Teaching is not easy

Aug 26, 2012
Teaching is not easy

They enter into the class, take an attendance. This will consume five minutes of theirs. Then they open up their note diary, and start reading. The students will have no options than to write what the teacher says. After reading each line, they translate the line into Nepali, which they claim ‘explanation’.  Now, their task is over, and they get out of their class.
One day, while observing carefully, I found that is the real task of teacher today. I don’t know if I am with maximum such teachers or if there are maximum such teachers. This made me feel that even I can take class of not just my level, but even my senior level right now. All you need to do is prepare a note, enter into the class, read the note and fill your pocket! What a simple job! And, if student fails, credit goes to the student himself, and if he passes with wonderful marks, credited will be the teacher!
Are teachers really the one who gets nowhere in their life and end up being a teacher? Else, the case would not have been seen probably because, for alternative of every faculty, there is teaching profession.  No matter if you are studying MD or you are studying law, you can always end up being a teacher someday.

A teacher has to be innovating and updated regularly. Every day, before entering into the class, he must have some idea about the topic that he is going to speak that day. He needs to get updated if there are any new updates around, for that he should be regularly looking into Internet, and then let the students note down those points which are not available in their book. Providing notes is really a silly way of earning money. I would rather name that cheating to the profession. Okay, maybe their notes are important. If so, they can provide hand outs to the student. I openly chalne~ge such teachers to provide hand outs of their notes, and explain with their mouth for at least half of their class. Completion of syllabus should not be the ultimate aim of the teacher; rather he should be able to inject the clear picture in the mind of student.
Struggle for teaching theory is seen quite often in any academic institutions considering it to be comparatively easy. But, more than numerical subjects, theoretical subjects are challenging in real. Ricardian theory probably was criticized decades back, but how is it seen today? An economics teacher must be able to get the ideas about the new updates and inform student on the basis of present analysis as well. A marketing teacher must be able to create the framework of ‘Buyer’s behavior’ into the mind of student with his explanation instead of gifting those unwanted notes. If the teacher has the ability to explain in wonderful way, notes can be created by the students at the very moment. Notes of an apple would be no use for a child when he sees Apple in real. Because, after seeing the fruit in real, he can explain it himself. This concept has to be injected within the mind of teachers.

I don’t grant teachers any right to claim student ‘irregular’ in class. Why are they irregular? That is the question that any teacher must deal with. Let Anil Shah take a class, will any students bunk the class? When the class becomes useless, students prefer not staying in the class than sitting an hour listening to some pointless thing in the class. Instead of feeling their weakness, they rather blame students. Or maybe they have felt, that could be the reason for the growing ‘Internal marks’ trend is seen these days in various faculties.

Not always are teachers right. They need to learn this, because, a wise writer collects good points for writing an academic book from other writers, internet and answer sheet of students. There are cases, when a student can make a logical point in any issue. Teacher may be guided by the limitation of book to claim ‘Color is intellectual property’, but a student is always free to surf net and make fun of the teacher for such stupid claims!

Teaching really is a challenging job. Because you could not be a successful doctor, you may probably enter into teaching job. But, please make sure you work with your full efficiency to satisfy students. And I don’t think there would be any harm if concerned authorities ban ‘Notes providing system’ in any academic institutions. You are a successful teacher only when all the students of your class praise you after your class!

I would never be a teacher doing same clerical job of providing notes from my laminated diary and consuming the entire time of the class and in the end leaving all the students to make a back biting of me! I would rather stay unemployed.







Published in The Rising Nepal's Friday Supplement of Aug 17, 2012.
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Be different!

Aug 20, 2012
Be different!

As soon as you realize that there are thousands of youths like you, who are seeking for their job, your pessimism inside you will make you feel that you are not liable for job anyways. Every year thousands of students become doctors, engineers and earn degrees in business why should any firm choose you? Sooner or later, the question strikes into you and you feel that you are no different than any other. You start cursing yourself, and even if you get into some place through recommendations, you will not be satisfied as you won’t be able to lie to yourself.  Even lions fail to get food themselves. It has to run faster than deer in order to have the dinner. What you need to do is develop a sense of competency from within. You need to prove to yourself and show that you are different from others in some way. How do you do this? Here are some tips to get you started.

 1.    IT knowledge
Information technology has been acting as basic tool, which any organization looks today for besides your qualification degree. An employer will certainly choose one with MBA plus good IT knowledge.

 2.    Extra languages
Everyone can speak Nepali, English and a little Hindi. You can prove yourself different by learning a new language that will be useful to you such as Chinese or German, both of which will ensure you have an edge over other competitors. Don’t hesitate its cheap and totally worth it to learn a language.

3.    Trainings
Everyone from your field will be well equipped with the course knowledge. You need to show that you are different from that bunch, even in the academic field by attending various trainings, seminars and workshops that are beyond your course book. A business student can go for Arthalya and a journalism student can attend photography training to enhance their capabilities.

4.    Communication skill
A good communication skill is the need of today’s time. Just by studying in English medium school, you can no way claim that you have got a good communication skill in English. You need separate presentation ability.  You need separate presentation ability. Most of us are unable to express our entire feelings in terms of words. Practice discussing with your friends on any issue that could make you stand out with a strong identity.

5.    Focus for Good CV
Everyone has got their resumes when they apply for job, but you need to focus from right now regarding how to make a resume that would attract an organization towards you. Stay prepared and conscious of opportunities to upgrade your resume.

6.    Stay Updated
You need to prove to your boss that you are aware about the environment. What you read in your academic course was designed ages ago, and it may or may not be relevant today. If you are applying for any financial institution, knowledge about current dollar rate would be more important for you than the importance of Principles of Management. Your old academic course should not limit you.

7.    Social factors
Anil Shah will certainly not give you job if you have added him in your Facebook, and your status updates are mostly pessimistic. Get media savvy and put up a good social image. In the digital age, it’s easy to create and maintain certain virtual image. Learn how to and keep at it.

9.    Other factors
There are other various factors that have to be considered. A good personality, a friendly demeanor and respect towards elders is equally important. You must be able to control your emotions. Emotions greatly influence your entire character. So, stay alert about all these factors as well.

Published in Teenz Magazine of ECS Media, Issue 19, August 2012 Issue Page:33.
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Entertaining dreams

Aug 20, 2012
Imagine a proper traffic system where vehicles follow all the traffic rules. As mentioned in a documentary. Iimagine Tribhuwan International Airport that is truly international in facilities. Imagine the World Cup being held at the Dasharath Stadium and Nepal kissing the cup.What’s wrong in imagining? Let’s imagine Nepal winning both the World Cup football and cricket. Let’s imagine Kaka, Drogba, Rooney all excited to play from Mahendra Police Club, and Bob Dylan, GNR and Iron Maiden struggling to feature with our Nepalese artists. Imagine a road properly0pitched with undergroujd metros. Imagine a free education system and foreign students appearing for the examination held by a Nepal board to qualify for a seat to study at Tri Chandra and Shanker Dev Campuses? Imagine all the resources of Nepal being utilised in such a way that there is a shortage of labourers in the country and they need to be brought from abroad...Ah! You have imagined a lot, now ask yourself: Can all this happen?

Published Under Blog Surf on The Himalayan Times dated 20 August 2012
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