My first day teaching

[Supernova Nebula]

Dear all,
This coming Monday, going to be my first day teaching undergraduate students, first year course. Im nervous. I have this tendency of being very strict in class and i dont think it's appropriate on the first day teaching. My colleague told me not to show my true colors on the first day lol. ACtually, I'm only strict in class, but at individual level, I'm very friendly and can be playful too. should i be strict? should i be friendly? the thing is, If i try to be friendly, I'm afraid my students will not take me seriously, but being too strict and serious will make them hate to come to my class lol. Your advice please.

[MangoChutney]

im a uni student...and from exp. students tend to like professeurs who are balanced in the way they teach. Show some intellectual -comedian side...and show them the strict lecturing side...be balanced out. If ur too strict it wont harm u in anyway personally, but will infact harm the students because they just might be too scared or nervous to even ask u a question or approach you...show that ur friendly and can talk about personal problems as well as academic problems. Be yourself...and u'll be fine....uni students tend not to pass stupid comments nor do they act like high school children . Most of them are adults and are strictly their for learning (cause its costing them to sit in ur lecture :)), so being a friendly prof. wont be misused by them.

bottom line : it's better to be friendly than to be strict....u'll learn alot from ur students that way. ;)

[Supernova Nebula]

thank you so much for your advice Mango:D

[Emelianenko]

Agree wid Mango. What u teaching if u dnt mind me asking???

You kno theirs two types of lecturers..one who ya kno they kno their stuff inside out but cant teach it to save their life..hate em :D

and den u get the ones who may not be as smart as the ones above BUT they sure kno how to make lectures enjoyable and can teach the stuff in a manner which is enjoyable to lsn to and it sticks in ur head and u can ask them Q's without being shown up or put down. Basically..they dnt act like smartasses :D

Just balance it out..students like a lecturer who can teach u effectively but is also like a freind at the same time with a good sense of humour :D :D oh..and sum1 who will go to their students also to make sure they all understanding the work..u get some students who too afraid to ask sometimes :D

[MangoChutney]

Agree wid Mango. What u teaching if u dnt mind me asking???

You kno theirs two types of lecturers..one who ya kno they kno their stuff inside out but cant teach it to save their life..hate em :D




Oh My Gosh! I sooo agree! they ruin the class for ya!
I once took this amazing (by description and layout) polsci class, but we had a substitute 4th yr student teaching us...and she just read right off the paper for two hrs....she flunked at teaching.

Supernova...dont read of the lecture notes...or else u'll be hearing snores from the back of the room.

[Emelianenko]

Oh My Gosh! I sooo agree! they ruin the class for ya!
I once took this amazing (by description and layout) polsci class, but we had a substitute 4th yr student teaching us...and she just read right off the paper for two hrs....she flunked at teaching.

Supernova...dont read of the lecture notes...or else u'll be hearing snores from the back of the room.

Aye in our final yr we had the Dean of school..a Professor teaching two HUGE modules and he was a smartass basically..wud waffle away and if u asked him owt hed stamp his foot on the ground cus hed get ticked off...and write these huuuuuuuuuuuuuge equations on the whiteboard and wed b like :eek3: :eek3: ...the guy cudnt teach to save his life :eek3:

[Supernova Nebula]

Agree wid Mango. What u teaching if u dnt mind me asking???

You kno theirs two types of lecturers..one who ya kno they kno their stuff inside out but cant teach it to save their life..hate em :D

and den u get the ones who may not be as smart as the ones above BUT they sure kno how to make lectures enjoyable and can teach the stuff in a manner which is enjoyable to lsn to and it sticks in ur head and u can ask them Q's without being shown up or put down. Basically..they dnt act like smartasses :D

Just balance it out..students like a lecturer who can teach u effectively but is also like a freind at the same time with a good sense of humour :D :D oh..and sum1 who will go to their students also to make sure they all understanding the work..u get some students who too afraid to ask sometimes :D

Rise and Expansion of Islam. time frame : Pre-Islamic Arabia to Khulafa' al-Rashidun. I'm not a prof yet, just a teacher:embar::D

[Tahiyah]

congrats sis supernova and good luck and best wishes of success to ya.

have confidence in yourself.

i remember and respect the teachers that were tough, they were the ones i learned lessons from. balance it out tho, be clever and witty.

your going to do a great job, inshaa Allah :up:

[Supernova Nebula]

congrats sis supernova and good luck and best wishes of success to ya.

have confidence in yourself.

i remember and respect the teachers that were tough, they were the ones i learned lessons from. balance it out tho, be clever and witty.

