An initial pilot study conducted by the researchers revealed that in education levels ranging from elementary school to university, high school teachers and private instructors/tutors were the most selected categories, with English being the most common subject. Learners most notably perceived good teachers to be friendly,knowledgeable, empathetic and humorous. Learner perceptions also revealed that respect for the
teacher/student relationship dynamic and a teacher’s sternness were important underlying themes. The current study provides a year-long
cross-sectional analysis of over 140 Japanese undergraduate students’ perceptions of good teacher attributes using a mixed methods design. The researchers will discuss the attributes selected by the learners and the contexts in which these individuals formed favorable perceptions as evidenced through their reflective written narratives. Additionally, the variable of gender is introduced and examined in the current research. The findings are then compared against other contemporary Asian-based studies (Al-Mahrooqi, Denman, Al-Siyabi & Al-Maamari, 2015; Nghia, 2015; Wichadee, 2010) relevant to this field.
