The Seven Languages of Respect for Teachers and Students

I had never considered that respect could be shown in different ways, as an adult educator, I just expected respect to be shown towards me and other students in the class. This has opened my eyes to recognise different forms of respect as well as giving me some pointers to start the year off on the right foot.

I had knowledge of the 5 love languages by Gary Chapman, and as a family have been applying this for years, however, I didn’t connect this to my teaching. This has been a real “aha” moment and gives me hope for my future connections with students.

I work in the TAFE Sector and recognise myself doing the ‘wrong thing’ when looking at the Seven Languages of Respect. With hindsight, I can see that the groups I have enjoyed teaching have been the groups that I have unwittingly used some of these techniques with and I can see know that enjoyment may well have been from the mutual respect that has been formed in the classroom. Very interesting, am I’m sure to try and make this a more conscious effort in future.

Yes, a lot has changed in education, and we are dealing with a very different world. I think the seven languages of respect for teachers and students is exceptionally important. I also think an educator who has a positive attitude towards their students and their job is a way to earn students’ respect. We all have bad days, but we should strive to remain positive even on our worst days. A positive attitude can go a long way in any environment. Perspectives on the future resonates with me. Many times, I have told the younger generation, it is okay if… Read more »

I feel respected by my students, when they either turn up to class, or let me know they will not be able to come. I have recently acknowledged students differing circumstances, & planned for my class time, in a way that meets their current needs. I also ask for constructive feedback, after our first class, in the middle of a semester & at the conclusion of the semester.

I work in the TAFE sector and have found that respect from students is a result of my behaviour not a right of my position. By believing in the individual student’s ability and goals I’m able to form a relationship suitable for the educational environment we are interacting in.

I fundamentally believe that relationships are the key to success in all teaching and learning. I felt this in my own schooling, and this drives my teaching practise today. I teach young people as well as adult learners, I myself am a young teacher so I often find I have to adapt the other way to suit learners that are often older than I am. It is a very interesting dynamic that definitely impacts the development of relationships and the subsequent efficacy of interactions and learning.

I’m a TAFE teacher who believes deeply in the importance of relationship and connection with my students and colleagues. For me, I find respect is not given unless reciprocated. Relationship comes out of a sense of safety and authenticity, coupled with respect, mutual understanding and a belief we are all different, but have our own part to play in this world adds to this.

I work in the TAFE Sector and work with a variety of learners including those from Gen Y and Z. The needs of every student is individual and should be based as such. But at its core is respect. The Seven Languages of Respect for both Teachers and Students make a lot of sense and will definately help form part of the relationship and tehniques I use in the classroom.

I thought I knew a few things about teen agers when starting to teach Tvet.
But I often discuss things with my teen age kids (not mentioning students but situations) where I ask them how they would feel or what it would meant to them.
I do believe this helps me in the class room as I do have good report with them.
It is similar to coming from a different culture, I need to listen and observe and ask questions to really know how to get to the best outcome for everyone involved. Don’t assume, ask.

I work in the VET sector and teach at TAFE. My students are predominantly young adults from the gen Y era. I am personally from Generation X, and I find that the two different eras differ considerably. I think respect in the classroom is one of the most important aspects, and therefore I find it very useful to understand who my students are. I really found the seven languages of respect for both teachers and students exceptionally useful and interesting. Using these help break barriers and builds better respectful relationships in the classroom.

As a teacher of this time I find you need to be up with the times. We need to know how the Gen Y people think and feel and what they expect. They definitely love to be heard and being given an emotional response, they want to feel important and respected. I feel a good teacher needs to be a bit of an entertainer, passionate, engaging and interesting.

I work in the VET sector. I find respect in the classroom is extremely important when establishing a collaborative environment. It sets the tone for healthy interactions. We can learn so much more from each other if we are willing to listen and share our views.

I am an ESOL teacher working in the VET sector. Most of our students are adult learners but I think this topic is still relevant to us. I have reaped the benefits of what Michael has suggested throughout my career as a teacher. I always by respect my students, call them by their names, give them time to tell to their stories and allow them to ask questions. I will implement more of Micheal’s suggestions in my classes such as giving responsibilities to the students and more.

