3. Scan text a (part 1) carefully paying attention to the words in bold type.

Text A. A Teacher’s Duties

Part 1

A teacher’s job involves 4 main duties. (1) Teachers must prepare for their classes. (2) They must guide, or assist, the learning of students. (3) They must check student progress. (4) Teachers must set a good example for their pupils. In carrying out these duties, teachers try to identify and respond to the needs of individual students. A teacher’s main duties also involve a number of related tasks, from keeping attendance records to marking papers. Also, many teachers take part in school-related activities after school hours and often outside school.

Since the 1950s, science and industry have developed many new devices and techniques for classroom use, including educational TV, language laboratories, and the advanced learning aids. Although these technological advances may assist the learning process, they have not greatly changed the teacher’s basic role; dealing with ability to stimulate, encourage and inspire pupils as well as students.

Besides, all teachers are expected to continue their professional growth the career. Many teachers use their vacation time to take advanced college courses or to attend conventions for teachers in their field. Many schools throughout districts provide in service training for teachers. Such training may include conferences and workshops after school hours or special reading materials to be studied at home. A variety of journals and other publications help teachers keep informed about developments in their field.

4. Scan text a (part 2). Make use of the parts 1 and 2 to give a valid report before the audience: a) with insufficient training, b) with sufficient training.

Part 2

1. Preparing for class requires thought and effort on a teacher’s part. Before each class session, a teacher must do such things as review subject matter, prepare learning activities, and plan special projects. This preparation is often called a daily lesson plan. Teachers have guidelines to help them plan their teaching.

Many teachers involve their students in deciding learning goals. Within the guidelines, most teachers are free to plan the kinds of activities they think will help students meet the desired goals. Such learning goals include the acquiring of certain values and attitudes.

2. Guiding the learning of students requires a variety of methods. For example, they sometimes guide students individually and sometimes as a group. But even when dealing with students as a group, a good teacher’s basic concern is the individual development of each student. The materials and methods must suit to the abilities, age, and needs of students.

4. Checking student progress. Most teachers give written or oral tests to help evaluate the progress of their students. By analyzing the test results of all the students in a group, teachers can discover which

students need special help and decide what kind of help they need. By evaluating the performance of the entire group, teachers can judge the effectiveness of their teaching methods and materials.

5. Setting a good example for students. Teachers often help students more by their example than they do in any other way. One of the most important ways that teachers set and admire an example is by showing such qualities as patience, understanding, trustworthiness, and attention to work. Students are more likely to cooperate with a teacher whom they respect and so are more likely to benefit from the assistance of that teacher.

“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means,” says Albert Einstein.

Comprehension Check 1