教師最應具備的個人魅力(The Most Desirable Personal Qualities

　　　Probably no two people would draw up exactly similar lists about the most desirable qualities in a teacher, but I think the following would be generally accepted.

　　First, the teacher‘s personality should be pleasantly lively and attractive. This doesn‘t rule out people who are physically plain, or even ugly, because many such people have great personal charm. But it does rule out those who are over excitable, depressed, unfriendly, sarcastic, or bossy. Second, it‘s not only desirable but essential for a teacher to have a capacity for sympathy—that is, a capacity to understand the feelings of students and a capacity to tolerate mistakes. Third, teachers should be intellectually honest—that is, they should know their own intellectual strengths and limitations. Fourth, every teacher should be a bit of an actor. They should be able to enliven the lessons with imaginative performances that keep students involved. And no matter how many times they have taught the same material or corrected the same mistake, they should never show that they are bored. Fifth, teachers must remain mentally alert. They must be quick to adapt to any situation and be able to improve.

　　Finally, a teacher should always want to go on learning. A teacher who loses his thirst for knowledge will never inspire his students to learn.