What Defines a Good Lecturer

My class started last week with various classes ending at 3 in the afternoon followed by my hall's activity at night resulted in me being unable to update my blog recently.  Now that I am free, I will resume my blogging so that you guys will have a good time reading my entries albeit I know it isn't that interesting.  So, today, I would like to explicate a bit about what makes a good lecturer/teacher and what aspects are we, as students, are searching for.

The other day when I went to my psychology class, there was this lecturer who was filled with enthusiasm and knowledge and the way she taught captivated all of us in the hall.  And for the first time ever of being a student, the hall, filled with 300+ students, was dead quiet.  Well, everyone knows psychology is a very fascinating subject to do but there are times when a teacher/lecturer just completely destroys the interest in the subject simply because of his/her pathetic teaching.  It doesn't come as a surprise especially from where I come from.  In my country, there are teachers whom you, after taking his/her class, would go, "What the f***?!" and I have experienced that type of feeling myself.  And to date, when we actually introspect and recapitulate, we wonder to ourselves what makes us love some of the teachers' lessons and loathe the others'.

The answers unveiled itself yesterday in a class where we discussed the traits and qualities that define a good teacher/lecturer.  Answers could be heard from different mouths all spouting something similar and here's what was generally agreed on:

A good teacher is -

1) Compassionate

2) Enthusiastic

3) Humourous

4) Hardworking

5) Knowledgeable

Drawing up on these qualities, one would instantly think of a female teacher since girls, according to researches, are all the above by default (with exception to few).  However, this is not necessarily the case, there are male teachers who have those traits too, just fewer.  Now, let's review these traits and why they are imperative in a good teacher.

Firstly, being compassionate also means one can be empathetic and doesn't mind sacrificing his or her time to help a student achieve greatness or a particular set of knowledge.  Humans react easily to acts of kindness and once you have gained their favour, it is all the more easier to enjoy the class.  The second trait is self-explanatory since no one likes a teacher who just comes in and slack off.  Being humourous means you know when to cut loose and break a bone with the students.  For example, your students have studies for 4 hours consecutively and the subject you are teaching is extremely dry.  No point forcing your way through when they cannot even focus, it will be wise to just get along with the students for some time and let them feel that they are not expected to study like mad.  When students are acknowledged, they themselves will make the effort to change for the better and excel (from experience).  The last two traits are, again, self-explanatory as the first impression given to students when you are lazy and always read from the book is that you are a total jackass who doesn't even cherish yourself, what more to say your students.  Students aren't dumb or passive, they have a mind of their own and would like to be appreciated for what they have done or accomplished.  

Hence, being a teacher is not that easy and to be frank, it might as well be the most onerous profession out there but that doesn't mean the reward is not great.  At the end of the day, when you see your students smiling faces as they walk out of the classroom and thanking you for all that you have done.  That type of feeling is infinitely better than being the world's richest man or building the world's tallest building.  You feel peace at heart.  In my opinion, there is no greater reward than that.  Until next time, see ya~