TEACHING MAKES ME ALIVE
Ashok SILWAL
“He who knows how to do, does; he who doesn’t know how to do, teaches.”, the proverb says, highlighting the difference between acting and speaking, knowing how to do and knowing how to speak .. but things are not that simple and clear-cut…. teaching also is doing!
A few days ago, when I was about to start my course as a trekking teacher at the NATHM College, I was wondering if I should change anything about my teaching method. I have been teaching many years, years that pass and young people who change…
And while I was asking myself questions, I felt that teaching is a kind of gift; of course you can learn certain things, certain behaviors, but if teaching is not in your “blood”, it will be more technical, more mechanical, colder.
Of course you have to know things before you teach them but, above all, you have to know how to communicate, you have to know to put yourself in your student’s shoes…
You have to be humble and understand that there is a lot to learn from students;
You have to know how to be patient..
You have to know how to go towards everyone and the weakest first;
The famous so frequently mentioned EMPATHY is fundamental. It’s hard to learn it, it’s a spontaneous quality. It is it which creates enthusiasm, passion, curiosity… when the teacher and the student are mutually stimulated to do well, motivated to grow.
The teacher task is to transmit knowledge but above all to create the desire to learn, the awareness of one’s own abilities, the desire to improve.
The teacher is not a computer and must take advantage of what differentiates him from the computer, his being a person with experience, feelings, emotions… other than “virtual reality”, “avateacher”, “artificial intelligence”…
He must put his personal experience, his sensitivity at the service of his students, to help them to grow, to think, to look around always wondering….
Of course he must not give up his authority and authoritativeness, the clarity of his explanation but, today more than ever, he must give of himself, know how to touch the inside of the person, make sure that the student feels personally questioned, that he knows to feel encouragement, trust and positive vibes.
All this is perhaps a little pretentious; some teachers prefer be more “detached” and maybe it is better.
I think that everyone should have their own “brand”, they own way of doing things.
Trying to be able to create a good feeling, a mutual understanding, is my way: it makes me feel alive.
I love this empathy that gives me energy, motivation, inspiration.
My students’ reports are a great joy, a great satisfaction and their gratitude make me “fly” and happy in my teacher’s and human being’s heart.
I think all this is a bit innate and certainly not only my merit but also this “exchange” that I feel when I teach.
That’s why I say to my students: THANK YOU ! from the top of my voice..
And because in teaching, acting and speaking merge , “deleting” the initial proverb!
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