English for New Millennium

1. From Refining Composition Skills by R.L.S. Malky and Mary k Ruetten, Eds.
Presented by: Dammar Singh Saud

3. Central Idea of the Text
Not all teachers are the same. In fact, the
professors fall into three categories: the
positive teachers, the neutral teachers and the
negative teachers. So that, we should judge
our teachers by their skills, knowledge,
performance, behaviors and characteristics
not by over generalization and stereotypes.

4. The Positive Teachers
 The most agreeable teachers.
 Interested in their subject and students.
 Try to learn all students names.
 Allow for questions and discussions.
 Do not seem to mind if a students disagree with them.
 Show their interest out of class as well.
 Available for conferences (a meeting for formal discussion).
 Encourage students to see them if they need help.
 Students tend to feel comfortable in their presence.
 A good example: French teacher Monsieur Poirrot.
 Provide their own time to work with us.
 Relatively small in numbers.

5. The Neutral Teachers
 Not very agreeable teachers like positive teachers.
 Generally, they do not seem interested in their subjects
and students.
 They usually do not learn of the students names.
 Boring than the positive teachers’ classes.
 Allow less time for questions and discussion.
 Encourage for conferences but not encourage students
to come to see them for help.
 Students feel slightly uncomfortable in their presence.
 A good example: Economics teacher, Professor Hilton.
 Relatively large in numbers.

6. The Negative Teacher
 The least agreeable teachers.
 Every student dreads (to be very afraid of something).
 Do not learn students names.
 Not interested in their subjects and students.
 Seem almost hostile in class and out of class.
 Primarily lecture and no questions and discussions.
 Seem inimical (unfriendly) to the idea of having
conferences and are never in their offices.
 Students avoid seeing them for conferences if at all
possible.
 A good example: Physics Professor, Dr. Wollen.
 Very boring and intimidating (frightening) class.
 Too often inflexible like machine than human beings.
 Relatively small in numbers.

7. Conclusion
The type of teacher students get can directly affect how
much they learn. Since the mission of the university is to
educate, administrators should try to get the neutral and
negative teachers to improve their teaching methods
and attitudes; otherwise, the administrators should
consider dismissing at least negative teachers and make
every effort to hire those teachers who show promise of
being positive one.