Ethos and Pedagogical Communication: Suggestions for Enhancing Credibility in the Classroom

Abstract

Whether at the conscious or unconscious level, a student's perception of the teacher's ethos, or speaker's character, has an important impact on how he or she will react to the teacher and how effective the teacher will be in the classroom. Erosion of a teacher's ethos can quickly spell disaster in the classroom.

This article looks at the critical relationship between ethos and pedagogical communication. The analysis will explore the definition of ethos, its various dimensions, and suggestions for improving it in the classroom.