Six Impossible Things that ELT Teachers Do

In “Alice in Wonderland” one of the best scenes is when Alice talks about “the six impossible things” to gain her strength when she faces her biggest challenge (a fierce fight with Jabberwocky)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhzLsBpIj84

Don’t you have some difficult and challenging moments in the classroom when you need to stay focused to cope with them? I do.

So, I decided to make my own list of six impossible things that teachers do to aid me in those moments.

1. Identify the needs, interests, language difficulties (L2 learners of English lack basic interactional competencies) and learning styles of the students and cater for these.
2. Select, introduce and exploit suitable materials for improvement of language (not only
   to be used in class but also for out)
3. Assess progress of the individual students and the whole class
4. Keep affective filters down by fostering positive group dynamics (cooperation, mutual respect, confidence…etc.)
5. Encourage students to be life-long learners and take responsibility of their own learning.
6. Help students develop learning strategies.

What do you think? Don’t we make the impossible happen? What else are there that you would like to add to the list suggested
above?

In “Tasks for Language Teachers” Parrott (2006,np.30) outlined roles of teachers as diagnostician, planner, manager and
provider. I would like to suggest one more: The Miracle  Maker