I shall first discuss some types of knowledge and skills it is desirable for teachers to acquire in methodology, of the psychology of learning, of their students, of themselves, etc. and skills such as management skills, pedagogical skills presentation skills and interpersonal skills. However, I shall argue that although this knowledge/skills base is necessary, it is not sufficient. What is of greater importance
is the nexus of attitudes towards the language, the students, to oneself and to the world which effective teachers demonstrate to a high degree. I shall link this to the necessity for teachers to be put in a state of preparedness to meet the unpredictable as the classroom event unfolds moment by moment. This is a far greater challenge for teacher educators than the inculcation of a set of relatively stable knowledge and skills. ‘Enabling’ novice teachers to react appropriately in the moment, is more demanding than simply ‘equipping’ them to deal with predictable contexts.