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Teachers As A Supervisor
Teachers As A Supervisor
Abstract: the article discusses several roles for teachers during the interactive lessons. The
teacher is in complete charge of the class, what students do, what they say and how they say
it. The teacher assumes this role when a new language is being introduced and accurate
reproduction and drilling techniques are needed. Regardless of the roles they assume,
teacher’s shape the culture of their classrooms, improve student learning, and influence
practice and production.
Keywords: tutor, controller, prompter, assessor, organizer.
It is clear that the 21st-century classroom needs are very different from the 20th-century
ones. In this century classroom, teachers are facilitators of student learning and creators of
productive classroom environments, in which students can develop the skills they might
need at present or in future [1, 5].
However, before we begin to understand the evolving role of an ESL teacher, now here
some of the most popular teacher roles. Harmer, J. states that ‘it makes more sense to
describe different teacher roles and say what they are useful for, rather than make value
judgments about their effectiveness.’ So there are some of the most common teacher roles:
Firstly, the Controller. The teacher is in complete charge of the class, what students do,
what they say and how they say it. The teacher assumes this role when a new language is
being introduced and accurate reproduction and drilling techniques are needed. In this
classroom, the teacher is mostly the center of focus, the teacher may have the gift of
instruction, and can inspire through their own knowledge and expertise, but, does this role
really allow for enough student talk time? Is it really enjoyable for the learners? There is
also a perception that this role could have a lack of variety in its activities [1, 2].
Secondly, the Prompter. The teacher encourages students to participate and makes
suggestions about how students may proceed in an activity. The teacher should be helping
students only when necessary. When learners are literally ‘lost for words’, the prompter can
encourage by discreetly nudging students. Students can sometimes lose the thread or
become unsure how to proceed; the prompter in this regard can prompt but always in a
supportive way. then, the Resource. The teacher is a kind of walking resource center ready
to offer help if needed, or provide learners with whatever language they lack when
performing communicative activities. The teacher must make her/himself available so that
learners can consult her/him when (and only when) it is absolutely necessary.As a resource
the teacher can guide learners to use available resources such as the internet, for themselves,
it certainly isn’t necessary to spoon-feed learners, as this might have the downside of
making learners reliant on the teacher [2].
Next one is the Assessor: The teacher assumes this role to see how well students are
performing or how well they performed. Feedback and correction are organized and carried
out.There are a variety of ways we can grade learners, the role of an assessor gives teachers
an opportunity to correct learners. However, if it is not communicated with sensitivity and
support it could prove counter-productive to a student’s self-esteem and confidence in
learning the target language [3].
The Organizer is next one of the most important role of teachers. Perhaps the most difficult
and important role the teacher has to play. The success of many activities depends on good
organization and on the students knowing exactly what they are to do next. Giving instructions is
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vital in this role as well as setting up activities. The organizer can also serve as a demonstrator,
this role also allows a teacher to get involved and engaged with learners. The teacher also serves
to open and neatly close activities and also give content feedback [3, 4].
The last but not the least one is the Tutor. The teacher acts as a coach when students are
involved in project work or self-study. The teacher provides advice and guidance and helps
students clarify ideas and limit tasks. This role can be a great way to pay individual attention
to a student. It can also allow a teacher to tailor make a course to fit specific student needs.
However, it can also lead to a student becoming too dependent or even too comfortable with
one teacher and one method or style of teaching [1].
Facilitating learning is empowering for both the learner and the teacher and frees the
teacher from many of the burdens that having to be an ‘expert’ might entail. It would
traditionally have been seen as a weakness for a teacher to say ‘I don’t know, let’s find out’
or ‘I don’t know, do any of you students know the answer?’ But, times have changed and so
must the role of the ELS teacher.
Regardless of the roles they assume, teacher’s shape the culture of their classrooms,
improve student learning, and influence practice and production [2].
Here we can easily say that the teacher is welcomed in this new generation with future luck!
References
1. A degree 18/75 “On measures to further improve foreign language learning system” on
December 10, 2012.
2. Brown H.D., 2000. Principles of language learning and teaching. New York, NY:
Longman.
3. Broussard S.C. and Garrison M.E.B., 2004. The relationship between classroom
motivation and academic achievement in elementary school-aged children.
4. Guay F., Chanal J., Rattele C.F., Marsh H.W., Larose S. and Boivin M., 2010. Inrinsic,
identified, and controlled types of motivation for school subjects in young elementary
school children. British Journal of Educational Psychology.
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