the ignorant me have always thought teaching is…well, teaching. you have a book to teach, read to class, explain here and there, give them students homework and grade it..after which they will go through exams and if they study, they’ll get good grades and move on.

but that’s on the superficial level of teaching. after a year and a few months teaching, i have realised how so much more teaching is. and note: i’m not even a full-time teacher, like say, Mary and kak Dewi. but i’m sure they will agree with me on this.

i have taken up this teaching at a mosque madrasah rather impromptu. i really wasn’t planning to teach when i graduated. but after relieving a number of times, i somehow got stuck with it. haha.

and you know how the world sometimes conspires to let us achieve a dream. it was not my dream but somehow it is, because circumstances paved that way. i got a temp job at youth education unit, and then the accidental relief jobs i took up, and meeting with people who have the passion and the talent to teach. i’m inspired alright. and with the exposure and some reading i did in due course, i realise teaching is a whole system that revolves the world. you’re nowhere without knowledge they say, now who’s to get that knowledge if no one’s teaching?!

just as the Prophet seeking knowledge and receiving them direct from the Lord, who by the way, goes by the name Rabb. it means a lot of things: teach, nurture, educate. and for me, i have been searching myself. teaching, i believe, regardless of what subject, is almost holy. and to teach, means to make MYSELF better, because i’m not just any working person, but i’m a teacher. a trainer nonetheless, as how i would prefer to be known informally. still. the mechanisms of teaching starts from myself.

and the Lord, being a Nurturer Himself, has paved the way. well, for one thing i have a personal mentor who’s helped along the way. but i had the fortune to attend a closed session with one of the Muslim world’s experienced and knowledgeable Muslim educationist. Dr Dawood Al-Hidabi.

if i could summarise the whole discussion, it would be The Heart. teaching is from the heart. and there’s the spiritual element to that.

how does teaching comes from the heart? well, IKHLAS is one. and two, the realisation that trasmitting knowledge is, to develop them intellectually, and utter ‘shaping’ of the whole being of the students. is not easy, man. i’ve always known that in order to teach, there must be something in me which is almost perfect. of course being mere human = imperfection, but if we’re on that strive, we’re almost there. and thus, Dr Dawood has given a list of what being a teacher means:

-> a murabbi = shaping personalities. also meaning, the teacher as a good example.
-> a counsellor = competent in giving advices and lending a shoulder, as well as, a helping hand
-> a researcher = aware of what’s going on in the surrounding
-> a leader = an agent of change

these, i should cultivate within myself.

I had 4 pages of my journal filled with notes from the discussion but there’s only 4 things which young trainers/teachers need to remember. while teaching is not just about syllabus and knowledge, it’s also building meaningful relationships with the students. only with this relationship will knowledge be truly transmitted through example.

1. Admire – there may be something which is truly unique to the teacher that allows the students to admire her/him
2. Trust – when there’s a level of trust built, knowing that there’s someone a student could turn to without risking being embarrassed. and i guess a sense of respect towards the students’ needs
3. Love – after much time, love can be developed
4. Obedience – and this is when whatever the teacher says or taught, there won’t be much trouble for the students to listen to us, because of the trust and love, they know we, the trainers/teachers are here for them.

and since then i’ve been having this 4 things in mind, almost like a mantra for me to teach. i’d be building up the 4 ‘hearts’ to motivate myself.

and one more thing, which, also pretty much sums up of being a teacher.
companionship.

so help me Lord.