Everyone responds to humour
Children learn and remember so much more when they laugh during a lesson. No one likes to reveal what they find difficult or challenging in life so humour is essential in making someone feel comfortable in opening up to the specifics with willingness and ease. And since they remember the laughter, they absorb the topic being taught.
“I haven’t laughed with anyone more in an hour than with Farzana” – Selin B
Children also like to teach
Teach it back to me! I often ask my students to teach me a question on the topic they have just learnt. They love this feeling of control and find it hilarious when I ask a lot of questions and call them Sir/Miss. This creates wonderful memories of the experience and solidifies their understanding of the topic.
Adopting a flexible approach
A student might not grasp one method of a concept but a second or third method may just do the trick. I tell them to relate this to all areas of their life. If one method of doing things or solving a problem doesn’t work, then look for another. Rest but never quit!
Personal ambition goals
I tell my students my own success stories about launching channels and working for a football club. My confidence came from having achieved brilliant grades therefore knowing that I wouldn’t ever face rejection from what I wanted to do because I just knew I’d succeed and every potential employer could sense it too.
Values have a Butterfly effect
I may tutor a student for weeks, months or years but the day they walk out of my house for the last time, I definitely feel a sense of satisfaction that I have hopefully helped that student grow up to be a woman or a man who feels committed to benefitting the world as well as themselves.
More importantly, the values I strived to teach them will also hopefully be passed on to all those they encounter, both on a professional and a personal level.
