Over the past few months, I have had the great privilege of volunteering at a small NGO on the border of Syria in Northern Lebanon. I quit my corporate job as a data analyst in FinTech and decided to go home (or really close to home since I can’t go back to Syria just yet). I help out by doing a lot of different things and taking on different responsibilities, some of which include but are not limited to: managing social media content for the NGO, translating from Arabic to English and vise versa, as well as teaching basic literacy and numeracy classes and computer literacy classes to students of varying ages. In this blog post, I would like to share a few things I learned about teaching and what it means to be a good educator.
First of all, shout out to all the teachers, because teaching in general under any context is no easy feat. I learned the hard way when I started teaching my first classes without prior training or experience. Being a great teacher is even harder, and I am no where near achieving the status of being a great teacher but I hope that continuous reflection and innovation in the classroom can help me become a little better one step at a time so that I can continue to help serve people as best as I can just as many have done for me in my lifetime.
That being said, being an educator for Syrian refugee students in Lebanon has been a profoundly humbling and eye-opening experience. The classroom walls witness stories of resilience, hope, and determination every day. As these students face countless challenges and uncertainties, I have come to realize the immense significance of incorporating real-life examples and practical applications in our teaching methods. This approach not only enhances their learning experience but also empowers them to overcome adversity and build a brighter future, whatever that may mean for each individual.
The Power of Relatable Learning
In a classroom filled with students who have fled their homes, leaving behind everything they knew, the ability to connect their learning to real-life situations becomes paramount. By integrating real-life examples into our lessons, we bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and their practical applications, making education more meaningful and relevant. This is something that I personally found to be lacking not only within the context of Lebanon or Syria, but also within the context of my personal experiences growing up in different schooling systems in varying parts of the world. After all, many of us growing up have certainly, at some point in time during our youth, asked the age old question: “Why am I learning this?”
For instance, when teaching mathematics, I often utilize examples that reflect the students’ daily lives. We discuss simple daily financial exchanges, such as going to the store and buying a few snacks, giving them practical skills to navigate their new environment as well as the environment they are already accustomed to. By linking mathematical concepts to real-life scenarios, students grasp the importance of learning and become motivated to apply their knowledge outside the classroom.
Beyond the confines of academic subjects, incorporating real-life examples also helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In computer classes, we explore not only how to actually surf the web for example, but also discuss what the dangers of the internet are and brainstorm ways in which we can stay safe while browsing the internet. By empowering students to tackle and think about local and global challenges, I believe it helps foster a sense of agency and encourages them to be active members of society.
Inspiring Hope and Encouraging Resilience
Incorporating real-life examples not only enhances the educational experience but also instills hope and resilience in our students. Many of these children have experienced unimaginable trauma and disruptions to their education. By illustrating how knowledge can be a catalyst for positive change, we provide them with a powerful tool to rebuild their lives.
During our computer classes, we explore different websites that offer education for free. By sharing the idea that education does not need to be expensive and that learning does not require you to attend an often unaffordable university but that it can be accessed in many ways, we remind our students that their dreams are valid and attainable, despite the challenges they face. These real-life examples act as beacons of hope, empowering them to believe in their own potential and strive for a brighter future.
Building Life Skills
Incorporating practical applications in education also equips our students with essential life skills. Many Syrian refugee students in Lebanon face economic hardships and limited access to resources. By teaching practical skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship, we empower them to navigate the obstacles they encounter.
For instance, in our math classes, we explore how mathematics can be used to think more efficiently about our finances and the benefits of utilizing simple math in starting a small business. In our English classes, we explore how other people in a similar situation managed to build up their foreign language communication skills and land a job at a foreign organization. By fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, we help our students see opportunities where others see limitations. Equipped with this knowledge, they can apply it to their lives, whether it’s by starting small-scale initiatives or contributing to the local economy.
So…
While it is important as an educator to teach complex theories in a more comprehensible manner, it is equally as important to remind ourselves to constantly find innovative ways to explain things with more relatable examples and guide students to understand the practical use of the theoretical knowledge they learn in the classroom. By incorporating real-life examples and practical applications into our teaching methods, we offer our students more than just knowledge; we offer them the tools to navigate their challenges, inspire hope, and build a brighter future.
As these inspiring students continue to overcome adversity, they remind me daily of the profound impact education can have on individuals and communities. By embracing their experiences, integrating their stories into our lessons, and fostering their creativity, we not only help tutor but also help empower a generation to become agents of change.
Also, teaching and learning should be reciprocal. We are as much a student as we are a teacher. Check out the book below.
Further Reading
- Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed: https://www.amazon.com/Pedagogy-Oppressed-Anniversary-Paulo-Freire/dp/0826412769