By Anita Paul
As educators in an intrinsically rewarding profession, we strive to find sources of inspiration to fuel our purpose in teaching. My first exposure to a good teacher was through the popular 80s TV sitcom called ‘Mind Your Language’. An enthusiastic Mr. Brown showed me how to make classes engaging using a variety of practical approaches.
In secondary school, I developed a slight intrigue for teaching, particularly after watching various teacher-themed movies such as ‘To Sir, with Love,’ ‘Dead Poets Society,’ ‘Dangerous Minds,’ and even ‘Sister Act 1 & 2,’ which sparked my interest in coaching choirs. By then, I had heard of our school’s legendary founder, the late Sister Enda Ryan, a respected and reputable educationist who inspired future generations of female leaders with great heart. She embodied true purposeful service, which deeply instilled in me.
After university, I was clueless about my career and yearned for more meaningful work. I ventured into Student Affairs, initiating youth talent and leadership development programmes. Though immensely gratifying, the calling to become a lecturer resonated even more deeply. Fast forward to my forties, and after twenty-three years, I am still continuously enlightened as an educator. Besides learning from my dedicated colleagues, I have drawn newfound wisdom from the fitness world! I am in awe of the tremendous energy and engagement that my gym instructors display. I have observed the positive attributes of their coaching, some of which I would like to share.
Know your craft well to share
My Zumba and Bhangra instructors know every step and song impeccably well, sometimes breaking down the science behind these moves. The classes are designed as workouts to achieve fitness and weight loss goals. The instructors possess expertise and experience, dedicating much time and effort to this pursuit.
Perpetuate energy and infect with enthusiasm.
I have immense admiration for the fact that my instructors, despite having back-to-back classes, can keep up their energy and zeal throughout their workout sessions with a smile. It shows when you genuinely enjoy what you do, and injecting elements of fun delights both the class and the teacher. Evidently, it has a lot to do with passion and a strong belief in what they demonstrate. As educators, we may struggle to maintain our energy and keep our spirits alive, especially on days when teaching schedules are packed, leaving our mental faculties numb. Nonetheless, we persevere, fuelled by either some inner drive or lots of cups of coffee! We strive to curate the momentum and tone of the lesson to preserve a sense of vigour.
Diverse and Active Engagement
Variety is the spice of life, and instructors know this too well. Besides mixing up their song playlist, they employ a range of engagement techniques. It serves as a reminder for me to be mindful of monotony in lecture halls, to always keep it ‘fresh,’ and to experiment with an assortment of approaches. A touch of humour, demonstrations, visual illustrations, and stimulating participation through online platforms and offline approaches can yield rewarding outcomes. After all, ‘edutainment’ has long been practiced as an effective method of capturing and sustaining attention.
To be Learner-centred
Inclusivity extends beyond culture to include the consideration of different learning abilities. My gym instructors would demonstrate simpler moves for those of us with arthritis or knee conditions, which inspired me to be more considerate of my students with individual needs or learning difficulties. Every student learns at a different pace. I recall initially struggling to balance in my Zumba classes (though I was a tad ashamed with the sight of two senior citizens doing splendidly!). The instructor was patient and checked on us regularly. Seeking constant feedback facilitates receptiveness.
An Inclusive Approach, Meaningful Connections
I witnessed Mr. Kiren, our Bhangrajam instructor, who takes pride in sharing his culture while also acknowledging other traditions. His cultural awareness is welcoming and well appreciated, especially during festive seasons when we dance Bhangra moves to Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and Christmas tunes! This experience emphasised the importance of inclusivity within the cultural demographics of my diverse classes and encouraged me to engage more with our international students.
Build a community of learners
We can teach, coach, or train, but building a community of eager learners brings tremendous benefits. As educators, we understand that each class and their collective individual idiosyncrasies make one batch different from another. With Gen Z learners in the classrooms, the variations are increasingly diverse, sometimes demanding more energy and effort from us to keep them in-tune with the subject. I took wisdom from my instructors on how they fostered connections through online and offline communities with their participants. They share events, organise related activities, and some even connect with their participants on social media. I find it enriching to provide out-of-classroom experiences with industry engagements, such as sharing sessions by founders of companies, entrepreneurs, or inspiring and accomplished former students.
Joseph Campbell once said that the job of an educator is to teach students to see the vitality in themselves. Indeed, it is an ongoing journey to continue on this mission by absorbing much wisdom, insights, and perspectives that shape my very own cognition as an educator. I reflect on the famously prominent quote by Robin Williams as John Keating from ‘Dead Poets Society’: ‘Carpe diem,’ which means to ‘seize the day; make our lives extraordinary.
The author is Senior Lecturer in Sunway College, Sunway Diploma Studies
