Top Traits that Students Don’t Like In Teachers

One lunchtime, a few friends and I sat around a table, sharing our thoughts on what makes a class truly great or unbearable, and most of our answers were related to teachers. Our conversation quickly turned into a brainstorming session, and we realised that many of us shared similar frustrations. With that in mind, I interviewed multiple students and compiled a list of traits that students often dislike in their teachers:

1. Giving an excessive workload

Students frequently noted that too much work from teachers lead to stress and pressure, significantly impacting their mental health. The accumulation of homework and tasks that require more time to finish than is given can be overwhelming, especially when coming from many subjects at the same time.

2. Reading off the slides/Not teaching properly

When teachers read directly from slides, it creates a passive learning environment, which makes it hard for students to actively engage with the material. Needless to say, falling asleep isn’t conducive to effective learning. This disconnection limits students' critical thinking as they miss opportunities to discuss, ask questions, and gain new perspectives on the material.

Interactive teaching strategies, on the other hand, can create connections between teachers and students. As students have diverse learning styles, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic, more interactive approaches can more effectively cater to these differences.

3. Teachers’ attitude

Several students mentioned that certain teachers are arrogant, which creates an unfair power dynamic in the classroom where teachers are dismissive of student input, and students fear that their contributions will be met with hostility. When students feel attacked for their opinions, trust in the teacher becomes nonexistent, making it harder for students to seek guidance if needed. 

4. Bad communication

Several students expressed frustration with inconsistencies in assessment methods, likely coming from poor communication within subject departments. While interviewing, many people mentioned that when comparing their assessments to their friends, there were often discrepancies between the exam conditions, for example, if it’s done online or physically, or whether or not it’s open book. 

This can provide advantages and disadvantages to different students, which is unfair and ironic given that these assessments are known as ‘Common Summative Tasks’. This inconsistency can result in some students excelling and others underperforming due to circumstances beyond their control. The root of these issues lies in insufficient communication within departments. Improved communication could ensure that all teachers are consistently informed of assessment conditions, ultimately maintaining a fairer and accurate evaluation process.

5. Strictness

While some level of discipline is necessary for maintaining order and promoting a productive learning environment, excessive strictness can lead to several negative outcomes. Similar to having an arrogant attitude, strictness can cause anxiety, hindering students' ability to engage with the material and participate in class discussions. 

Strict teachers create an environment where students fear making mistakes. Rather than viewing errors as opportunities for learning, students become more concerned about avoiding punishment. When being controlled rather than guided, it’s easy to lose interest in the class and give up on that subject. Strictness can also create a divide between teachers and students, making it difficult for students to see teachers as people from whom they can learn from.

Ultimately, although it’s important for teachers to stay open-minded to diverse student learning styles, it’s equally important to recognise the individuality of each teacher's unique approach to education and teaching style! Maybe next time, we’ll ask the teachers for the top traits they don’t like in students…