Duties & Responsibilities of an English Teacher

By: Mohammad Younis Farid younis.farid@gmail.com

An English teachers job requires a great deal of commitment, effort and hard work as it entails various duties and responsibilities. He has to wear many hats during the lesson and perform different roles to ensure effective teaching and maximum learning in the classroom. His major duties and responsibilities include: 1. Command over his Subject The foremost duty of an English teacher, like all other subject teachers, is to develop an in-depth knowledge of his subject. Being an English teacher, not only should he possess impeccable language skills, but he should also have the extensive knowledge of the language systems, like morphology, phonology, syntax etc.

2. Knowledge of Current Teaching Methodology

He should also have a detailed knowledge of a variety of language teaching methods and techniques. In the post method era, we have realized that one method does not work for every learner in every context. The teacher must exercise an eclectic approach to language teaching, where he can choose techniques from a variety of methods, keeping in mind the needs of his learners and the context of his teaching. He should be flexible in his teaching style and should adapt his teaching according to the learners needs. Rigid stereotyped teaching styles rarely prove effective in most contexts.

3. Learner-Centred Approach
Teaching can not be effective unless the teacher does not take into account how learning takes place. An English teacher must have the knowledge of the learning theories, the conditions of learning and ways and techniques to maximise learning in the classroom. Learner styles, multiple intelligences and cooperative learning are three theories which can help English teachers to teach effectively and make their classes learner-centred. Learners voices must be heard in the classroom and they should be involved in the decision making process to make them take the ownership of their learning. Modern research shows that when the teaching becomes learningcentred, the performance and achievement levels of the learners increase.

4. Developing a Positive Rapport

Hardly any learning is possible in the classroom unless the teacher is able to develop a positive rapport with his students. An English teacher must also try to develop a positive relationship with

his students. He can achieve this through showing a genuine respect for his learners. He must not insult them in front of the class and avoid resorting to embarrassing or corporal punishment. Remembering their names, although quite difficult in large classes, is a very good technique to develop a positive rapport. Praise for good performance and giving monetary rewards are also effective when used in moderation.

5. Motivator & Encourager

The motivation of learners is one of the most important conditions of learning. The higher their level of motivation, the better their performance and achievement in the class will be. A teacher must find ways to encourage and motivate his students. Before he begins the formal teaching of the topic, there must be a starter activity to engage his learners and prepare them for learning. They must also be encouraged through rewards, praise and appreciation during the class.

6. Planning and Organising Learning Activities

One of the various important roles of an English teacher is to be a master planner and then, equally important is implementing the plan effectively. A teacher has to plan learning sequences on macro and micro levels. He should plan his every lesson in minute detail in order to best utilise the available learning time and deliver a well-managed lesson. He must also master the principles and techniques of cooperative learning structures, anticipate possible problems during the lesson and use proactive thinking and strategies to avert them.

7. Classroom Management
An English teacher has to be an effective manager in the classroom in order to be an effective teacher. He should know the ways to effectively manage people (students), time and space. Setting up classrooms rules in the beginning of the session, communicating clear expectations of learners behaviour and giving clear and precise instructions before every activity will help him a great deal in managing students in the classroom. Effective lesson planning and sensible time division for different activities will help him manage the time properly. Using a variety of seating arrangements, changing students seats after a set period of time and monitoring them judiciously will be quite helpful in effective use of classroom space.

8. Assessment & Evaluation

He should also be well-versed in formal and informal as well as formative and summative assessment techniques. His tests must be valid, reliable and consistent with his teaching methodology. He must clearly share with his students the assessment objectives as well as the formal and marking criteria of the tests and examinations. A discussion of errors with the students, after the assessment results are announced, is extremely important for learners to

benefit from the evaluation process. Finally, he must be fair to all students during the evaluation and avoid any favouritism at all costs.

9. Role Model for Students

Students are influenced the most by their teachers. An English teacher must also model an exemplary conduct before his students. The values, that he wants to instill in them, must be genuinely practiced by the teacher himself. He must be punctual, show good manners, use polite language and be decently dressed when he is in school. Actions speak much louder than words and his good conduct will definitely inspire his students without any coercion.

10. Integration of Technology in the classroom

In this age of cyber space, when most of our students are digital natives, an English teacher has to be at least a digital immigrant. He must have the working knowledge of computer and Internet in order to effectively use technology in the classroom and also to be able to relate to his students. Internet offers a wealth of resources for teaching every subject, especially English language. English teachers can access lesson plans, activities, reading and listening texts and wonderful extensive reading and research resources.

11. Continuous Professional Development An English teacher must also invest in his professional development which is a lifelong process and a pre-requisite for effective teaching. He must attend training courses, workshops and seminars, study literature on education and teaching skills, and form and actively participate in Communities of Practice in his institution. Action Research is also an extremely effective way of improving teaching and learning in the classroom where the teacher is involved in research on his own specific issues and problems in his teaching context. He identifies a problem area, looks at the possible causes, devises a number of solutions, implements them one after the other and evaluates to see what exactly the solution is to the problem.

To conclude, it is pretty evident that an English teachers job is multi-faceted and requires a diverse skill set. To be able to perform his job effectively and to make an important difference to his learners lives, he must always endeavour to be involved in a process of continuous professional development through taking feedback from his learners and regularly selfevaluating and improving his teaching techniques and strategies, as in the words of John Dana, who dares to teach must never cease to learn. (Word Count: 1200)