your going to do a great job, inshaa Allah :up:

Jazakillahukhayran kathiran for the kind words sis:inlove::inlove::inlove::D:D:D:D hugs Tahiyah:D

[Te'oma]

Our supernova strict and a big meany??? Never :D
My suggestion, if you know the material, relax and have some fun with it without allowing your class to slip into chaos. Rather then just dry lectures of dates and names, inject questions to engage the class and keep them interested

[Supernova Nebula]

Our supernova strict and a big meany??? Never :D
My suggestion, if you know the material, relax and have some fun with it without allowing your class to slip into chaos. Rather then just dry lectures of dates and names, inject questions to engage the class and keep them interested

hoho, you dont know the real me akhi:D yea, thank you so very much for the advice. I'm planning to show them The Message, but not on the first day of my class though.

[Te'oma]

ahhh yer one of those Jekyl and Hyde types huh? Just remember that people tend to zone out unless they are engaged in the lecture. I use questions and jokes to keep people paying attention. The minute you start talking in a monotone or start reading notes a lot, you have lost the class

[Supernova Nebula]

ahhh yer one of those Jekyl and Hyde types huh? Just remember that people tend to zone out unless they are engaged in the lecture. I use questions and jokes to keep people paying attention. The minute you start talking in a monotone or start reading notes a lot, you have lost the class

hehe, yea, i'll try not to read notes:D but how do i deal with naughty students? attention seekers? I experienced this once, when I invigilated one class.

[Te'oma]

I use sarcasm to quiet them down and make them stop acting the fool. It's easy to do...just ask them if their primary school is missing the class clown or give them what they want...invite them to teach the class since they know the material so well.
That's my personal style when I'm teaching but every teacher has to find their own way. You will be able to do it.

[Supernova Nebula]

I use sarcasm to quiet them down and make them stop acting the fool. It's easy to do...just ask them if their primary school is missing the class clown or give them what they want...invite them to teach the class since they know the material so well.

looooool:rotfl::rofl1:

[Te'oma]

That's the usual result with the rest of the class too. The problem student loses his audience because the class is now laughing at him

[Supernova Nebula]

That's the usual result with the rest of the class too. The problem student loses his audience because the class is now laughing at him

I bet if you come teach here at my uni, the students must like you akhi:D

[Emelianenko]

my personal style when I'm teaching but every teacher has to find their own way. You will be able to do it.
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3986/rambocopy9jh.jpg


:D:D:D:D

*fearing n ass kicking* :embar: :embar:

[Chained_Water]

Sis I thought you were a teenager? You're old enough to be a university lecturuer? :eek:

mashaAllah.. let us know how it goes :)

[Te'oma]

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3986/rambocopy9jh.jpg


:D:D:D:D

*fearing n ass kicking* :embar: :embar:


LOL the 50 cal is overkill...a little mack 10 in the confines of a classroom would be sufficient :D

[Supernova Nebula]

Sis I thought you were a teenager? You're old enough to be a university lecturuer? :eek:

mashaAllah.. let us know how it goes :)

:D:D:inlove::inlove: no, i'm not a teen sis, nor old:D. Yeah, I will after I teach on Monday, still nervous though:nervous::outta:

[Supernova Nebula]

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3986/rambocopy9jh.jpg


:D:D:D:D

*fearing n ass kicking* :embar: :embar:

loooool emel, youre jocka, Sly doesnt loook intimidating:D

[OthaEllen]

I tend to be the strictest on the first day of classes. I want them to fear me.

[Supernova Nebula]

I tend to be the strictest on the first day of classes. I want them to fear me.

well actually taking me seriously or fearing me dont matter that much, what I want is that they take their studies seriously, by taking me seriously of course:D. I dont want my students to fear me, that's not healthy. I hope I can engage them in the class inshaAllah:D.

[Supernova Nebula]

class went very well, i managed to overcome my nervousness:D . the students were wonderful so far, managed to engage them, they looked interested in the course:D and i've already tortured them with assignments:D well, this is for their own good too, the earlier the better. I told them so that they don't have to compete with the other section for references. so far, i love my job:D :D :inlove: :inlove: . Alhamdulillah.

[Te'oma]

class went very well, i managed to overcome my nervousness:D . the students were wonderful so far, managed to engage them, they looked interested in the course:D and i've already tortured them with assignments:D well, this is for their own good too, the earlier the better. I told them so that they don't have to compete with the other section for references. so far, i love my job:D :D :inlove: :inlove: . Alhamdulillah.

