Oh My Lecturer...

Some say that my teaching is nonsense. Others call it lofty but impractical. But to those who have looked inside themselves, this nonsense makes perfect sense. And to those who put it into practice, this loftiness has roots that go deep. - Lao-Tzu

Another class ended. A new one will begin shortly. I beg to differ with some of my colleagues. A lecturer is not a teacher. We should be passionate about not teaching, but in facilitating learning. A good lecturer creates in a student a sense of self that lasts a lifetime. The lecture should go beyond what is stated in the curriculum. In other words, a lecturer should be able to create independence. To do this, passion is necessary in sustaining a certain level of energy and excitement in every lecture conducted. In the old days, I often asked myself whether I had made the right choice in switching to become a lecturer. But then, I always had outstanding mentors since the day I did my degree. I remembered how interesting the lectures I had with Jim and Ronda back when I was in Mizzou, and how they were able to engage the students simply through their deep knowledge of the subject matter and their teaching styles. They insisted I called them by their first names even though they are both professors. Their classes were always done in a very relaxed and informal environment. Jim had always shared interesting stories in class. He had also waited patiently for me to adjust calling him ‘Jim’ in the beginning of the semester. Ronda on the other hand portrayed herself as a friend instead of a lecturer. She even congratulated me when I received my Ph.D. Both of them became so intrigued of the Malaysian students that they actually did a research on the Malaysian leaders. In the course of that research, I became their informal advisor. Interesting, eh? I remembered also how I enjoyed the energetic classes of Tn Hj Yaakob and Prof Zainal here in UPM. They not only teach, but inspire as well. Of course Tn Hj never could remember my name correctly. At one time I became Nadia. Other times, Delilah. Wow…

All in all, these wonderful people have demonstrated that lecturing is not only about imparting knowledge. Instead, it is about engaging the students. A great lecturer should be a person who is approachable, and to whom students know they can go with any concerns or even to share a funny story. Part of what makes them great lecturers is that they too are willing to learn. They are not threatened by the questions their students asked because they are also lifelong learners. Well, various articles will be able to tell you the many traits of great lecturers. As for me, I just hope that for every 14 weeks I spent with my students, I would be able to touch their lives as they touch mine.

There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that just gives you a little prod behind and you jump to the skies.
― Robert Frost