College Teachers

From Refining Composition Skills by R.L.S. Malky and Mary k Ruetten, Eds. Presented by: Dammar Singh Saud

Central Idea of the TextNot all teachers are the same. In fact, the professors fall into three categories: the positive teachers, the neutral teachers and the negative teachers. So that, we should judge our teachers by their skills, knowledge, performance, behaviors and characteristics not by over generalization and stereotypes.

The Positive TeachersThe most agreeable teachers.Interested in their subject and students.Try to learn all students names.Allow for questions and discussions.Do not seem to mind if a students disagree with

them.Show their interest out of class as well.Available for conferences (a meeting for formal

discussion).Encourage students to see them if they need

help.Students tend to feel comfortable in their

presence.A good example: French teacher Monsieur

Poirrot.Provide their own time to work with us.Relatively small in numbers.

The Neutral TeachersNot very agreeable teachers like positive teachers.Generally, they do not seem interested in their

subjects and students.They usually do not learn of the students names.Boring than the positive teachers’ classes.Allow less time for questions and discussion.Encourage for conferences but not encourage

students to come to see them for help.Students feel slightly uncomfortable in their

presence.A good example: Economics teacher, Professor

Hilton.Relatively large in numbers.

The Negative TeacherThe least agreeable teachers.Every student dreads (to be very afraid of

something).Do not learn students names.Not interested in their subjects and students.Seem almost hostile in class and out of class.Primarily lecture and no questions and discussions.Seem inimical (unfriendly) to the idea of having

conferences and are never in their offices.Students avoid seeing them for conferences if at all

possible.A good example: Physics Professor, Dr. Wollen.Very boring and intimidating (frightening) class.Too often inflexible like machine than human beings.Relatively small in numbers.

ConclusionThe type of teacher students get can directly affect how much they learn. Since the mission of the university is to educate, administrators should try to get the neutral and negative teachers to improve their teaching methods and attitudes; otherwise, the administrators should consider dismissing at least negative teachers and make every effort to hire those teachers who show promise of being positive one.