LEARNING UNIT 2: THE TEACHER AS A PROFESSIONAL
2.1 OVERVIEW
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a professional person or rather asked yourself
this question: What is a professional? Long ago, we used to identify and differentiate the type of
work that a person does by the clothes that he or she wears. Anyway, that is how things were then,
and I am not sure if that is still the case these days. However, what I am sure about, is that in this
time and age you certainly must have met or at least lived next to a professional person, perhaps in
your neighborhood. There are many kinds of professionals out there. Spend 5 minutes
brainstorming as many different kinds of professionals as you can think of.
When we talk of professional jobs, surely teaching must be one of the professions appearing on
your list. Did I guess right? Teaching has been defined in many ways and I am sure once you start
engaging in teaching activities, you will be able to come up with your own definition of teaching.
Your experience in a particular job will allow you to define your job the way you understand and
probably feel it.
Niebrand, Horn and Homes (2000), for example, suggest that teaching is a public profession. I
agree, do you? This means that the work of a teacher is to serve the community, and the
community that you serve as a teacher always regards you as a teacher wherever you are, in and
out of school. Because you serve the larger community, you must always be aware of the
impression you create and make. In this learning unit, you will explore the various concepts relating
to becoming a professional teacher and interact with your fellow students to share and exchange
your deep learning desires.
I have already given you a background of where we are going with this topic. To learn more about
professionalism and understand why teaching is regarded as a profession, there are certain
outstanding qualities or criteria used to describe teaching as a profession. Below see the images of
professional teachers as introduction to the unit.
http://gsas.columbia.edu/office-academic-diversity
http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKE
wjCo5CF9LbUAhUDwBQKHbqiD14QjRwIBw&url=http://www.jobmail.co.za/blog/a-closer-look-at-
education-and-teaching-jobs-in-south-
africa/&psig=AFQjCNE3LHAmIjVZMEGlD9F2eqbWrb62lg&ust=1497308755915485
,LEARNING UNIT 2: THE TEACHER AS A PROFESSIONAL
2.2 THE ATTRIBUTES OF A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER
The best people to provide you with insights into the qualities of a good
teacher are learners themselves. They spend the better part of their lives
with teachers in a school environment. Learners can give a better
description of a good teacher and if you are good as a teacher, they will
know and could even tell you! It is not uncommon to hear a learner
boasting that, “my teacher means the world to me”. Parents also know
good teachers. Unfortunately, they also know bad teachers. Parents can
point at a teacher in a mall, in town or anywhere and say with pride, “the
future of my child is in the hands of that teacher”. This therefore tells us that
it is important that we, as teachers, work together with the parents of the
learners that we teach to get the support that we need from the parents. A
teacher who understands her/his subject matter very well, and can help the
learners to succeed, is respected and will always be held in high esteem.
Research informs us that teachers are the key to a quality education. It is
very interesting to listen to what learners say when they describe how
excellent either their Grade 1 teacher, Mathematics teacher in Grade 5 or
English teacher in Grade 7 or how good their primary teacher was. The
descriptions are illustrated in such a way that you would want to meet that
teacher. This shows teachers are appreciated and respected even though
they rarely learn or hear about these accolades. Reflect on your own
experience.
• Can you think of a teacher whom you admired?
• Can you think of a teacher whom you did not respect?
• What were the differences between these two teachers?
Teaching in the school system is divided into different phases. As you are
preparing yourself to become a qualified teacher aiming to either teach in
Foundation Phase (FP), Intermediate Phase (IP), Senior (SP) and/or
Further Education and Training (FET), you need to think about the qualities
of a teacher required for the phase you intend to teach.
, LEARNING UNIT 2: THE TEACHER AS A PROFESSIONAL
ACTIVITY 2.1: PREPARATION FOR DISCUSSION FORUM 1
NB:This exercise is meant to help you structure your thoughts and prepare for
your Discussion Assignment Later. You need not submit this activity.
Step 1:Search for video/s on the internet and watch teachers delivering lessons in the
classroom or giving instructions to learners. Observe how these teachers relate and
communicate information to learners. Write down notes and keep them for later use.
Step 2: Do an internet search and look for any information and/or article about the
following:
• Attributes of a professional teacher
• The characteristics of a good teacher
• Qualities of a good teacher.
You can use any search engine (e.g. Google, Navigator, Firefox). Look for an icon in
the form of a magnifying glass, usually near the top of the screen, and then type in the
words from the above list to see what comes up.
Find and read one or more articles related to the above issues. While reading highlight
important points and make notes for later use.
Step 3: Use the notes you compiled from watching the video and your readings.
Design a mind map to help you structure your thoughts and in preparation for your
discussion with your group members, later.
