Alexander Semenyuk
The Dove
Published in
3 min readJan 26, 2023

--

All photos by author

Who is a good teacher?

Hey friends,

The title is a pretty loaded question, because I’m not just writing here about a traditional meaning which most people would picture right away, a schoolteacher. I’m talking in general terms. Teacher can be a parent, a martial arts instructor, a friend. Teacher can be someone on video, or in a book.

So, what makes a good teacher?

Of course…the greatest teacher ever is Jesus, but…we are not going to be totally comparing us to Him, however, there are some very important aspects to learn in regard to how he taught his apostles as well.

Not selfish.

A good teacher is not self-absorbed. Selfishness is a destroyer of things and if a teacher is filled with this, only damage will come upon the student.

Not prideful.

Goes hand in hand with selfishness at times. When someone is too prideful, they’ll ignore the ones they teach, resulting in a broken relationship.

A guide.

A good teacher can be like a light in the darkness, guiding the student towards a particular destination.

Not stuck in routine.

When someone refuses to adapt they no longer progress. If a teacher is stuck in the same routine and doesn’t see there must be adaptation to circumstances, then there is a big chance the student will be damaged.

No comparing.

A good teacher doesn’t compare his student to others. He understands that the student is his/her own person. The teacher should not push his own ideas on the student, allowing the student to find themselves.

Listener.

Also, a good listener, making sure the student feels heard and understood. When we feel heard, there is a strengthening in trust and a relief.

Allows mistakes.

A good teacher allows the student to make mistakes, as mistakes are an inevitable part of life, and they must be able to handle failure.

Respect.

Finally, there must be mutual respect between the two. This is crucial to all of the above.

Let me know what else should be added.

Blessings.

--

--