7 roles of English teachers in the 21st century

20th century English teaching is already far behind and comparatively different from the 21st century English teaching. Consequently, the roles of the teachers have relatively changed. Teachers no longer feel that there are roles in which they think they have less experience. There are roles now that they try and involve future timeframe in the equation. In short, the 21st century classroom needs are now far different from the 20th century ones. In the 21st century classroom, teachers act as facilitators not only for students to learn but they also create a productive environment and infuse modern technologies for their students to develop skills they might need at present or in the future. There is always this incorporation of future needs and potentials in every teaching in this century we live in.

Here are the common worldwide identified roles of English teachers in the 21st century. One is in which English teachers play the role of a controller. As the name implies, teacher is taking charge of the class, what students should do, what they say and how they say it. It is more likely the teacher from the 20th century and even centuries before that, but what is different from them is that this 21st century English teacher assumes this role while introducing new set of medium or platform for learning English as well as accurate reproduction and drilling techniques that can make English more adaptable or understandable for students. Second role is English teachers becoming a prompter themselves. Gone are Manila paper days, or the days of chalkboard prompter, or idiot boards. In fact, this 21st century role identifies those teachers who are the ones themselves encouraging students to participate and make suggestions as to how they should proceed in an activity. When learners are literally ‘lost for words’, the prompter can encourage by discreetly nudging students. Students can sometimes lose the thread or become unsure how to proceed; the prompter in this regard can prompt but always in a supportive way. Third role of a 21st century English teacher is the resource role. This is the walking resource center kind of teacher who is ready to offer help if needed, or provide students with information or guidance that they lack when performing communicative activities. Students

can ask their parents, or teachers may share their grandparents’ experience when it comes to their teachers of about century ago how they would just let students do homeworks on their own accord. They did not want to spoon-feed then group of students. But, this doesn’t mean that today’s English teachers being a resource person that guide students to use available resources such as internet for themselves, spoon-feed today’s kind of learners. Fourth role supports the third role where English teachers act as assessor. When they see that their students are relying to them for the resource, they can see how well students perform and provide them with necessary feedback and makes sure corrections are carried out. Fifth role of a 21st century English teacher is the organizer. Teachers think that this is by far the most difficult and important role they play. The success of many activities depends on good organization and on the students knowing exactly what they are to do next. Giving instructions is vital in this role as well as setting up activities. There are students who are lost with their syllabus or cannot catch up with day-to-day activities because teachers ramble on their own lesson plans. Sixth role of 21st century English teachers is the participant role. When teachers show empathy to students by putting themselves in their show, they enliven the class. If a teacher can be seen as someone who students can relate to, and not become the center of attention, it can be a great way to interact with learners without being too overpowering. Lastly, 21st century English teachers are also recognized as tutors, which is entirely different than what teachers do. The teacher acts as a coach when students are involved in project work or selfstudy. The teacher provides advice and guidance and helps students clarify ideas and limit tasks. But the tutor role, which is one that is again not practiced in centuries ago, can be a great way to pay individual attention to a student. It can also allow a teacher to tailor make a course to fit specific student needs. Teachers need to make sure though that a student not become too dependent or even too comfortable with one teacher as they may tend to with this role so the teacher and student relationship remains the core of the learning process. (