As a teacher it is important to respect all students and hope to garner the student’s respect in return. With various cultures and ages within our groups, I find the need to get the gen x students to respect how the gen y students in the classroom learn. Engaging the students and having students take the lead in a discussion is often quite hard due to the nationalities and culture of our various students. If we can break the ice and get them to engage, the class becomes much more proactive and assists with their learning. A fine line to… Read more »

Not only does it feel more respect-full, but is so much easier and enjoyable when students are eager, attentive and wanting to learn. Such as following a passion interest or hobby.
In these circumstances, being authentic with students and allowing them more freedom, flexibility and input feels easier.

I feel respected by my students when I can feel the passion of their learning. They share their knowledge with me. I feel respect when they contribute to the agreed expectation of the class which allows then progress and succeed.

i feel respected by my students when they actively listen, get excited in class and have lots of things to discuss and share with the Whole class regarding the topic. I also feel respected when they complete their assignments to a high level where they have obviously worked hard and used their creativity are knowledgable. when They come into the class room and great me with genuine happiness to be in the class room and to see me there. when they ask if they are going to have me again next term!

I feel respected by my students when they are courteous and polite, actively listen and engage, and do not misbehave.

I teach in the VET sector and admit I often struggle with not feeling respected. Many of the students I teach are high school age. They often do VET courses as they struggle academically and feel they won’t need the Language, Literacy and Numeracy skills needed at school. Unfortunately that is not true! The reason for attending this training is to bridge the divide between myself and students while helping them to realize they can accomplish things that seem difficult. I have been experimenting and can agree students respond to being greeted warmly by name and like being given the… Read more »

I feel like I landed somewhere in the generation for whom the older folks expected respect, but we were only inclined to give it if it was earned. We might be polite and not overtly rude , but if we didn’t feel respect it was going to be very hard to fake it and go the extra mile or work for very long for that person.

As a VET teacher I have always made a point of welcoming all students as they arrive, and not making a big deal if a learners arrives late. I found that by having students that arrive late just come in quietly and join the class, is better than stopping the class and restarting – they know they are late, they do not need me to tell them that. I also encourage learners to share their experiences and stories as a way of showing that their thoughts are valued. And I’m not afraid to admit I do not know something –… Read more »

Working in a VET environment for over two decades I have learnt that respect is vital in building rapport with your students. I always share my own experiences but most importantly encourage them to share their experience and industry stories (currency) with the class so we can all learn together.

A recent discussion with teenaged students moved on to talking about pathways they might pursue on leaving school. There were some who had clear ideas and passions – whilst others had “no idea” and were not particularly bothered by the fact. I decided to ask this latter group to identify 3 things they considered themselves to be good at. Most didn’t think I was serious. Why would someone be interested in what they could do? The majority immediately answered “nothing”. When I pressed them to think again, just to name a single thing – they started to respond. The responses… Read more »

Working as an ESOL Teacher to NESB students, I found out that students love to know that you are asking something about their culture – ie their customs and traditions. This can win their friendship and trust. This trust encourages students to be more active and participate better in the classroom. At the end of the course, I was able to gain their friendship, trust and respect in this way

Working in a VET environment with students (clients) from different backgrounds has been a challenge over the years. Respect is a given from some of our students, but that can be detrimental to class discussions. These students have always been taught not to talk in class, don’t ask questions and usually won’t advise you that aren’t understanding the content. I find this challenging as it’s hard to breakdown the barrier. As a mother of Gen Y and as a teacher a strong point with respect I feel, Gen Y need is to be listened too. Really listen to what they… Read more »

I am a VET trainer and have worked with many young learners. I have always treated greeted students by their name and have always been open and honest with them and show a genuine interest in ‘their story’. I find that this builds respect and allows the classroom experience to be more engaging and rewarding for everyone.

