A Surprisingly Simple Quality that Students Want in Their Teachers

It was early in my teaching career, and I had recently started teaching for the first time in Asia. My students were a total pleasure to work with. But I wondered what they were looking for in me, their teacher. The director of our program seemed like a thoughtful Asian man, so I believed that he could give me some insights. I wasn’t disappointed.

What he told me seemed so simple, but the more I thought about it throughout my teaching career, the more impactful it became. Also, when I reflect back on the characteristics of my favorite teachers from the past, his insight was spot on.

Here is what he told me when I asked him, “What are students looking for in their teacher?”

“They want the teacher to look like he/she is working hard for them.”