Great teachers inspire. They make a difference, and their impact is lasting. As a former teacher who taught learners from age 10 to middle-aged adults in two countries, I worked hard to be a great teacher and to remain in a corner of their memories, and possibly their hearts.

I preferred the energy of a real classroom, I wanted a classroom and real engagement with faces. A classroom gave me the power to build strong bonds with my students.

I might not have been the greatest teacher, but from both sides of the desk, I worked to become one of the best a student could have.

So, what makes a teacher great? Here, I’ll share some well-known traits of great teachers. I’m not talking about subject knowledge or academic credentials, as those are basic requirements.

The Power of Connection

A strong bond between a teacher and their students plays a big role in both their relationship and the learning process. That’s why first impressions matter. A great teacher knows how to break the ice in the first session, and a strong beginning helps create that bond. Once it’s established, everything else tends to fall into place.

I personally experienced stiff faces during first sessions with expressions that made me feel unwelcome. But a small, clever game could bring huge smiles to their faces, regardless of their age.

One of my go-to icebreakers was called “A Trip to the Moon.” I would tell them, “I’m going to the moon, and I’m bringing a salad.” I picked salad because it started with the same letter as my name.

Then the students would start naming things they wanted to bring, not knowing the rule behind it. Their curiosity would grow once they noticed that Matt could bring a mobile phone, but Rose couldn’t.

They were even more surprised when I said, “Rose, you can bring raw meat, but not cooked meat!”

Building Real Engagement

Learners in a classroom have different characteristics. Some are introverted, others extroverted. But they share the same goal—that’s why they are in the classroom.

A teacher is not the only active person there. Anyone present in the classroom should remain active and engaged.

Calling students by their first names and involving them by asking questions works like magic. They feel they are part of the lesson plan. This engagement keeps other students involved when you simply ask if they agree.

A great teacher does not let learners become passive. The stage belongs to everyone in the classroom.

Bringing Energy to the Lesson

Knowledge is power, and a teacher teaches what she knows best. But knowing isn’t enough. If it were, plenty of brilliant people would make great teachers.

Great teachers know how to teach, not just what to teach. They use practical techniques to turn content into curiosity. It starts with defining the objective. Once you know what you want students to learn, you can build engaging ways to help them discover the need for it.

Saying, “Today we’re going to talk about X,” rarely works. But when you ask a question they can’t quite answer, it makes them aware of what they don’t know. That’s when real learning begins.

Curiosity is fuel. Pairing students, encouraging collaboration, and keeping them active throughout the lesson transforms passive listeners into engaged learners.

Beyond the Curriculum

A great teacher is always friendly, but not a friend to students. Boundaries help a teacher maintain authority while staying approachable.

Last but not least, a boring teacher—no matter how knowledgeable—is still boring, and boredom gets in the way of enthusiasm. I always had a handful of games in my pocket, and with good time management, I could include short, fun breaks either midway through the lesson or at the end.

It’s not always about the curriculum. Sometimes, it’s about spending meaningful time together. As an English teacher, it was easier for me to design fun games related to the lesson. So I could kill two birds with one stone.

What We Remember

I’d like to end with a memory of one of the greatest teachers I had. She always brought in engaging and meaningful YouTube videos connected to the lesson, and that made her classes both fun and fruitful.

In your experience, which trait matters most for a teacher?