Simulated Teaching

Days ago, I did my simulated teaching in the tutorial. I first started off with showing the students a picture of a king. I then asked the students to tell me what can they see in the picture and I have asked them to tell me what they think of characteristics that should a king should possess. The students responded to my questions and soon I lead them to the first activity which is the pre-reading activity.

For pre-reading, I distributed a worksheet with instructions and an extract in it. First, I gave instructions on what needs to be done as I read the extract aloud to them (The students are required to circle the characteristics of Oedipus). Right after they have completed their task, I discuss the answers with them. At the same time, I get the students to write the answers on the whiteboard. After discussing the answers with the students, I proceed with the second activity which is the while-reading activity.

For while-reading, I distributed a worksheet to the students. I then gave instructions on what needs to be done (The students are required to state the connotation of the characteristics that they have identified in the pre-reading activity). Immediately after they have completed, I discussed the answers with them. At the same time, I get the students to write the answers on the whiteboard. After discussing the answers with the students, I lead them to see the connection between the characteristics and its connotation. I conclude the activity by explaining to the students that these are the characteristics of Oedipus in the earlier scene of the play. I then proceed with the post-reading activity.

For post-reading, I distributed a worksheet to the students. I then gave instructions on what needs to be done. I instructed them to attempt the task as homework.

Well, the above is what I have done for simulated teaching this time round. I find that simulated teaching is so much different than how I was taught in schools last time. My school teachers do not give the students any activities on worksheets. All they do was to spoon feed us with all that they have. For example, my English teacher would just provide the entire summary of any literary text. This is pretty different from simulated teaching as teachers lead students to discover the meaning of the literary text through a set of interesting activities instead of providing the students with the entire summary of the literary text. Although most students would prefer that the teacher will provide them with the summary of the literary text, I think this would not help the students at all but instead spoiling them. In this way, students are not trained to use their mind to think. It is simply because everything is made easy for them that students do not need to put on their thinking cap. Well, I have experienced all these in schools and I personally think that this was not quite a pleasant experience as it has not turned me into a person who thinks deeply. All these are the result of being too pampered. Anyway, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to further my studies in the university and this place has made me a more reflective and deep person.