Types of learners

Students are not alike. Thus, each one asks for different techniques. 

Keith Willing, suggested four learners categories:

Converges are students who are by nature solitary, prefer to avoid groups, and who are independent and confident in their own abilities. Most importantly they are analytic and can impose their own structures on learning. They tend to be cool and pragmatic.

Conformists are students who prefer to emphasise the learning “about language” over learning to use it. They tend to be dependent on those in authority and are perfectly happy to work in non-communicative classrooms, doing what they are told. A classroom of conformists is one which prefers to see well-organised teachers.

Concrete learners even being like conformists, they also enjoy the social aspects of learning and like to learn from direct experience. They are interested in language use and language as communication rather than language as a system. They enjoy games and group work in class.

Communicative learners are language use oriented. They are comfortable out of class and show a degree of confidence and a willingness to take risks which their colleagues may lack. They are much more interested in social interaction with other speakers of the language than they are with analysis of how the language works. They are perfectly happy to operate without the guidance of a teacher.

Knowing better the learners you are dealing with will lead you to better outcomes. 

What makes a good teacher?

• A good teacher should be kind and patient;

• A good teacher should really love teaching;

• A good teacher is able to motivate learners;

• A good teacher should be lively and entertaining;

• A good teacher has a good knowledge of his/her subject;

• A good teacher should have good rapport and interaction with the class;

• A good teacher should be able to involve all students equally throughout the lesson;

• A good teacher should be able to correct students without offending them or affecting their motivation;

• A good teacher should know students’ weaknesses and try to give help and individual attention where necessary;

So, what exactly makes a good teacher?

A teacher really cares about his/her teaching, but cares even more about the learning of the students.

What is teaching?

As dictionaries say:

1. The act, practice, occupation, profession, or art of a teacher. 
2. A precept or doctrine. 
3. Moral, religious or political opinions. 
4. To give someone knowledge or to train someone; to instruct. 
5. To impart knowledge or skill . 
6. To condition to a certain action or frame of mind. 
7. To cause to learn by example or experience. 
8. To advocate or preach. 
9. To carry on instruction on a regular basis in. 
10. To help to learn; tell or show. 
11. To cause to learn or understand.

"Don't try to fix the students, fix ourselves first. 

The good teacher makes the poor student good and the good student superior. 

When our students fail, we, as teachers, too, have failed."

(Marva Collins)

To give this first step and start becoming a teacher, choose your position since. . .

"The average teacher explains complexity; 

the gifted teacher reveals simplicity." 

(Robert Brault) 

Because. . .

"If you can’t explain it simply,

 you don’t understand it very well." 

(Albert Einstein)