LETTERS: "Beautiful" is the best word to describe the learning process in the teaching journey.
American author Brian Herbert says: "The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice. Children are skilled in different ways but their potential will not be discovered unless somebody makes an effort to unleash it.
"However, teachers should prevent students from becoming negative individuals who misuse their skills and belittle or bully others who may have difficulties in mastering certain skills. "In addition, the overwhelmed feeling of staying in a comfort zone may result in the unwillingness to improve the discovered skills while denying the fact that learning is a lifelong process."
As a teacher in-charge of English programmes, I urge students to participate in different activities.
I encourage students to face challenges while believing that there is no harm trying. Winning a competition may be an honour but there is nothing wrong with being second.
The willingness to participate and overcome stage fright are achievements that deserve to be celebrated.
Apart from spending time with students in classes, spending time with them in enrichment classes and co-curricular activities will help teachers and students grow and learn.
Motivated students may develop the urge to perform better in studies while the less motivated may start trying.
I applied the reward system and it worked. My students looked forward to sending their next projects as I had rewarded the ones who achieved excellence.
When my drama team won a competition, I took them to watch a movie.
Recently, a Form 1 student asked: "Will there be a prize for those who score well in the test?"
It is better for students to be intrigued by something good awaiting them than to be worried about the punishment they might get if they don't do well.
With World Teachers Day on Oct 5, it is timely to recall that some time ago, the perception was teachers were students' heroes and role models.
Now, teachers are superheroes who save students from feeling demotivated and uninspired.
Muhamad Solahudin Ramli
Marang, Terengganu
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times