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Student Teacher Trauma

If there is one thing that I have observed about student teachers (trainee teachers on teaching practice), it is that many become a nervous wreck when we the supervisors drop in on them to observe them teaching.

Why is that? Is it because they are afraid they will mess up? Is it because they are afraid they will not live up the standards and expectations of their supervisors? Is it because they are afraid of getting low marks, even in the initial stages of teaching practice?

To be fair, I do remember the times when myself was a trainee teacher... Those were good days... The excitement of being a teacher, able to be in touch with the students, shaping their minds... It was really exciting...

And then the supervisor decides to drop by... But the strange thing is, I don't think I was ever really that nervous of being observed... This was simply because I try to treat each and every lesson the same - make your students enjoy what they are learning, and make sure they learn something! And so, with that in mind, I always found it perplexing and at the same time amusing when some colleagues would tell stories of their own observations - some would even go as far as to prepare a 'script' for the students! Hidden cues to indicate the perfect timing of when their prize students should raise their hands and ask all sorts of scripted questions!

I always saw supervision visits as opportunities for me to learn, to be more aware of my teaching flaws, and to gain new insights into how to teach properly... This was especially true during my first Teaching Practice (we used a different system, where we had teaching practice every year, with the final year teaching practice going up to 5 months)... It was in these initial stages that I appreciated having a lecturer to bounce off ideas, and to be supplied with new ones...

But then again...

To be really, really honest...I do admit that there were times I felt some jitters when my supervisor dropped by to observe me :)
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Comments

Missus A said…
Oh don't remind me of teaching practice. I was one of those who over-prepared, but no, I didn't prepare scripts for my prized students. I am fierce like that. I think my supervisors were nervous sitting in my class. huahahha
August 1, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Abdullah Mohd Nawi said…
It must have been cool to sit in ur class and watch u teach ;)
And ur SUPERVISORS were nervous??? wow... I am in awe...
August 3, 2008 at 4:25 AM
M.Mazuki said…
i alway enjoy when in your class....:)
August 3, 2008 at 8:03 AM
Abdullah Mohd Nawi said…
Hehehe...
Thank you very much Mazuki :)
I always enjoy having students such as yourself.
August 5, 2008 at 3:51 AM
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