Language and learning
SITTING in a university campus and all of sudden derogatory, and slang language of the teacher start pouring into my ears that provoked me to highlight this issue and shed light on the fact that such foul language foil the personality of the students and shattered their confidence. The usage of abusive language against students will not improve them, but they can retaliate same manner.
The ethics and language of teachers should be exemplary, but unfortunately the situation is not so in most of the cases, and highlights the fact of a dire need for use of proper and decent language by teachers.
I believe such an attitude of teachers will not make students good individuals but makes them more outrageous in their behaviours.
Instead of becoming responsible and civilized, they become more ardent in their behaviours.
Universities are the highest place of learning and hence the university teachers are at the highest echelon Apart from being erudite university teachers must have the capability to lead the learned community, and this can only be achieved if they are exalted in their behaviours.
The teacher is always a role model and students lookup to them. The fact cannot be negated that there is a massive responsibility on the teacher and their role is very imperative in taming the students and this can be achieved by using the language of love.
It has a very pronounced impact on the life of students, and make them more responsible and reasonable individual.
The language is so powerful that can facilitate getting the positive outcome from the students, and revitalizing goodness in them. It has a very profound and far-reaching impact.
Use of decent and soft language has various dimensions, and bring incredible learning experiences for the students. The love languages are a way to describe ways that one feels most appreciated or loved. It can be in form of words of recognition, quality time spend with them, acts of service and gifts. The most persuasive dimension of love language are words.
A teacher can give compliments loaded with positivity to student whose love language is words. Jargon of words is a very effective tool to motivate students.
For example humiliating and lowering the self-esteem of a student finding difficult to grasp the topic is not appropriate at all. The toxic remarks and mockery of the students hamper the ability of students to move forward.
You are inculcating the negativity and self-doubts in the students that mars their personality. The appropriate way is to encourage the student by using positive language like “You can do this”, “You have to put some extra effort”, “Nothing is impossible in life it’s all about hard work” instead of highlighting negativities like “you can’t do this” “You have a low calibre” “It’s better to leave the degree”.
In the same manner if a student is making a mistake instead of humiliation in front of everyone, there is a need to counsel him/her in the office hours.
The appropriate usage of language and words either written or verbal can bring the very pronounced changes in the individuals and bring better results. Apart from words, service is another important love language dimension that is adored by students.
For example if a student wants help apart from the class timing’s, always welcome them instead of rejecting their requests. Try to give them some extra time despite of hard pressed daily schedule.
Quality time spend with students is another important love language attribute that boost the morale of students.
For example quality conservations on their interests and obstacles in their study will bring fruitful results, and lastly reward in the form of petite gifts is another important dimension of love language that motivates the student to go an extra mile to accomplish the task.
I would like to conclude that love language is so powerful that stimulates positivity and improvements in the students.
Being a student I always adore teachers who are polite in their behaviour, and are well acquainted with love language.
I have experienced love language as a student in the form of words, services, gifts, quality time, and it works. Being a teacher by projecting my own love language on to my students I have experienced phenomenal results.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.