Great Teachers are Great Communicators

The ability to communicate well is one of the basic characteristics of good teaching. A great teacher not only likes talking with other people, but they are also compulsive listeners. Great communicators will provoke more out of their students than he/she believed possible. Great teachers will know which tests and questions to put to their students in order to convince them of their own learning experience and to lure them into further learning. It also means that great teachers will believe in the dignity of their students and in the stage of life in which they are now finding themselves and they will neither mock nor underestimate the student's life experiences. Great teachers will find ways to tap into their students life history and provoke inquisitiveness and thoughts that will guide the student in desiring to learn more.

At the outset this may seem a bit overblown or pretentious. However, these ARE achievable goals and have been demonstrated by many great teachers who have gone before us. Anything less than these goals would be demeaning the role and purpose of education. To break this down into a manageable size, though, there are a number of little, seeming trivial, things a teacher can do that will support these goals and to earn the respect and attention of their students. These little things help to pave the way so that the student is open and receptive to the concepts presented.

Let's examine some practical approaches to good communication:

• Know your student's names, and call them by name
• Greet students and colleagues courteously and pleasantly at all times
• Remember and follow-up with your students regarding academic or life events that they have shared with you
• Resist sarcasm or responding to sarcastic remarks made by your students, even if they are funny
• Never tolerate insensitive or politically incorrect statements or remarks from your students or insulting jokes arising from one's sex or ethnic origin
• Be scrupulous in following the addage: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"

Regardless of the age or demographic differences in your classroom, good communication begins with respect for one another. To be a great teacher and to stimulate the student's desire and motivation to learn more begins first with your approach and how you honor and respect their lives and contribution to the learning experience. Practice good listening and feedback skills by using some of these simple techniques and you will be amazed at how your students will learn and respond to your teaching!

Copyright M. A. Webb, 2005. All Rights Reserved.

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