Hi Amir, a difficult question, no doubt.

Maybe an effective EFL teacher is one who focuses on the leaner , that is , teaches English, develops learning strategies and considers affective factors.

a difficult task

carmen gloria

Dear Carmen,

Hi,

I do agree with you.

If we ask this question to a number of teachers and students, we are likely to get answers that closely resemble the following:

• A good teacher should be kind and patient.
• A good teacher should really love teaching.
• A good teacher should be lively and entertaining.
• A good teacher is able to motivate learners.
• 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 does make a good teacher? A simple answer may be, a teacher that really cares about his/her teaching, but cares even more about the learning of the students.

Best regards,

Amir.

Dear Larissa,

That's right. Teachers are born they are not made. But even good teachers must try hard to be more and more effective.

Thanks,

Amir

  Dear Amir,

I can't but agree with you. I am sure an affective teacher doesn't stop  his skills developping otherwise he  looses learning strategies. That really makes him work hard. The competencies necesary for EFL teacher are very flexible. Some of them are more important and others are less. But no doubt they  all  make him effective.

Thanks for your comment,

Larissa

Dear all,

If we look at the issue from another perspective, we can see that an effective teacher can connect himself to all the students in the class in a certain way. The teaching of English is more than just being technical, I think. The teacher's identity plays an important role in this connection. I mean how you can connect your identity to that of students because your identity is reflected in your way of teaching and then in turn affect your style of teaching. But connecting your identity to your students is not easy at all because it requires you to recognise your real identity and then you should know some ways in which you can match your identity to that of students. What do you think?

Bao Kham

Dear Bao,

Thanks for you your comment. Here we can talk about establishing rapport.

Rapport between the teacher and the students plays an important part in determining if a teacher is effective and successful.

Thanks,

Amir 

Dear Larissa,

Thanks for your comment.

Best regards,

Amir

Hi all,

I would like to add a couple of things to the many good points already made.  I fully agree that rapport is really important, and being able to use every tool available to, as Carmen states, 'focus on the learner' but also it's important to both challenge and, at the same time, be willing to learn from the learners, as well as let them know just how important they are to the learning process.  Too many of our students here, do not feel that they actually have to do anything other than sit in the classroom in order to learn.  They have, unfortunately, come from a system where the teacher is always right and all they need to do is memorise in order to succeed.

Phil

Dear Rachid,

Thanks for your comments.

How do you think we can establish rapport between a teacher and a student?

Thanks,

Amir

Hello Amir, you can establish rapport by showing students that you care about their progress.

Carmen Gloria

Dear Carmen,

Hi

Yes. You are right. That 's one of the most important factors.

Thanks,

Amir

Hi all,

Amir - certainly not a question that can be answered in a few words and lots of factors have come up here. I would like to add, "An effective teacher needs to be enthusiastic about the subject" - not just about teaching but what they are specifically doing in any given lesson. I believe that a teachers attitude is contagious; if teachers are enthusisatic, then learners are more likely to be so.

Georgina

Dear Georgina and Peter,

Thanks for you comments. I agree with both of you. If we don't believe in what we are doing students can sense it easily. Therefore, what we do will be in vain.

Thanks,

Amir