WHAT MAKES A TEACHER GREAT?

While reading Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre to my students of post graduate class we came across a passage where Helen, a minor but important character elucidates Jane, the central protagonist, the qualities of their teacher, Miss Temple.

- DR RITU KAMRA KUMAR

The passage goes like this- “… Miss Temple has generally something to say which is newer than my own reflection: her language is singularly agreeable to me, and the information she communicates is often just what I wished to gain” All the students nodded their heads in awe and appreciation. This led us to discuss what qualities make a teacher great?

Well! Great teachers aren’t born but are the ones who remain passionate learners all their life. The process may be long and lengthy but it is rewarding and satisfying. The first quality that a great teacher must have is Self-Reflection. He must ask himself; Did I give my best today? What are the pedagogical methods that I should adopt to upgrade and improve my teaching? Is my approach of going beyond the book is fruitful? A great teacher analyses students feedback and indulge in honest self-assessment. A teacher who doesn’t introspect on his academic excellence lacks the propulsion to update

The days of theoretical teaching are over. Second quality that a teacher must have is he should be Mutlidisciplinarian and impart comprehensive and holistic education. Besides expertise of his subject, his wisdom tells him that his knowledge should be whole and he should be able to undertake multidisciplinary projects focusing on cognitive growth of his students