Know thyself! Should we? or can we?
Oh! I got one more opportunity to interact with a young mind yesterday. This is the greatest benefit i have as a teacher. So many young brains - energetic, courageous, innovative and of course, unpolluted to a large extent - are always available to be explored. Interaction with them is always refreshing and full of new ideas. But for this, some steps have to be followed. First, pierce their defence. Motivate / force them to be their own selves. Make them speak their mind. And then second, listen with an open mind. Don't allow your teacher to interrupt in between. Just facilitate the discussion with leading questions and enjoy the bliss!
I know that many teachers know all these tricks. They also replenish their bank of ideas following this process. I am also sure that it greatly benefits the young minds as well. They speak up, feel relaxed and in the end, they tend to know themselves better. A perfect win-win situation, isn't it?
Last evening, i travelled with a young mind. She is preparing for CAT. She also happens to be a full time working executive at a professionally managed and fast growing education group. After four or five aborted attempts, finally, i was able to make her speak up.
She began with the central idea first. "I don't know what will happen in future with me. I just follow the advice of the most trusted person around." I noted that the words 'most trusted' were preceding 'person' and not 'advice'. She continuously referred her daddyji to be the most trusted person in her life. I raised the question about the placement of the adjectives. And she gave me the most shining idea of the evening, albeit unknowingly, " How do you know the trustworthiness of an idea unless you try that out?" I tried to reason. But she was not in a mood to relent. " Sir! Aap hi to kahte hain na ki everything is changing. We can never predict the next thirty years of life and existence." I preferred to listen.
I know that many teachers know all these tricks. They also replenish their bank of ideas following this process. I am also sure that it greatly benefits the young minds as well. They speak up, feel relaxed and in the end, they tend to know themselves better. A perfect win-win situation, isn't it?
Last evening, i travelled with a young mind. She is preparing for CAT. She also happens to be a full time working executive at a professionally managed and fast growing education group. After four or five aborted attempts, finally, i was able to make her speak up.
She began with the central idea first. "I don't know what will happen in future with me. I just follow the advice of the most trusted person around." I noted that the words 'most trusted' were preceding 'person' and not 'advice'. She continuously referred her daddyji to be the most trusted person in her life. I raised the question about the placement of the adjectives. And she gave me the most shining idea of the evening, albeit unknowingly, " How do you know the trustworthiness of an idea unless you try that out?" I tried to reason. But she was not in a mood to relent. " Sir! Aap hi to kahte hain na ki everything is changing. We can never predict the next thirty years of life and existence." I preferred to listen.
