Schrödinger's Teacher

The night before my first day as a teacher in MIS, 3 months ago, I wrote this in my journal:

“Some people remark that they think I will be a good teacher. Some people say that I will be awesome. Some said that I probably won’t do well and some says it’ll just be plain weird.

Be it positive or negative, such comments are immaterial. The true measure of my ability lies in what takes place in those classrooms that I step into tomorrow. For the meantime, I can be considered both a good teacher, and a bad teacher – whatever! Call me Schrodinger’sTeacher ”

3 months on, I find that my resolve is still the same as when I started out – to keep my head low, work hard, and concentrate on how I can do better for these kiddos.

I have now come to the unofficial “end” of my term in Melaka International School. My students from Y7-Y10 have bid me farewell. There has been gifts, cards and a cake – all of which I will remember well, just as I will remember each student.  We’ve taken out farewell photos. My departure has already been officially announced.  

Typically, it is at such a point that I would prefer to leave altogether; I do not like drawn-out farewells. However, I do still have to give a week’s worth of extra classes to prep the Y11 students for their upcoming ‘O’ level examinations.

Some of my Y11 students, taking their 'O' levels in June.

What can I say about the past 3 months? I learned a lot about teaching and even more about life. About parents (and parenting), working life, students, administrative things… you name it.

I will say this though, after 3 months, the jury’s still out on what kind of teacher I will be. The school, my colleagues and most of the students have been very generous in their appraisal, but I know the holes in my approach better than most.

I'm aware that there are ways I have to improve.. It’s not so much a matter of pedagogy as it is of the kind of composure and mentality I can bring to the classroom. When your method is consistently okay, it’s your manner that makes or breaks learning and teaching.

A few of my Y10 students. What a diverse bunch!

Thank you MIS! For the sake of whoever my students are one day, I hope to be the best teacher I can be.  If I ever be become an excellent teacher, it will not have been possible without the chance I had to serve in your school.


p.s. The photos were taken during the final week of school, when many students already returned to their home countries - not that I only wanted to take photos with a few :P

80%.... 90%.... 99%.... Ding!

I printed out the comb-bound version of my FYP yesterday and my dad had it courier-ed to my supervisor in Kampar.

Beam of light passing through the project - must be a good sign.

In a typically understated manner, I celebrated by walking into the Italy Bakery opposite the printing shop and getting myself a chicken onion bun. Mmmmm… so good..

FYPs are one of those big things in university life; some kind of milestone or rite of passage. Walk on the fiery coals of research and the chief gives you your shiny degree.

People who are doing it will complain. Students who are yet to do it will view it with trepidation, and those who have just finished it will jump for joy, before something else happens, which I will explain later.

Not that I want to make the FYP a bigger deal than it really is. It’s all a matter of perspective. I’ve learned a lot of things in the course of the FYP, one of which is just how big the edifice of academia really is. That is very humbling, and makes study all the more worthwhile. Why not chip some ice off the iceberg of ignorance?

Hmm.

I’ve a problem though. I think I may be having post-FYP syndrome, now that I’m in the post-FYP stage. After accomplishing one of the big goals that have been bugging me for such a long time, I think my drive has evaporated. It’s not a good thing. It doesn’t help that I know my future does not lie in my current workplace either - my mind is ever on Kampar and the work that waits me there.

I still got a month of teaching to go, and I owe it to the students to run really good lessons and evaluate their work thoroughly – whether or not they want it or not.

Well, what can I do about it? I really need to sit still, evaluate my motivations and do this job the best I can. Nobody’s going to praise God for a lazy teacher.

More on the teaching experience next time!