Anecdotal Teaching Life (30.8.2019)

30 August 2019       Getting ready

This is the last week of preparation: a week full of workshops and teaching planning.

I would say I'm ready for delivering the classes, but on the other hand feel under-prepared, because I don't have full control of what I teach. It feels like a double-edge sword to me: having someone prepared everything for me means more time to explore my own stuff -- writing papers and preparing for research/ monograph proposals. At the same time, it seems to me that it goes away from what I want to do -- even if it's just for a moment -- take control of my own subjects.

I cannot ask for more at this stage, and it couldn't be better now. Perhaps, let me grow in this place and let the events lead me to where I want to be.

(Nothing much going on with social life here, but I had the luck to have lunch with Wayne on Monday. The lunch in the picture was served in a cafe near the College. Both the carbonara and the Americano tasted good.)

Anecdotal Teaching Life (23.8.2019)

August 23, 2019 TIFU

I thought I was very familiar with everything at PolyU. Turned out I couldn't even make a gym booking right. Supposedly I wanted to hit the gym now, so that I could wait for Zoe in the meantime. But I mistakenly chose Saturday evening, when I should be at home cooking. All I can do now is having a coffee and some food while reading Mark Manson's Everything is Fucked.

Bumped into Joyce the veteran before I left the college campus. She told me she's already prepping for Week 4. How efficient... I'm still wondering how to deliver my first class. I'd have to be more efficient from now on.

OK, back to reading.

Anecdotal Teaching Life (22.08.2019)

22 August 2019 Team Building Day

Learnt a lot today. Including all the development pointing towards research and scholarly activities. A couple of colleagues mentioned to me about the college's support of academic research. I'll have to be patient enough to see whether such support is pervasive. But I dare not think about having to teach or research in GBA... given all the social unrest nowadays.

The floor curling game was fantastic. I was team leader and lost big time in the "mini league", but I learnt a few things: (i) always be appreciative; (ii) how my leadership would bring about is not guaranteed to be positive, but members' understanding is very important -- they'd been very supportive of what I did; (iii) be humble yet enthusiastic about what the team is doing. This is also helpful when I'm not leading -- support the leader.

So far I hope I can stay longer here, if this place really allows space for my growth.

Anecdotal Teaching Life (21.08.2019)

21 August 2019 Academic English Subject Meeting

I wasn't told my teaching subject had changed until I asked. True that it takes time to smoothen communication channels, but I did feel being left out as a newcomer. I don't mind teaching any subjects, though.

However, I would need to adjust my expectations on who I'm going to teach. The subject targets secondary school leavers who would be less proficient in English. We as teachers were told to be patient and encouraging, which is a must to me. But it gives me some sort of anxiety inside: what if they don't like my teaching at all?

There are also lots of details about teaching the subject. I feel that these details are just to ensure no mistakes would be made. Of course we are shouldering all these responsibilities; I hope there'd be someone backing us up if we make mistakes -- I mean I'd admit them if I do, but it'll make me feel better if the leaders are still supportive.

Anyway, I'm still looking forward to meeting my new students in 1.5 weeks' time.