher has the role of Controller, which means that the teacher is responsible for maintaining discipline and order in the classroom. They ensure that students follow the rules and procedures, and monitor their behavior to ensure a safe and productive learning environment; in other cases, the teacher has the role of a Prompter in which they provide cues and indications to encourage the participation of the students and engagement in the learning process. They may ask questions, provide advices, or guide students towards finding solutions and answers on their own; in other instances, the teacher might perform the role of a Participant, in which they actively engage with students in the learning process. They may participate in class discussions, work alongside students, and provide feedback on their work. Sometimes the students see their teachers as a Resource, since they are always providing students with access to knowledge, information, and learning materials. They may serve as a source of information, recommend resources such as books and websites, and provide guidance on how to use resources effectively. And other role that teachers perform is the role of a Tutor when they provide one-on-one support and guidance to students who need extra help or individual attention. They may work with students who are struggling with a particular concept or subject, or provide additional challenges to students who need more advanced material.


Teacher Orlando was also explaining to us other roles that teachers have, he made a sketch in the board and this is my digital version of that sketch and what I understood:

I have an immense amount of respect for all the teachers out there, as they devote their lives to sharing their knowledge with others. I might look like I am angry or bored (that's how I am) but I am always paying attention, taking notes and being respectful in every class that I have.

That was all the information that I could get from my notes (which are a mess), the sessions with teacher Orlando and the presentations about this topic; I hope you liked it. 

See you in my next entry!