It’s Not What You Teach, It’s What Kind of Teacher You Are | Gregory Chahrozian | TEDxAUA

Summary

The speaker reflects on the profound influence teachers have on students, beyond academic knowledge. Drawing from personal experiences, they emphasize the importance of teachers as role models who impart life lessons through their behavior, attitudes, and interactions. The narrative highlights the teacher-student bond, akin to a second parent, and the responsibility educators hold to nurture and inspire future generations. The speaker encourages both educators and students to value this relationship, recognizing its potential to shape great citizens.

Takeaways

• 😨 The initial fear of teaching: The speaker reflects on the anxiety felt on their first day of teaching, emphasizing the pressure of first impressions.
• 👀 The power of perception: Before even speaking, students form perceptions about teachers based on their appearance and rumors, highlighting the importance of first impressions.
• 📄 The mentor's advice: A piece of paper as a prop to project an image of being busy and important, a lesson in managing perceptions.
• 🤔 Reflecting on teachers: The speaker prompts the audience to consider what they remember about their teachers, focusing on the intangible qualities that are not explicitly taught.
• 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 Role models and inspiration: Teachers often impart life lessons and values through their behavior, not just academic knowledge.
• 🎨 The art of teaching: The art teacher's talent and humility serve as a lesson in not judging by appearances and the importance of caring.
• 👶 Breaking gender norms: The English and science teachers, a married couple, challenge traditional gender roles, showing that roles can be flexible.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The teacher as a parent figure: Teachers spend significant time with students and can have a profound influence, akin to that of parents.
• 🤝 The importance of the teacher-student bond: A strong relationship between teacher and student is built on patience, trust, kindness, and respect.
• 🌟 The impact of teaching: Teachers have the potential to shape future generations and should strive to make a positive impact on each student.
• 📚 Beyond academics: The speaker encourages students to appreciate their teachers for more than just academic instruction, recognizing the broader life lessons taught.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial feeling about teaching on their first day?

The speaker felt very scared on their first day of teaching, describing it as possibly the scariest day of their life.

What advice did the speaker's first mentor give them about carrying a piece of paper in school?

The mentor advised the speaker to always carry a piece of paper to give the perception that they are busy, doing something important, and always up to something, which is about managing perception and gaining respect.

What qualities did the speaker's art teacher possess that left a lasting impression?

The art teacher was described as petite, scruffy, a nail-biting mumbling man, but also as an amazing artist, which reinforced the lesson of not judging a book by its cover and the importance of being humble and caring.

How did the speaker's English and science teachers influence their views on gender roles?

The English and science teachers, a married couple, showed that gender roles should not be locked or defined when the male teacher stayed at home to look after their child, which was unusual for the time, especially in an all-boy school.

What is the estimated average time a teacher spends with their students in a lifetime?

A teacher spends an estimated average of over nineteen thousand hours with their students in a lifetime.

What is the term used in the educational world to describe teachers acting as parents?

The term used is 'in loco parentis', which means teachers are given the responsibility to act in the best interests of their students and to treat them like their own children.

What is the significance of the bond formed between a student and a teacher according to the speaker?

The bond formed between a student and a teacher is significant as it is based on patience, trust, kindness, care, and respect, and it should not be taken for granted. It is a special relationship that can greatly influence a student's life.

How does the speaker describe the impact of a teacher on a student's life beyond academics?

The speaker describes the impact as profound, stating that students learn more from teachers' behaviors, attitudes, and the way they make them feel, rather than just from the academic content taught.

What role does the speaker believe educators should strive to fulfill in shaping the future?

The speaker believes that educators should strive to have an impact and mold the future for the better, one student at a time, by being role models and influencing students' lives positively.

What advice does the speaker give to students regarding their relationship with teachers?

The speaker advises students to look beyond exams and grades, to appreciate their teachers, and to learn from them, as there is much to absorb beyond the classroom.