In a questionnaire developed to determine what stu- dents perceive as the desirable attributes of an effective trainer, stu- dents in a large sample put interest in and enthusiasm for the subject matter above all other factors. Only communication skills ranked close to this quality. Other factors which are often described as the main ingredients in teaching effectiveness recipes, occurred in a quarter or less of the responses in this investigation. These were: practical, real world work experience (25.8%); knowledgeableness (24.3%); thoroughness (19.5%); the trainer's abilities to create a comfortable class atmosphere (16.5%), to be witty and ingenuous in class presentations (13.2%) and to encourage involvement and par- ticipation (12.7%).