There are a lot of people who claim to be teachers. Some have certification from the state, some are followed as gurus, and some offer their services with a “money back guarantee.” But, not one of these qualifications means that a person is actually able to teach. Whether or not you’re attending school, the need will arise for you to find a teacher or mentor to help you on your educational journey. You may need someone to guide you in your understanding of great literature, show you how to lay brick, or help you excel in your career. Whenever you’re searching for help, make sure you find someone who is a prepared to offer it. Over the last few years of teaching and learning, I’ve discovered four traits all effective educators have in common. Certificates and titles mean little when compared to these attributes of a true teacher: A True Teacher Has Knowledge, Not “Love” As a high school English teacher, I met many fellow educators who didn’t know much about their subjects at all. Nor did they care to. They went to college, figured that English was an easy enough major, and decided to teach when other jobs seemed out of their reach. When asked why they choose teaching, generally the response would be something along the lines of “Oh, I just love the kids.” People who teach out of love are well intentioned. But, they fail to have anything legitimate to offer. Sure, they may have some superficial understanding. But, without true insight and knowledge, their attempts at helping you develop such are futile. When you’re looking for a spouse, choose someone who loves you. When you’re looking for a teacher, choose someone who knows what they’re talking about. A True Teacher Shows You How to Think, Not What to Think Math teachers do one thing right: they show students how to complete similar problems using a formula or method. When they put a problem on the board, it is used to demonstrate how the equation is to be solved – not just give the solution to that one problem. When math teachers give a test, most of the questions consist of problems the students have never seen before. But, these teachers are confident that the students will be able to answer the problems because they have been taught the formula. It would be outrageous for a math teacher to show students how to complete just one problem. But, unfortunately, that’s what educators do in many other disciplines. When looking for a true teacher, it is essential that you find someone who can show you how to think about a particular subject instead of just what to think. Let’s consider a lesson on literature… A what-to-think teacher would tell you what the themes of a book are. He might ask questions about what you noticed and then say “The themes of this book are: love and betrayal.” When you are finished with the lesson, you’ll know what to think about that one book. A how-to-think teacher would help you understand how an author develops a theme. He would discuss the literary devices used to create meaning and how they work. When you are finished with the lesson, you’ll know what the themes of that book are. But, you’ll also know how to discover the themes in other books using the method you’ve learned. This teacher understands that the book you’re studying is just a tool to help you learn how to think about all books. Seek how-to-think teachers in all your endeavors – academic and professional. If you’re a real estate agent, seek a mentor who will show you methods to evaluate and sell any house, not just the one you’re discussing at the moment. If you’re a programmer, seek an instructor who will help you learn how to approach any project, not just hand you a line of code that works in a single situation. A True Teacher Creates Peers, Not Fans Almost everyone has been to a college course or employee training session where the lecturer is talking “at” you instead of to you. Sometimes these lessons are boring. But, sometimes they are conducted with great charisma and charm. This is where the trouble begins. An exciting presentation or a pumped-up conversation can be a starting point. But, don’t mistake charisma for the ability to teach. Many self-proclaimed gurus make big promises about the ways they can help you succeed, but have little to offer in reality. They’re all pomp and circumstance, handshakes and business cards. When it comes down to it, they don’t recognize you as someone capable of meaningful thought. Instead, these false teachers are all about building a fan club. You can spot a true teacher by their willingness to really hear you. True teachers will relate to you as a fellow human being able to think on your own. They teach you to help you become a peer, not to mold you into a loyal groupie. The building of fan clubs is a common occurrence both on college campuses and business world. Many graduates remember that one beloved professor who had full classes and a massive ego. Businessmen are often familiar with the boss who rewards yes-men and strikes back at those who don’t put up with his antics. Beware of these teachers and, instead, seek out someone with a mature enough perspective to truly listen. A True Teacher Helps You Find Autonomy, Not Dependence When you find a true teacher, you won’t need him forever. As a wise man once said: “A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.” True teachers show pupils how to find the answers themselves and how to manage their own learning. While all knowledge can’t be imparted in a single session, a true teacher does not jealously guard his understanding. He helps students learn as fast as they are able and stand on their own as soon as they are ready. In the same way that good parents must gradually let go and allow children to learn on their own, good teachers must wean their pupils from constant interaction. True teachers help their students recognize their own abilities and autonomy. They prepare pupils to succeed on their own. A true teacher may always be there for you, but less as an educator and more as a friend. Finding a True Teacher It isn’t easy to find a teacher that has all of these traits. But, the search is definitely worth it. Once you find a true teacher, you’ll never settle for less.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 06:24:14 +0000