murabbi

the ignorant me have always thought teaching is...well, teaching. you have a book to teach, read to class, explain here and there, give the students homework and grade it...after which, they will go through exams and if they study, they'll get good grades and move on.

but that's on the superficial level of teaching. after a year and a few months of teaching Teens and Youth a.L.I.V.E., i have realised how so much more teaching is.

i have taken up this teaching at a mosque madrasah rather unplanned. i really wasn't planning to teach when i graduated. but after substituting an ustazah a number of times, the teaching vibes has caught on me.

Paulo Coelho mentioned in his novel The Alchemist how sometimes the world conspires to let us achieve a dream. it was not my dream to be teaching, but somehow the circumstances have paved me towards education. i have been surrounded by people who are in the education line, whether religious or academic, meeting people who have the passion and the talent to teach, who have dedicated their brain and energy for the development of our children, intellectually, emotionally and utmost, spiritually. i'm inspired alright. and with the exposure and the little readings i did in due course, i realise teaching is a whole system that revolves the world. you're nowhere without knowledge they say, now who's to get that knowledge if no one's teaching?!

just as the Prophet seeking knowledge and receiving them direct from the Lord, and the Qur'an mentioned the name Rabb. it means: teach, nurture, educate. and for me, i have been searching myself. teaching, i believe, regardless of what subject, is almost holy. and to teach, means to make MYSELF better, because i'm not just any working person, but i'm a teacher. a trainer nonetheless, as how i would prefer to be known informally. still. the mechanisms of teaching starts from within myself.

and the Lord, being a Nurturer Himself, has paved the way. well, for one thing i have a personal mentor who's helped along the way. and quite recent, i had the fortune to attend a closed session with an experienced and knowledgeable Muslim educationist. Dr Dawood Al-Hidabi.

if i could summarise the whole discussion, it would be The Heart. teaching is from the heart. and there's the spiritual element to that.

how does teaching comes from the heart? well, IKHLAS is one. and two, the realisation that trasmitting knowledge is, to develop them intellectually, and utter 'shaping' of the whole being of the students. is not easy, man. i've always known that in order to teach, there must be something in me which is almost perfect. of course being mere human = imperfection, but if we're on that strive, we're almost there. and thus, Dr Dawood has given a list of what being a teacher means:

-> a murabbi = shaping personalities. also meaning, the teacher as a good example.
-> a counsellor = competent in giving advices and lending a shoulder, as well as, a helping hand
-> a researcher = aware of what's going on in the surrounding
-> a leader = an agent of change

these, i should cultivate within myself.

I had 4 pages of my journal filled with notes from the discussion but there's only 4 things which young trainers/teachers need to remember. while teaching is not just about syllabus and knowledge, it's also building meaningful relationships with the students. only with this relationship will knowledge be truly transmitted through example. and to be able to create a companionship with the students, here's the phases the teacher-student relationship needs to go through.

1. Admire - there may be something which is truly unique to the teacher that allows the students to admire her/him
2. Trust - when there's a level of trust built, knowing that there's someone a student could turn to without risking being embarrassed. and i guess a sense of respect towards the students' needs
3. Love - after much time, love can be developed through knowing one another and much communication
4. Obedience - and this is when whatever the teacher says or teaches, there won't be much trouble for the students to listen to us, because of the trust and love, they know we, the trainers/teachers are here for them.

and since then i've been having ths list in mind, almost like a mantra for me to teach. i'd be building up these 4 'hearts' to motivate myself and know that i've been in this line, not only by choice, but chosen to.
May Allah bless this effort.