“I’ll buy Wingstop for the class at the end of the semester.”
A simple promise made to the class at the start of the semester unlocked a series of events that made the beginnings of my teaching journey an unforgettable one.
See, Gen Z’s are digital natives, non-conforming and diverse — and as a Millenial having to teach them Digital Marketing really brought on a case of imposter syndrome.
The night before my first class, I sat overthinking:
… but what if they see right through me? I haven’t been in the industry for long.
… they’d probably know more than I do, why am I even doing this?
… what if my lessons are boring and they end up skipping class?
Ultimately, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t be able to provide them with the quality education that they deserved.
The act of teaching in its simplest form, is the systematic process of transferring knowledge to others while also attending to their needs, experiences and feelings.
The transfer of knowledge solely isn’t enough—reading content verbatim off the lesson slides is below the bare minimum.
Students deserve a teacher who makes the effort to empathise with their complex feelings as they navigate through life. Someone who is there for them as they progress through the semester, and celebrates their wins, whether big or small. And most importantly, someone who takes the time to understand them.
Speaking Their Language
Thankfully, there was no need for skibidis, or sigma alphas – all it took was a daily scroll on TikTok to find the latest trends and topics happening online.
Terms like ‘sussy baka (suspicious person)’, ‘rizz (charm)’ and ‘slay (great)’ were added to my vocabulary, much to the dismay of my friends – but explaining to them that this was a way that I could engage and connect with my students made all the difference.
Being perpetually on social media or chronically online helped with this, as it also gave insights into their content consumption habits – which eventually found relevance into my working life.
Granted, there were some instances where the algorithm worked against me, but it still made for some interesting exchanges in class. I came across a snippet of ‘Under One Roof’, one of Singapore’s most loved series in the past, that I was excited to share with the class.
Instead, I was met with confused stares and whispers of, “Ms. Naz, we weren’t even born yet!” – that humbled me. The point of this exchange was to educate them of ever-green trends, like nostalgia, which would always make its way back into society after a few years. I got a laugh out of the realisation of our 10-year age gap, though.
Growing up as a millennial, there was always an internal struggle to openly showcase our interests in having figurines or collectibles for fear of judgement.
Seeing students with their insane collection of Sonny Angels on their phones and being able to express themselves through their hair and outfits in school showcases the evolution in the different generations, as well as growth in society.
While we might not be able to fully understand their interests, providing the students with a safe space to be themselves has allowed for many open conversations which led to new ideas and concepts collaboratively developed as a class.
Other teachers have also shared their own ways of ‘speaking their language’.
“Having younger family members helps me be relatable to my students. Talking to them keeps me in check with the current trends. It’s important to realise that there’s no one-track solution to teaching, especially since the way each generation learns differs drastically. I’ve tried adapting their ways of speaking, while setting boundaries in order to form a respectful relationship.” – Mr. M
Honesty And Vulnerability
There is nothing scarier than being honest and open about your expectations of others – which is why setting rules and boundaries in the very first lesson was essential.
Emphasising the importance of respect towards each other in classes helped make it a positive learning environment, and calling negative experiences out when situations escalated also provided the class with a sense of responsibility and ownership of behaviours.
My first experience having to discipline a group came right after their in-class presentation. A situation happened the night before that required them to communicate openly with each other, but rising tensions and personal feelings disrupted their thought process, which led to an overall negative experience.
While I reiterated the sense of disappointment I felt, I tried my level best to be empathetic towards their situation as well, especially having gone through the exact experience myself. Eventually, we gathered as a group to air out the issues that were at hand, and the students walked away being able to reflect on their actions.
As teachers, the job scope rarely ends at educating, it also includes being a coordinator, a cheerleader, and even an unpaid therapist for the most part — a feat that not many will understand or appreciate, until they’ve experienced it themselves.
Celebrate Their Wins
We all get the complexities of being a teenager seemingly having to take on the world. A strong support system is always needed, no matter how old you are. Having been in my students’ shoes 10 years ago, I innately understood the pressure having to juggle personal life and school work.
What truly left an impression on me was when they were consistently careful to uphold the boundaries set at the start of the semester. They would constantly check in with regards to my working schedule, even when they were stressed with their own submissions and timelines. With blurred lines masking work-from-home as an invite to be online 24/7, the consideration that this new generation has adopted was a breath of fresh air.
While I expected the transition from an executive to a lecturer to be rocky, I was pleasantly surprised by their warmth – how they were open, encouraging and kind towards me, especially at the start of the semester. Whatever experience we went through as a class taught all of us a little bit of resilience and empathy towards each other.
And what better way to celebrate the end of semester than with… Wingstop?!
With their weekly reminders and the pinned message on Whatsapp (our selected form of communication because “Telegram is for personal use!”), my promise at the start of the semester turned out to be one of the ways we were able to find common ground and bond through shared experiences.
A single meal brought them happiness amidst busy schedules, and opened the doors to many other frank conversations about life, our shared interests and the industry
“I enjoy keeping free stickers, because I know my younger students would appreciate getting them in class. It’s just a way for me to encourage them further, and even if it is out of my own pocket, the happiness they get from it is worth it.” – Mdm. A
What I’ve learnt from my students over the course of the semester is that we’re all going through and experiencing life in our own ways, so showing a little bit of appreciation goes a long way.
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In life, everyone winds up being a teacher one way or the other, there are endless opportunities to learn, and unexpected teachers who you’ll meet.
Treat others the way you would want to be treated as a student, and that’s a step in the right direction, making the world a kinder, and happier place for future generations.
To my first class of students — I have enjoyed being your teacher this semester, and you’ve all taught me so much. I’ll gladly buy you Wingstop at the end of every semester.
To all my teachers out there — thank you for your guidance and support over the years, for pushing me to be the best version of myself and for always believing in me. Happy Teachers’ Day.