See I told you, you would be fine :D

[Supernova Nebula]

See I told you, you would be fine :D

Merci boucoup:D

[Farahnaz]

Alhamdulillah sis, everything went well 4 u....:)
:rubeyes: or should I call Umm Hurairah :inlove:
So your a kitty lover now..heeheehee....:D

[Farahnaz]

Sis, I almost forgot....
I am very sorry to hear the demise of ur Former Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba.
Just like many other Singaporean, I am also very shocked about this tragic loss for Malaysia.
My heart-felt condolences to u sis & not 2 forget other ummah member, Bro Hekmah & Bro Batu Caves.

[Supernova Nebula]

Sis, I almost forgot....
I am very sorry to hear the demise of ur Former Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba.
Just like many other Singaporean, I am also very shocked about this tragic loss for Malaysia.
My heart-felt condolences to u sis & not 2 forget other ummah member, Bro Hekmah & Bro Batu Caves.



ohh yes, innalillahi wainna ilaihir rajiun. May Allah have mercy on His soul, amin. bro hekmah is a Malaysian?

[Rie_Maya]

Dear all,
This coming Monday, going to be my first day teaching undergraduate students, first year course. Im nervous. I have this tendency of being very strict in class and i dont think it's appropriate on the first day teaching. My colleague told me not to show my true colors on the first day lol. ACtually, I'm only strict in class, but at individual level, I'm very friendly and can be playful too. should i be strict? should i be friendly? the thing is, If i try to be friendly, I'm afraid my students will not take me seriously, but being too strict and serious will make them hate to come to my class lol. Your advice please.

Salaam
I've been teaching - albeit primary school - for 9 years.
I was advised never to smile with a new class until half term - let them know you mean business!!!
I'm afraid I'd disregarded that by the first playtime I reckon - you can still be strict, fair and humourous all round into one!!!

Enjoy your first day - good luck - be prepared with your teaching knowledge is my only advice!!! The rest will fall into place Insha'Allah

:D

[Na'eemah]

Dear all,
This coming Monday, going to be my first day teaching undergraduate students, first year course. Im nervous. I have this tendency of being very strict in class and i dont think it's appropriate on the first day teaching. My colleague told me not to show my true colors on the first day lol. ACtually, I'm only strict in class, but at individual level, I'm very friendly and can be playful too. should i be strict? should i be friendly? the thing is, If i try to be friendly, I'm afraid my students will not take me seriously, but being too strict and serious will make them hate to come to my class lol. Your advice please.

I think you should be firm so as not to let the students think that you are a pushover and rememebr to smile aswell so you dont come across as a moody so and so!:p...Just be friendly and let them know what you expect from them ,and rememeber Allah, ask him to make it easy for you inshalllah :)

[Rie_Maya]

Can I just say that I think perhaps some of us are missing the point here - show the students respect and that's what they'll learn to show back!!!! It shouldn't be about making them fear you - a good teacher/lecturer/educator isn't one that provokes fear!!!

Don't get me wrong - all of the kids I have taught know the line between right and wrong - are aware of my limits etc - but I don't expect them to fear me - just to respect me and the knoweldge I am trying to impart/share!!!!

Sorry - you prob think I am harping on a bit - but I suppose it is something I am passionate about - but I'll briefly explain about one class I taught:
They'd been on behaviour support as a whole class since they were 4! Get the idea about behaviour probs etc. Yes I set limits etc, but I laughed, respected them - used to ask their opinions never just said 'thats how it is cos I'm the teacher!' Anyway behavior support came in after I'd had them for a term - walked out again - they thought they were in the wrong class (don't get me wrong we still had lots to achieve and work) - cam back again and said were amazed. Spoke to one of the worst 'behavior offenders' - he said, I quote: "She's alright, she's fair, she makes us laugh and we all get in the **** if we do the same thing wrong no matter who did it!" More of the issue for the children is the concept of fairness - if they don't thinkyou are being fair why should they be fair and listen to you?! Good point I reckon.....

Ok - thats the end of my Jackanory for today!!!

And I'm glad your first day went so well!!!!

:)

[Quest]

super, sis may Allah make it easy for you, i to want to be a teacher someday (islamic teach)

my advice is remember a good teacher is not just one who has knowledge, but one who can distribute that knowledge with wisdom.

it will be in ur benefit to also make dua of nabi musa pBUH
this is very effective when u are speaking publically, u become confident, ur words are understood and there is a wonderful flow in your teaching/preaching.

speaking from experience this dua never lets me down, whether doing lectures or teaching part jahil teenagers. its proved 2 be effective everytime round.