For me, yesterday happened to
be a day of rather bad physical pain, my back revolted against me for sitting
before the computer for 14 hours for days at a stretch. Yesterday was also a
day of immense joy as I received a number of messages from my students. Some on
the FB, more on WhatsApp. The pain will pass in a few days, but the joy will
remain.
I tried to reflect why so
many of my students think that I am a good teacher. And I also thought of those
who believe I am exactly the opposite. But people are polite, they don't take
the trouble to type it out on the Facebook.
Anyway, moving back to the
"good teacher", what makes a teacher a good teacher? I would define a
good teacher as someone whose influence on his/her students in the classroom is
far less significant than their influence on students outside the classroom, in
their life. For example, a good teacher doesn't just tell their students what
the Newton's Laws of Motion signify. They tell their students to think about
them, to understand that the first law and the second are actually the same
law, Newton possibly invented the first only to set the context of the second
law. Just as language teachers begin with a story or a film clipping before
moving on to the topic proper.
And more importantly, a good
teacher tells their students to understand what Newton's Laws mean in the
context of the universe, how they are related to the solar system, and how they
are equally relevant in social sciences too.
And there lies the colossal
difference between the English word TEACHER and the Sanskrit GURU.
I am neither pompous nor
stupid enough to think that I have been a guru to anyone, but honestly, I have
tried. And I will keep trying every time in the future when I stand with a
white board behind and eager faces in front of me.
To conclude, let me
copy-paste what I have written to one of my wonderful students, Dipayan, who has begun his career in one of the best
companies in India.
"... I am sure you will
keep climbing up the ladder. All the best, and along with that, be happy at all
times ... keep enjoying ... and do give yourself the time to look at the sky,
watch birds flying, and the infinite ..."
Thank you, Dear Students.
Bengaluru / 6 September 2016
Happy Teacher's Day Sir,
ReplyDeleteYou have some student at your blog also.
On comparison between Guru and teacher, I think that one may become teacher on his own when he/she decides to teach, but its upto his/her student that they consider him as their guru or not.
Believe me you are Guru to me and many more of your direct and indirect student.Through your book and blog, it is you who instilled confidence and interest in me to learn English as literature and language and not as collection of words. For me, the famous saying of Martin H. Fisher "Facts are not science - as the dictionary is not literature" is best demonstrated by you.
So, Happy Teacher's Day once again.
Also,please consider my request of teaching online.
You may try 'unacademy.in' or any platform of your choice.
With best regards,
Sudhanshu
Thanks so much, Sudhansu. Although we have never met in person, we have managed to strike up a relationship. Thanks for following my blog and I am delighted if I have been able to help. Yes, I will explore "unacademy.in". Right now, I am working on two projects. (A) Uploading some video lessons on the YouTube and (B) Writing part of a book that a publisher wanted me to write. I promise you, what you have suggested will be my next venture. Keep well, All the best.
DeleteThank you very much for your reply. It made my day. Also, glad to know that you have considered my request and you are already working on that. Eagerly waiting for your youtube video lessons and book.
ReplyDelete