ON HOW TO BE A CREATIVE TEACHER FOR GEN Z LEARNERS

Abstract

In a world dominated by cutting-edge technology which can provide quick answers to anyone’s enquires, teaching needs to become more creative and innovative than ever before, in order to shape the young generation for future development. There is a consensus that teachers should encourage learners’ creativity; however, they cannot expect creativity from their students unless they practise it themselves. This article focuses on identifying what makes a creative teacher in the language classroom. It starts by mapping the territory of investigation; that is, by scrutinising the literature on the topic with the aim of clarifying what “creativity” means, and why it is important in the process of teaching and learning a foreign language. The theoretical considerations are followed by some practical suggestions on how teachers can develop their own creative thinking skills as well as build a classroom atmosphere that fosters creativity. The conclusion is that creative teachers are the ones who perform their duties with passion, discipline and an eye on constant innovation.