[OP9] Teachers open the door. Students enter by themselves.

[OP9]

A noted professor of English Education in Korea uses this motto in his email signatures. “Teachers open the door. Students enter by themselves.” What do you think is meant by this? Do you agree or disagree with it? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion.



At a glance this motto sounds fantastic. Teachers open possibilities, shows ways of studying and students get to study by themselves. I can easily recall some teachers wielding sticks to threaten students and draw their attention. Until now we often believe that teachers should do whatever to make student study.



During teaching practicum I was often told that students cannot study by themselves and teachers should not just sit and expect them to do so. Therefore there are rules that student-teachers keep in mind during class; first, keep asking students- have a student stand up and ask a question to check if she understands what the teacher is saying. Second, don’t get easygoing with students. If you look easy, students will soon try to look down on you and play with you.



It is very sad that we don’t believe in students and regard them as ones who should be constantly ordered and pushed. Also, I hate to admit but it is true that it often works well. Therefore we feel at loss when we are left all alone with self-assignment, not knowing where we should start. It takes quite a long time to get a gist of it. However once we know what is really going on, we find immense possibility in us and achieve much more than what we expect from ourselves. On the contrary spoon-fed teaching and learning confide student’s potentiality in boundaries. At the same time it is not easy for teachers to believe in students’ self-studying potentials all of sudden.



Also, so-called ‘to open the door for students’ is a teaching skill. Teachers themselves first change and implement it in class. At first it could be time-consuming and require a lot of patience not only from teachers but also from students. Students may feel that they are not learning anything and teachers are not doing anything significant in class. However, if this kind of teaching can be properly implemented in class it would be the ultimate goal of studying itself as well as of studying English.

The attitude of students to achieve something. Students don't have combative sprit to get some achievements in studying. That makes them lazy and indifferent to the lesson. Students need to be more independent when teacher opens the door. However it is difficult to realize. Thus teacher push students to do compulsively. That's pathetic.

I can easily read through your essay thanks to your experience during practicum. It was a perfect match with your essay!