How to spot a good teacher
I've been very lucky with my teachers and mentors over the years. I've had the privilege of working with some great people, especially in sports and personal development. As there was a recent occasion today that made me realise this again, I thought I would write a text about how to recognise a good teacher.
A good teacher gives you a challenge
A good teacher knows what you are capable of and knows your limitations and struggles. They try to challenge you without overburdening you. And they won't go easy on you when they know it's just laziness. If they see you cheating or going the easy route, they will call you out on it.
And if you tell your teacher that you can't do something, they will insist that you practise exactly that.
A good teacher is always a student
A good teacher is always a student of another teacher.
And they are a student of their students. Every student has their own life, brings their own experience. Being open and willing to learn from one's students is an extremely strong character trait.
As soon as you think you know everything and have nothing more to learn from others, you close your mind and enter a dead end. Your own progress comes to a halt.
They know that teaching is important in order to become a better teacher. If you think you know something, try teaching it to someone else and you will see where your gaps are. You'll get questions that you haven't asked yourself before. A good teacher will find the answers.
They want to see you succeed
Your success is their success. There is no greater honour for a teacher and nothing that makes them prouder than to see their students succeed. Bear that in mind and appreciate what you have learnt.
Progress is not linear
A good teacher knows that progress is not linear. You will take two steps forward, one step back, one step forward, and one to the side. There will be plateaus. There will be setbacks, frustration, and thoughts of giving up. If you get stuck in one way, a good teacher can show you another way and try something else. And then some time later you can come back to an earlier hurdle and overcome it.
Walk the talk
A good teacher lives what they teach. They do not just present theoretical constructs. They know that wisdom is the sum of knowledge + experience. They're willing to try out what they've learned to gain more experience.
They know what they don't know
It is impossible to know and learn everything in a field. Knowing the unknowns and being aware of the unknown unknowns is the reason for their humility. And it gives them a possible direction for their own growth.
Passion
A good teacher is so passionate about what they do, that it's contagious. They enjoy learning and teaching so much that they set the tone for the class. Without passion, without fun, they know they would burn out. And they're always trying to light that fire in their students.
The path to mastery
All the other points above are signs of a good or very good teacher. Treading the path to mastery is the sign of an excellent teacher. This means that they have dedicated their lives to what they teach. They've been on this path for years and decades, and they know they'll be on it until they draw their last breath. The thought of not teaching what they do would feel like a part of them dying.
This work by Marc Riese is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
