During a job interview last week, I was asked to provide three words that describe a "good teacher." It made me think, what is the best way to respond to a question that is so subjective? Everyone will have a different definition based on their own learning experiences, personal preferences and individual beliefs about learning.

From the point of view of a professional educator, for example, a response to this question might reference theories of language acquisition and sound methodological practice, and contain educational buzzwords like "student-centered" and "communicative." Teachers have their own personal view of the nature of language and of language learning, and teach according to what they feel is best practice.

From the perspective of a student, the methodology isn't as important as the classroom environment. Adjectives such as "kind" and "friendly" often come up, along with "interesting" and "fun." Learners want a classroom where they not only get plenty of speaking time, but also a safe environment. Learning a language requires making mistakes, and beginners in particular need to know that they can trust their teacher to guide and encourage them. When it comes to receiving feedback in particular, students need to feel confident in the teacher's ability to recognize and address their weak points in way that makes them feel supported and free to take risks.