Since the beginning of the program, I have been wondering if there is a universal definition of the ‘’good teacher’’. I believe that none of my classmates have the same definition of what they hope to be, and I don’t think that any of us want to admit that ‘’be loved’’ or ‘’be appreciated’’ is part of our idea of a ‘’good teacher’’. I, for one, have been tempted to think that my relationship with the students doesn’t really matter, as long as I could teach them grammar and share my knowledge. Well, after reflecting on what happened last week, I can admit that I was wrong.
As I was observing at Stelly’s in the last couple of weeks, I had the chance to see some good teachers in action, but one of them really resonated with me. I had seen her walk in the halls and being greeted energetically by students, and I always wondered who she was. I stumbled into her class by accident because I wanted to see what a Spanish class looked like, not because I was actively looking for her.
She greeted Christina and I very warmly and let us sit with the students. She told us that even though it was not her most hard-working class, she loved them with all her heart… like if they were her children. Instantly, I felt at home, happy and relaxed in her class. She had a way of laughing with the students, smiling all the time, being cheerful and easy to engage with. She was welcoming for all the students and made sure to connect with each and every single one of them as they entered her class.
When she asked how everybody was feeling, a student instantly started to talk about her anxiety and how she felt overwhelmed. The teacher listened to her without judgment. It happened a couple of times during the lesson and, she even discussed racism with a student at the end of the class. What a teacher!
After class, we stayed to talk with her about the role of a teacher. She explained that we will soon realize that some of our students arrive at school with a really difficult life and it was her job to make her class a fun and respectful place to be once a day. She opens her door all day, and some students even come to eat lunch in her class. She told us that the content was one thing, but if we didn’t have a relationship with them we had nothing.
One student who came into her class during this conversation seemed to agree. She was eager to tell us how that specific teacher was beloved. She told us that this teacher was like a mom in the school. Everybody loves her, even the students who didn’t have her as a teacher.
So I asked this student what made a good teacher in her opinion. I don’t remember her specific words, but she said that feeling heard and respected were very important. A teacher should care. Yes, she wanted a teacher to be nice or funny, but being respected was way more important. She told me how she could talk to this particular teacher about anything, how she would listen without judging. And I got literal chills because she was talking to me about the importance of relationship, not how the teacher knew her content (even though this teacher seemed to know a lot about Spanish language).
As I reflect on what kind of teacher I want to be, I realize that there is a big discrepancy between what I thought was a good teacher and what the students might need. This teacher’s class was loud, and not always well disciplined. Before, I could have been mistaken by seeing this as chaos. Today, I am wondering if this is what I should aim for: a class where you can be seen, respected, and heard.
What if I used French to teach about life? What if learning a second language was also about humility, empathy, connection. Because a subject will do that to you: it can teach you about being human. What if my classes were more chaotic but also more respectful and loving?
After all, maybe I shouldn’t care about being loved or appreciated, but I should do care about loving and appreciating my students.
