I Love Teaching

I recall a definition on teaching from my professor. It says “teaching is to let your student learn”. It’s been such a blessing to realize that i’m already in the field where I always have access to make my student learn.  

I don't know for sure but the fact is that i really enjoy the moment i spend with my students.teaching them, laughing with them, listening to their stories, trying to fulfill their curiosity, and all activities with them make me alive. Not only these interesting moments but also whenever they seem to be annoying because they are busy with their activities and do not pay attention to my explanation, i can still feel excited. Sometimes i get angry with them but when i think of my childhood and realize that i ever went through  that moment, i’ll laugh at myself and say “this is what ever you did”... :)

I have a nice experience with one of my students. She goes to  primary school grade one. She is 7 years old. She just celebrated her birthday last week. Her name is Xandra. She is very curious and talk active. She likes telling stories and asking a lot. Whenever i teach her, she will speak more than me. If it has to be in percentage then the result is 40% me and 60% her. She always tells anything on her mind related to the stories in reading passage and develops it with her own imagination as though she was the writer. One day, i was quite irritated coz i had to review some materials before she had exam at school. As i am her private teacher, her mom really trusts me that i can help her learn. But at that time it was quite difficult coz she looked bored or tired learning and wanted to speak. I could not stop her talking so i just listened. I was thinking that if i had to wait until she stopped talking then it took much time so i thought hard to find a way. Then an idea came to my mind. While she was telling a story in Indonesian, i wrote down all things she said in English in present simple coz we were discussing simple present. After she finished talking, i spoke to her :” OK, now read again your story in English and answer the questions.” She was really excited reading and doing the exercise coz it was from her own story. I did not have to spend much energy to make her silent coz it would be in vain but by listening i can still make her learn.

That’s what i love from teaching.. it’s really challenging. To make our students learn is not easy but it means a world when you finally find that you have made them learn. Teaching is not about transferring knowledge but it’s all about how to make your student learn.. i still thank my professor for giving me a great definition on teaching. Though i’m sometimes too forgetful,  i’m very sure I wont ever forget it.. :)

Thanks to Professor Felix Tan