3.1 What kind of teaching qualities are required for a Foundation Phase Teacher?
3.2 What kind of teaching qualities are required for an Intermediate Phase Teacher?
3.3 What kind of teaching qualities are required for a Senior Phase Teacher?
2.1 OVERVIEW
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a professional person or rather asked yourself
this question: What is a professional? Long ago, we used to identify and differentiate the type of
work that a person does by the clothes that he or she wears. Anyway, that is how things were then,
and I am not sure if that is still the case these days. However, what I am sure about, is that in this
time and age you certainly must have met or at least lived next to a professional person, perhaps in
your neighborhood. There are many kinds of professionals out there. Spend 5 minutes
brainstorming as many different kinds of professionals as you can think of.
When we talk of professional jobs, surely teaching must be one of the professions appearing on
your list. Did I guess right? Teaching has been defined in many ways and I am sure once you start
engaging in teaching activities, you will be able to come up with your own definition of teaching.
Your experience in a particular job will allow you to define your job the way you understand and
probably feel it.
Niebrand, Horn and Homes (2000), for example, suggest that teaching is a public profession. I
agree, do you? This means that the work of a teacher is to serve the community, and the
community that you serve as a teacher always regards you as a teacher wherever you are, in and
out of school. Because you serve the larger community, you must always be aware of the
impression you create and make. In this learning unit, you will explore the various concepts relating
to becoming a professional teacher and interact with your fellow students to share and exchange
your deep learning desires.
I have already given you a background of where we are going with this topic. To learn more about
professionalism and understand why teaching is regarded as a profession, there are certain
outstanding qualities or criteria used to describe teaching as a profession. Below see the images of
professional teachers as introduction to the unit.
http://gsas.columbia.edu/office-academic-diversity
http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKE
wjCo5CF9LbUAhUDwBQKHbqiD14QjRwIBw&url=http://www.jobmail.co.za/blog/a-closer-look-at-
education-and-teaching-jobs-in-south-
africa/&psig=AFQjCNE3LHAmIjVZMEGlD9F2eqbWrb62lg&ust=1497308755915485
,LEARNING UNIT 2: THE TEACHER AS A PROFESSIONAL
2.2 THE ATTRIBUTES OF A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER
The best people to provide you with insights into the qualities of a good
teacher are learners themselves. They spend the better part of their lives
with teachers in a school environment. Learners can give a better
description of a good teacher and if you are good as a teacher, they will
know and could even tell you! It is not uncommon to hear a learner
boasting that, “my teacher means the world to me”. Parents also know
good teachers. Unfortunately, they also know bad teachers. Parents can
point at a teacher in a mall, in town or anywhere and say with pride, “the
future of my child is in the hands of that teacher”. This therefore tells us that
it is important that we, as teachers, work together with the parents of the
learners that we teach to get the support that we need from the parents. A
teacher who understands her/his subject matter very well, and can help the
learners to succeed, is respected and will always be held in high esteem.
Research informs us that teachers are the key to a quality education. It is
very interesting to listen to what learners say when they describe how
excellent either their Grade 1 teacher, Mathematics teacher in Grade 5 or
English teacher in Grade 7 or how good their primary teacher was. The
descriptions are illustrated in such a way that you would want to meet that
teacher. This shows teachers are appreciated and respected even though
they rarely learn or hear about these accolades. Reflect on your own
experience.
• Can you think of a teacher whom you admired?
• Can you think of a teacher whom you did not respect?
• What were the differences between these two teachers?
Teaching in the school system is divided into different phases. As you are
preparing yourself to become a qualified teacher aiming to either teach in
Foundation Phase (FP), Intermediate Phase (IP), Senior (SP) and/or
Further Education and Training (FET), you need to think about the qualities
of a teacher required for the phase you intend to teach.
, LEARNING UNIT 2: THE TEACHER AS A PROFESSIONAL
ACTIVITY 2.1: PREPARATION FOR DISCUSSION FORUM 1
NB:This exercise is meant to help you structure your thoughts and prepare for
your Discussion Assignment Later. You need not submit this activity.
Step 1:Search for video/s on the internet and watch teachers delivering lessons in the
classroom or giving instructions to learners. Observe how these teachers relate and
communicate information to learners. Write down notes and keep them for later use.
Step 2: Do an internet search and look for any information and/or article about the
following:
• Attributes of a professional teacher
• The characteristics of a good teacher
• Qualities of a good teacher.
You can use any search engine (e.g. Google, Navigator, Firefox). Look for an icon in
the form of a magnifying glass, usually near the top of the screen, and then type in the
words from the above list to see what comes up.
Find and read one or more articles related to the above issues. While reading highlight
important points and make notes for later use.
Step 3: Use the notes you compiled from watching the video and your readings.
Design a mind map to help you structure your thoughts and in preparation for your
discussion with your group members, later.
3.1 What kind of teaching qualities are required for a Foundation Phase Teacher?
3.2 What kind of teaching qualities are required for an Intermediate Phase Teacher?
3.3 What kind of teaching qualities are required for a Senior Phase Teacher?