I’m an Executive Chef, and the principle to develop respect are the same as in the classroom. I was the last of Gen X, and it felt like the shift happened as I was transitioning to management. No longer was respect deferred when I had the title. It had to be earned. Trust is a massive driver. If I can trust someone to do the job, with out micro managing, or being overly critical, they will be receptive when I need to give them feedback. This working style has allowed me to be able to step away, and teach in… Read more »

I’m a learning designer rather than a teacher but I have taught drama to high school students in the past. I felt respected by the students when they listened, engaged with activities and shared and tried out their own ideas when encouraged to do so. I feel giving them decision making powers and respecting their decisions gave them a sense of ownership of the production and engendered respect in turn. We were doing a challenging play that used a made-up language and they initially feared no-one would understand. I had given them exercises to do prior to introducing the play… Read more »

I teach in VET environment and have always felt I had a good rapport and respect from my students, and now I understand why, as I do a lot of the suggested things already, eg. Greeting each student by name as they arrive, allowing flexibility and responsibility in the classroom. I teach WHS, and many of the students work part-time jobs. Asking them to share experiences from work shows them that I value their experience and that I know they have a life and responsibilities outside of TAFE. Also if they ask a question that I don’t know the answer… Read more »

As a teacher of mostly young adults and mother of teenagers, the “Shift Happens” session resonated with me. I have noticed the changes in approaches to communication in particular and I teach Marketing so it is something that Marketers have had to adapt to. Teaching young adults, I have learned to view myself more as a “facilitator” rather than a “teacher” and I find that helps with the shift and the issues around the conflicting notions of respect that were discussed. As a Marketing and Social Media teacher from Generation X it is very important to gain the students’ respect… Read more »

Very interesting insightful and informative sessions in “The 5 Shifts Of Change” in “Engaging the 21st Century learner” by Michael McQueen. Michael navigated us through the transition from “modernist” to “post-modern” views and thinking in education over the last forty plus years and how best to engage learners now and in the future. The terms of the word “TRUTH” changing from being ”’absolute” in the past to “relative” in the present is a “game-changer” in terms of the attitudes, mindsets and expectations of 21st Century learners and the younger modern generations. This shift also challenges our own beliefs around what… Read more »

As an English as a Second Language teacher, I feel that I am respected when learners are actively listening. While this session has been about Gen Y , in the ESL classroom we have issues that are usually culturally based, i.e. first language/country of origin transference. Beginner learners usually use the word ‘Teacher’ rather my first name. Learners usually do this because it is seen as a sign of respect in their countries of origin. At post beginner & Intermediate levels we encourage learners to use our first names to aid social inclusion. Some learners have different ideas of time,… Read more »

Interesting to hear about the differences in respect. Older gen its assumed, younger gen earned. Insightful.

I teacher higher education.
I feel respected by students when they participate actively in the classroom activities be it through asking a question, completing an exercise, participating in a Kahoot quiz or classroom discussion. This indicates to me that they have been listening and are engaged.
I always take the time to give students individual feedback during class time and I feel the attention I give them pays me back in spades.

I am currently teaching in the VET sector.
Greeting students by their name in a warm friendly manner as they arrive, has created good rapport and set the tone of the lesson. I also request that the students call me by my first name as opposed to “Miss” as this creates a mutual respect and helps build a relationship between two parties.

In addition, I ask for feedback from the students on how the lesson can be improved which involves them in participating, which is a positive outcome.

I teach in the VET Sector.
I feel that I have earned the respect of my students if they stop to thank me for having learned something useful from the lesson.
I have encouraged my students to turn up for the lesson on time as coming late for the lesson required me to “start again” disrupting the learning progress that I have made with the students who did turn up on time. I find that the group shows respect to each other and myself by turning up on time to each lesson

I teach primary and secondary students. At every level, I fashion an atmosphere for the students feel safe to engage with each other and with me. A focus is also for them – at every age – to feel strong and proud and safe – in their individuality and uniqueness. I, too, feel strong and proud; I am proud to have earned respect and certainly give my students every courtesy and attention. An additional point: show the students that you are happy to see them and that you value their company. At the end of the lesson/ of the day… Read more »

Respect is something that you build with your students, regardless of the age, from the very start. I have taught undergraduate students but also preschool children ages 3-5. The children feel when you are actually listening to them because you are tuned in, your body language shows. That is respect for me. I also like to think that respect is willingness to learn from your students, teaching and learning together with them.

