Ted/T Craft/T Nut/T Practics/TCT

Teacher Centred Tuition

Definition

Teacher Centred Tuition means, the teacher is standing in front of the class, leading the tuition.

• Most information comes directly from his mouth, his chalk or other media he uses.
• Students are supposed to answer his questions, which mostly have a repetitive character, or ask questions on the subject matter.
• Students are obliged to participate in reading a text or doing a task the teacher gives to them.
• They do not have to take responsibility for the learning process.

Advantages

• If the teacher is good, results are often satisfying.
• Once you have acquired good teaching skills, your preparation time for a lesson is often quite short, as you do the pedagogic "on stage" and not beforehand.
• If you have to instruct your students quickly, as tuition time is limited and you have a lot of subject matter to cover, this method is most effective.
• Teacher centred tuition will probably suit your ego.
• You don’t have to deal too much with the learner as a person, you can see the learner as a receiver of your instruction.

Disadvantages

• If you are no good teacher or not yet a good teacher, results are often discouraging for all.
• If you fail to be a good teacher, your self-esteem will diminish.
• You put a lot of pressure on yourself, as all stands and falls with your abilities.
• After some time using this method, you may get bored with it.
• Students are not being taught to take over responsibility for their own learning process.
• Knowledge acquired by students in this way often remains superficial and is easily been forgotten, as been perceived as coming form outside.
• Identification with subject matter is for learners not easy.

Good practice

A simple theory of communication applies to teacher centred tuition: Te teacher is the "sender" of information, the learner is the "receiver".
You have to become a good sender, and to teach learners to be good receivers.

Becoming a good sender

• A good sender reaches out to every corner of the classroom. Not necessarily only by loudness of voice, but by attention and concentration.
• Focus at least one third of your concentration on classroom processes.
• Observe learners all the time.
• Do teach only subject matter you are convinced of yourself. Leave out anything you doubt.
• Concentrate on what you want to say. I you cannot concentrate, keep quiet.
• Say things in as clearly and as briefly as possible.
• Give short dictations (1-2 sentences) to your pupils every few minutes. It helps concentration and learners have something to repeat at home.
• You don’t have to be exciting all the time, but try never to be boring.
• You don't need to be perfect, but you should always be interesting.

So, don’t worry, if you cannot realize the whole catalogue at once!

Learners as good receivers

• The ideal receiver is hanging on the lips of his teacher, sucking in all that he says, following passionately his argumentation.
• In reality, children are distracted, bored, hungry, in love … and only s e e m to follow, because they are silent.
• Truth comes out, when the teacher gives them an exam.
• You can observe this group effect: One is attentive, all are attentive. One is chatting, all are chatting.
• Try to get them all in the boat, get them all busy, all attentive, not tolerate one to be inattentive. * Comment: This is often the most difficult in teacher centred tuition. I can say about myself, that even after 20 years of teaching practice I'm often not able to realize this! And: It puts the most stress on me.
• The ideal is a class working completely concentrated, eager to compete the given task and find the solution.
• Most learners are young and have an internal need to get active and discover the world. You don’t have to force them. If you have little children like me, you'll know this. Otherwise try to observe children and enjoy, how curious they are!
• In Reform-pedagogic, there are schools that do not prescribe pupils what to learn and when, they wait until learners are ready for a certain learning process and want it themselves.
• My proposal: Keep your pupils busy by activities in the classroom.