Teaching is A Science and An Art

I do believe that Teaching is a Science and an Art as well. Let me elaborate my ideas on this stuff based on my teaching experience. I try to start with some complaints and sighs of some fellow teachers. Allow me to quote my friend's word in a bit desperate "I've been trying to use all techniques and methods of teaching, but still, my students did badly on their performances". Then, what to say!

The 'teaching disaster' has been started, unconsciously, with a prejudice that the students is an object of teacher's superiority. In sarcasm, we call it as "teacher's toys". What a pathetic! Did you do that on your classroom? I guess you'll say "I DIDN'T". It actually occurs at the first time of our teaching experience, it happens at the beginning of my teaching career as well. We are not to dare to speak frankly that we’ve made a big mistake. Have you got your courage to criticize yourself? Have you?

I found my mistake as I lost my voice when I was teaching fourth grader in a remote area primary school. I taught them about 'things around the class. "I've mastered all the things and the students haven't yet" my brain whispered. I thought that being a teacher is simply about how well you master the subject. I got "science of teaching" in many books and experts. I've learned many techniques and methods such as jigsaw, one stay one stray, role play, game and song etc. but It didn't work. I wrote the name of all things. Once, I wrote 'CEILING' that meant plafon/langit-langit in Bahasa Indonesia. I asked them to repeat after me, then, they screamed out loud 'CELENG' that meant boar in Javanese language and laughed out loud afterward. I lost my temper. I thought that they had underestimated me. Being upset, I taught them in a high tone but, of course, it didn't over come the problem. The high tense atmosphere to show that you are the boss will definitely screw up the teaching learning process. Wanna try? Don't try that EVER!

Since then, I do realize that they didn't merely need English but they need the teacher's patience and passion as well. I worked hard on it. Learning how to teach an orphan boy, some spoilt girls, a couple of day-dreamer students, some talkative students and so many characteristic of students. Teaching is not only about inanimate matter but also animate one. Teaching is not just giving or transferring knowledge (I don't believe  that we really have it in our brain instead of a full hand of bloody flesh) but it's mainly about how to inspire, to motivate, and or to build the students to be what they want.

Is there any book talking about how to be patient? or how to be a friend, a father/mother, an inspiring figure, a boss (sometimes) in a time? Just let the time shows you (teachers) which is which. In other word, I would say that teaching is an art. You'll learn how to be or to do based on your experience learning. On an international seminar, one of my friend asked the expert how to teach low intake student. The speaker gave some methods and techniques to use, but he said that he had already applied them. He, then, told that the problem is not itself, so many external circumstances influenced the teaching learning process.

Let me give illustration on what my friend said. I had taught in a remote area of my town, in a border area of East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. My students go to school on boat, on foot, some on school bus of a palm oil company far away around the area. They go to school at six in the blind morning and go to their home at dark afternoon, in an exhausted condition they have to learn what they really know nothing about it. They know well how to count money but not at Mathematics. They know well about forest inhabitants but not at Biology. It's not a big deal to bridge the students background knowledge with the theory in books, but how to make the exhausted students to be motivated  is the challenge, and GIVE UP in trying to find an over coming is the real BIG DEAL. And of course, it is an art of teaching that has to be experienced by teacher.

"Your students are growing trees from fragile seeds. They need times and caring to grow" this will guide you to be patient. Let your students well-motivated with "Goal in their lives.The goal is their dreams. Live their dreams to come true" in order they have something to achieve in future. Teachers have important role in making the students' dreams come true. You are your enemy, fight it! If you want to be a real teacher, you have to devote your time, your passion, your everything for your students. Everyone can teach on their own way, but not everyone can be a teacher in real meaning. Teachers are learner. They would open their eyes, ears, and minds for better future. Never pronounce yourself as a teacher if you can't learn, if you can't change better, if you can't inspire, if you can't motivate.....but still teacher is not an angel. He is human being that, sometimes, makes mistake but don't take it for granted. Good Luck Teachers!