on teaching... and learning
it's been such a long time since i last posted an entry. practicum has long been over. in fact, a new batch from nie (read: folks well-versed in piaget) have entered the school. i guess for the longest time, i thought that from the moment i've sold my soul to the academy of star-fish throwers, there is seriously nothing worth writing about. anyone who knows teachers knows that when we signed on the dotted line, we all became slaves to clause 10.3.1a, "All teachers, as and when they have enough time to tear themselves away from preparing lesson materials, marking painful scripts, CCA commitments etc., will gather and talk SOLELY about their students and teaching, in order to bore everyone who is not in the profession to tears or to convince them to come onboard and makes lessons come alive." so... i stopped.
but i was in school today having consultation with my student, who writes in a rather poetic fashion#, and a conversation with him changed my opinion. he asked if i blogged and i said i used to until i started teaching and thought it would be boring. and he said that talking about something showed that it mattered (i am unable to quote ad verbatim because i was pondering what he said, yes, i'm not much of a multi-tasker i know). it may seem like the most obvious thing to say, but it really made a difference and re-presented the situation for me. and i cannot help but be disgustingly mushy at this point but to say that teaching is a two way street. i came into the school believing that the students had as much to teach me as i had them. and i must say that my past half a year here has been a wonderful learning experience. i find out more about my students, each rather delightful individual in their own way, and at the same time, i find out more about myself.
which reminds me of the thought provoking talk i had with o, bm, and j on what is our passion. what is passion? i thought my passion was for reading, then perhaps teaching, but i really cannot say for a fact that it is my passion because the term definitely entails more than interest, of which i have many that are fleeting. people often ask me if i see myself staying in the profession for the long haul and at this point in time, i can say that i do. and i do feel enthusiastic and excited at the prospect of it. perhaps, knowing this is sufficient. there is no need to label this feeling that i have for teaching.
# why does the young budding poet require consultation one might ask. well, because believe you me, we do not appreciate having to read meaning into their academic writing.
but i was in school today having consultation with my student, who writes in a rather poetic fashion#, and a conversation with him changed my opinion. he asked if i blogged and i said i used to until i started teaching and thought it would be boring. and he said that talking about something showed that it mattered (i am unable to quote ad verbatim because i was pondering what he said, yes, i'm not much of a multi-tasker i know). it may seem like the most obvious thing to say, but it really made a difference and re-presented the situation for me. and i cannot help but be disgustingly mushy at this point but to say that teaching is a two way street. i came into the school believing that the students had as much to teach me as i had them. and i must say that my past half a year here has been a wonderful learning experience. i find out more about my students, each rather delightful individual in their own way, and at the same time, i find out more about myself.
which reminds me of the thought provoking talk i had with o, bm, and j on what is our passion. what is passion? i thought my passion was for reading, then perhaps teaching, but i really cannot say for a fact that it is my passion because the term definitely entails more than interest, of which i have many that are fleeting. people often ask me if i see myself staying in the profession for the long haul and at this point in time, i can say that i do. and i do feel enthusiastic and excited at the prospect of it. perhaps, knowing this is sufficient. there is no need to label this feeling that i have for teaching.
# why does the young budding poet require consultation one might ask. well, because believe you me, we do not appreciate having to read meaning into their academic writing.