Monday, February 1, 2010 @10:06 PM
MOE teaching internship...
i do not clearly remember when it was that i decided that i wanted to become a teacher. i do believe however, that God places people in my life for me to find out, to put passion into words and desire into actions. the reality is that i cannot imagine doing anything else. i wouldnt say that i have the experience to teach. but today, speaking to my civics tutor made me realise more clearly why i want to teach and that keeping my options open did not mean that i was betraying my passion.
theres a saying that "people who can, do. but people who cant, teach." that is perhaps a superficial understanding of what a good teacher should be. the job does not only involve teaching what is in the syllabus but also life lessons. it encompasses facilitating the students' process of self-discovery, to help them become more accepting of their capabilities and to help them understand that they can do so much more. its not about being their friend. its about being there for them without being labeled as one. it involves knowing when to stop hand-holding and when to push limits. its not just about lectures and tutorials - these things are tools used to understand the people entrusted to you in a greater capacity.
its not about I but them. its about being able to hide your own fears in hope of dispelling the fears in their hearts. be it due to an exam or insecurities about the future...
as a teacher, every word you speak forth counts. every sentence can create greater understanding and on the flip side, can also cause greater confusion. every question asked can set many minds thinking about an issue that matters. every comment can uplift or discourage.
having sat through many tutorials from a teaching intern's perspective, i must admit that its simply magical the way things work out in class. being a teacher is like being a CEO holding a general meeting for his staff. it starts with outlining the details of the meeting (the lesson), the expectations. subsequently, facilitating discussion and stimulating tired minds to get going. to allow questions to arise in the hearts of the audience. and finally, ending off with expectations for the future (the next lesson) :)
"you have to be comfortable with yourself," that was what my civics tutor said. so true indeed. to be able to convince others, you first have to be convinced about your capabilities. thats just the way i feel in cell group. when i can be myself, without inhibitions... i will just have to find my own teaching style... and be comfortable and confident in it. adjustments have to be made along the way, but thats just part and parcel of life. sometimes we just forget that life is about making mistakes and learning from them. sometimes, its easier to forgive someone else for doing you wrong than to forgive yourself for a mistake committed. well, we just gotta let these times become less frequent :)
i'm trusting God. in the area of my studies, in my internship and in the relationships i have with the people i spend time with. im trusting in His perfect plan, His good, pleasing and perfect will.