Investigating the Patterns of Empathy and Classroom Environment Applied by Effective English Language Teachers

Abstract

The teachers’ fundamental role in the success of the students is inevitable. Thus, knowing the various traits and personality characteristics of effective teachers can be used as guidelines to foster inexperienced teachers’ teaching quality. Among the required teaching qualities, empathy and classroom environment set up are two vital concepts emphasized by researchers. Accordingly, through relying on mega planning, the present study was conducted to find the patterns of empathy and classroom environment utilized by effective teachers. The participants were 50 teachers and 300 language learners. Three instruments were employed, namely teacher effectiveness questionnaire, classroom environment questionnaire, and teacher empathy questionnaire. The results showed that the contributions of each sub-construct in teacher effectiveness in order of their priority are as follows: empathic concern, perspective taking, fantasy, and personal distress. Results from calculating frequency and percentage for classroom environment construct showed that the contributions of each respective sub-construct in teacher effectiveness in order of priority are as follows: participation, personalization, investigation, independence, and differentiation. The findings of the present study can enlighten policy makers and administrators to plan efficient courses of action and take useful steps in training novice teachers.