The Impact of Educator Tone-of-Voice on Student Achievement

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Introduction

Have you ever though about the profound influence a teacher’s voice can have on the overall classroom environment and students’ emotional well-being?

A recent study explored this concept, revealing that varying tones of voice have a profound effect on students’ experiences. Let’s look deeper into the intricacies of this research.

Aim of the Research Study

The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of teachers’ voices on students. Specifically, comparing the effects of a controlling tone that exerts pressure on students with a positive tone that aims to empower students.

Findings

When teachers utilize their voices to foster a supportive atmosphere, the outcomes include heightened independence, improved interpersonal relationships, and enhanced student belief in their own competence.

woman in pink crew neck t shirt holding tablet computer

Conversely, the study found that employing controlling and pressuring tones can have adverse effects on students, diminishing their happiness, self-assurance, and overall emotional well-being. This underscores the potential detrimental consequences of controlling teaching methods.

teacher tone of voice on student achievement

It is crucial to provide supportive environments within classrooms, promoting independence, positive relationships, and self-confidence among students.

Additionally, educators to be mindful of the emotional repercussions associated with employing controlling teaching methods, urging them to consider the broader impact on students’ well-being.

References

Paulmann, S., & Weinstein, N. (2022). Teachers’ motivational prosody: A pre-registered experimental test of children’s reactions to tone of voice used by teachers. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 1-14. Open Access. Open Data. Open Material. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12567. Silke Paulmann and Netta Weinstein share first authorship.