Sometimes it is good to observe other people teaching. While I admit that I am a selective listener, I used to think I listen enough. Well, not until recently when I saw Irfan Khairi handled his classes. Yes, that Irfan Khairi! It is a bit frustrating to think that I picked up these lessons late in the year (after much damage of scolding and raising voice in my class), but alhamdulillah, at least I was receptive towards improvement, which I think in the end, aided both,; my students and I. So, here are 3 things I did to improve myself while teaching.

Look into their eyes

This happened by accident while the boys in my class (they are all boys, anyway) were leaving home and I was already happily nestled in my place when suddenly one of them waved me good bye and stood at corner of my eye and caught my sight. I raised my head and looked at him and smiled then he repeated his word, “bye, teacher.”

I was touched and dumbfounded at the same time. I nearly missed the good gesture of looking at them. Ever since then, I realised that they are more willing to even stay for while after school to talk to me about ….well, sometimes, nonsense. Still. I appreciate the fact that they know I will listen.

For this matter, I approve that the gesture you see Prince William and Kate are doing to their children is right, that is to go down to the eye level of their children while talking to them.

Let them finish their words

I was very bad at this, especially when they had to explain themselves but thanks to Irfan Khairi whom I observed could patiently wait for his students to finish their questions with a smiling face. Amazing, subhanallah! Smiling. While I admit I cannot smile at all times, at least I managed in a few occasion to correct this problem by requesting my students to speak to me at the end of the lessons. I could see, we had talked to each other more harmoniously this way than before where the boys were on their verge of releasing themselves by talking their heads out loud whilst I was like a Russian roulette ready to shut them. Astagfirullah hal azim. Thank God, I had lent them my ear in an improved way.

Be angry, but without raising your voice

This is what I am good at. To my upmost steam, I will walk away from any situation that stirs my anger and I will keep myself in silence. But no! No, I cannot keep quiet when the students were making a great noise. The noise will continue and I am the one who will be overshadowed in the class. After so much time spent, I managed to be clear of myself by telling them precisely and clearly not to make me angry. This is more of a negotiation and deal and I felt a little gangster having to give them so many deals before we agreed on something.

Year in year out, it is already a year and we had finished our school term successfully. Our wrap was the luncheon I arranged out of the school fund. It was fun where families and the boys gathered for a non-stop-two-hour eating session. At the of the day, did we have fun with each other? I’d say, yes.