I have taught across multiple sectors including school (Primary and Secondary), tertiary (University, undergraduates and postgraduates) and now in the vocational sector, and for me the similarity across all sectors with regard to respect is that students will show you respect when you show them respect, that is, a two way street. Showing empathy and attempting to develop rapport are ways that I have in the past developed/built respect with my students.

“R E S P E C T find out what it means to me!” Aretha Franklin and Ottis Reading gave rhythm, beat and popularity to the most vital of human relationship building blocks- Respect. Respect is reciprocal in all healthy relationships. Respect enables active learning to flourish. To be enlightened on the “Gen Y perspective of respect” is reassuring and encouraging. Reassuring: * I can see why my previous (full time) class of Year 5 students were so successful in independently developing and running our school fete. They rose to meet expectations, their ideas were used for all aspects of… Read more »

I teach in the VET sector. A typical VET class comprises of students with different academic backgrounds, considerable age variation, and different expectations from the course. This presents a challenge but also a growth opportunity for the teachers. This inhomogeneous composition of ages and expectations when managed successfully is extremely satisfying. While some students would be happy to get through the assessment events, others would question the value of a skillset and the way it is taught and assessed. Like any other student group, we in VET sector do get gifted minds who need to be nurtured for growth. One… Read more »

In my first session with a new group of teens/adult students, I spend time playing a fun, anonymous game with them through which we find out a little about each other and then together we form “Our Group Rules” based on the circumstances under which each individual learns best. Each student writes on a stick-it-note what they need in a classroom environment of peers to feel safe and secure and stimulated to learn and they place this on the whiteboard. We then discuss each anonymous contribution and develop our group rules as a team. A booklet is printed and shared… Read more »

In my view, respect is most certainly earned – I aim to engage my students and make them feel like I am always on their side. I will help them experience success, support them through educational challenges and encourage and nurture their interests. It is my responsibility that each student in my class feels included and succeeds, and adapt my teaching to suit their styles. I actively listen to them and their narratives, whether about their interests or class materials, and I follow it up in discussions so they know I care and remember. This helps establish a relationship. This… Read more »

I believe that Classroom respect is give and take. Both students and teachers need to earn respect form each other. I understand that respect is not given, nor do I believe that it should be as not all adults are trustworthy and fair humans. I do believe however, that students need to understand that just because a teacher disagrees with them, it does not mean that they disrespect them, different opinions need to be seen as the norm and not a relationships deal breaker.

Setting the correct tone at the commencement of class is vital to how the rest of the session goes. Get that wrong and it can hard to bring it back together again.

I teach vocational education and my students are distance students. They often require additional feedback, time and patience as they don’t have the luxury of face to face learning environments. When they are on their work placements I make an effort to let them know that I am there to help, support and guide rather than assess. It makes them feel a lot more comfortable and I believe when a student is at ease then you do get the results you are looking for more often than not.

In the classroom, respect is a two-way street. I teach on a first name basis, there has to be some form of order so that everyone in the classroom can be productive and has some level of respect. This is usually provided by a negotiated framework in the first lesson of expected behaviours, attitudes and treatment of peers and the teacher. It is up to everyone to maintain a healthy classroom environment.

I work in both vocational education – currently online; and in the classroom with primary school children. My approach is the same – be honest and good humoured. As well as trying to know the content of what you’re teaching/delivering! If students – whatever their age, see that you are ”real’; admit when you make a mistake etc, then they too will usually respond to you in a more authentic way. My personal ‘catch phrases’ are to be consistent; approachable; flexible in my teaching approaches – if it’s not working, change it; and establish a relationship with the students in… Read more »

I Teach at TAFE in a trade class with Flexible delivery so have many different age groups and demographics. I create a time through out the day for students to share a stories of the week that may have happened in there workplace. This shows that even though they work in different areas that some of the same situations happen. This has proven to encourage respect throughout the students and encourage different friend groups.