Many students in China understand the value of American
education, and thousands of Chinese students apply every year to the top
American schools. The majority of students in China also have great respect for
their teachers, and it’s because of that, I enjoy being in their company.
If we are honest with ourselves, we all want and need to
feel valued for who we are and recognized for our contributions and
accomplishments, which is especially true for teachers. It’s important for us
to know that we have made a difference in someone’s life. If a person takes the
time to express their heartfelt appreciation for something we have done, it
boosts our spirit, passion, and purpose. It builds our self-confidence,
self-esteem, and our entire self-image. It gives us energy and motivation to
work harder and do more. When you give people a sincere compliment, words of
encouragement, or just a warm smile, you are making their world a better place.
You are making them feel appreciated and valuable. For most teachers in China, recognition
and a feeling of accomplishment are more significant than monetary rewards.
I have found that when teachers express their approval or
gratitude for something students have done, they not only enhance their
students’ lives but also enrich their own lives. Teachers feel more fulfilled
when they have done something to make someone else’s life better.
One of the laws of the universe states that what you give,
you get in return. It costs little or nothing, and it almost always follows
suit that most people will demonstrate their gratitude for what you do.
My students all dream of making significant monetary gains
in life, but I like to remind them that the most precious things cannot be
built by hand, bought, or sold by man. They can only be experienced through a
wondrous soul and shared from one heart to the other.
When you show interest in others by noticing the good things
they’ve done, they will be drawn to you like a magnet. It will accelerate the
relationship-building process and enhance their overall impression of you and when
a teacher accentuates all that is positive within their student. They, in turn,
accentuate all that is positive within themselves.
In China, it’s a free form of currency; teachers will do
more for recognition than they will for money. If you are in a teaching position,
remember that students will work harder and do more if they know they will be
recognized for their accomplishments. Show them you care, and they will be
loyal to you, and you will see a considerable improvement in their academic
performance.
It has also been proven that if parents show an interest in
their child’s education, their child will also take a greater interest in their
schoolwork. If parents lack interest in how their children perform in school,
they will not recognize the value of getting a decent education.
I once told my students, long after, your old lesson plans
are forgotten. It will be the simple, kind acts of your teachers that you will
remember well into your old age, and that is perhaps your teacher’s greatest
legacy.
Always with love from Suzhou, China
Thomas F O'Neill
Email: introspective7@hotmail.com
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