If an instructor has enthusiasm, he/she will instill motivation in the students. Being passionate about something shows sincerity and the enthusiasm is automatic (at least it has been in my experiences). If the students are motivated and interested in the content, they are more likely to keep coming back and retention will increase. All at the same time, the instructor has to make the learning process fun and exciting!
Hi Lora,
Great to hear about your success as a new instructor. It is obvious you have learned much in your initial teaching effort. With this attitude and your willingness to always strive for improvement you are going to have a great career as an educator. Welcome to the profession.
Gary
I really like this statement: "enthusiasm communicates value". It seems to me that students who are excited to begin the study of a particular course are affirmed in their excitement by the instructor's enthusiasm which, I agree, must be genuine. For other students who may not have initial excitement about a particular course and who are taking that course because they "have to" are introduced to "that" course as something unexpected, something which is endowed with value due to the instructor's enthusiasm. In both instances, it seems to me, an instructor's enthusiasm shapes a student's mind set for the entire course. Having survived my first round of teaching I can see the importance of this - as a neophyte instructor I was focused on imparting the information, was too tense and insecure to let my enthusiasm shine through until the end of the course. I was certainly blessed with great students!
I do have great enthusiasm. My student surveys reflect this. I love what I do & have passion & excitement for it. My students become infected with it & it carries the momentium. They seem to become sponges, looking for more, I give them more & everyone is satisfied.
For many people it's hard to imagine having enthusiasm for math. As a math teacher I've found that my own excitement for math can have a great impact on student learning. It is especially important to make it meaningful to them as well. This will cut short any question of "why is this important?" or "when will I ever need to know this?". Students often ask these questions in math classes.
Hi Peter,
Good point. No matter the content we need to be excited about it and try our best to make it exciting and engaging for the students.
Gary
For some courses the instructor MUST find something to be enthusiastic about, for instance if the material is very dry, but important nonetheless one can be enthusiastic for the important knowlege that the student is learning.
If instructors are enthusiastic about the material then the students will be too. If you have a boring class- where the students are bored and they are watching the time tick away and they can't wait to get out of class - they are more likely not going to remember a thing about the class. If you have an instructor that can make the class fun and is "hyped" about the material and can make the students see that too it will help with the learning of the material. get the students involved with discussions too.
If instructors aren't excited about teaching, the students won't be excited. It is a huge thing for a student to feel accepted and appreciated as part of the student body. Getting that from an instructor also helps student retention
Hi Lizza,
Good point about the how instructors set the tone for the class and how students are going to see themselves in the class. If the instructors don't seem to care the students won't either. We have to bring our A game to the class each time we teach.
Gary
As a student myself, I look at my instructors not only as a someone who I can learn from, but someone I can relate to in the subject I am studying. If I sense any lack of dedication, excitement or enthusiasm from him/her, I become turned off and that lack of enthusiasm transfers on to me. Lack of enthusiasm only shows lack of passion and lackign this key ingredient does not help a student stay motivated or focused in school. I think as a representative of school, intructors should set a good example to the students by always displaying excitement, good energy and a positive attitude. Otherwise, they are not postively controbuting to the welfare of the students.
Hi Kimberly,
I agree with you on this. I know most of us have had such instructors in our past and it seemed the course would never end. It went on forever and ever.
With excitement comes motivation, relevancy and application. Sounds like you are offering all three to your students with your excitement about your course and the use of English as a career maker.
Gary
I can't imagine a more boring learning situation than being taught by an instructor who clearly has no enthusiasm for the subject matter. If the instructor isn't jazzed by the subject matter, then why should the students be? This applies to all courses, but can especially help retention in required, non-field classes (like remedial English). English may not be my students' favorite subject and they probably haven't done well at it in the past, but my excitement for the subject rubs off on them. One of the best compliments I've ever received is that I am "pretty excited about sentences" and that my excitement was "cool."
Hi Elisha,
I am sure your students really enjoy your class because your excitement for the field and your love of teaching comes through in your remarks. Keep up the good work.
I teach a required course as well so I know how hard you have to work to get the students engaged in the learning process while enjoying coming to the class. A big challenge but a lot of fun because I get to be creative and share a field I love.
Gary
Instructor Enthusiasm is very important to retention. If students know their instructor is excited to be in class and teach them, they are going to be more motivated to learn. If they feel an instructor doesn't really care about them or what they learn, they won't think twice about leaving or dropping out.
I feel instructor enthusiasm is just as important as the course content! I teach a medical terminology class, a required course. I come in the first day with a huge smile on my face, and try to let the students know that even though there is alot of material and this is a required course, i can promise them that they will enjoy it, and look forward to it. I have used all sorts of technology which keeps the students engaged, and i truly believe my upbeat personality, and enthusiam for the course content, the love of teaching, and for the students is what keeps them coming back!
I do like the comment that we are not just mechanical heads with an audio tape within...so true. I do believe that a teacher who seems bored or uninterested in the material will become just an audio tape within a mechanical head. The monotone voice is not appealing but usually ends up being a sleep aide. I agree instructors that do not engage their students with eye contact, smiles and learning activities will have a room full of sleeping people.
If the instructor is not enthused about what they are teaching how can you expect the students to want to learn. i am always upbeat and show that I love my job and the exciting career that I am teaching them to go into. if you are happy and the students can feel it then they will study and want to come to school they will not want to miss or drop out. It is about keeping them in their seats until they have graduated.
Instructor enthusiasm is a large part of what keeps students coming back everyday. They are interested and excited about what will happen next. It also helps students get excited about their chosen career path and that will help directly with retention
Hi Maureen,
I like the way you think. We do need to laugh. Laughter helps to get the blood flowing, the brain cells firing and our bodies flexible. Once all this is done learning can begin. By starting at such an early hour if you didn't use humor in the classroom I'm not sure how you would get them started. I was raised on a dairy farm so my days started at 4:00am, 7 days a week. Maybe that is why I'm not a dairy farmer today and that I teach classes beginning at 4:00 pm and ending at 10.
Gary
