I believe every student is an individual first. Every student has a unique personality, an independent way of thinking, and a different learning curve to follow. I believe teaching should be student-centred: teachers should provide each student with help and advice as the student needs it. A teacher is not only an instructor who lectures to students but is also a guide who leads students through challenges, helps them find strengths, and indicates directions for future growth.
I believe that learning should be an engaging process; it is through hands-on experiences that students learn best. I have developed a theory of gamified pedagogy (Han, 2015) as my teaching guide; this requires utilizing a spiral curriculum for students to learn advanced tasks by starting with basic skills, setting clear short-term and long-term goals, rewarding students when they achieve each level, forming a learning community with a showcase for student work, and providing a safety net for students to explore and practice. With a gamified pedagogy, students can become self-motivated learners who are interested in learning more from the course content and from each other.
My work with students does not cease when they are no longer my supervised scholars; I care for their lives as well as their academic achievements. I was once an international student and experienced cultural shock, so I know how difficult it can be to study abroad. I spend time with my students so I can better know and support them because I wish to provide them a supportive environment where they feel safe and can concentrate on learning.
Being a teacher makes me feel happy and accomplished. I recognise that teaching is not and should not be an easy task. Different students present different challenges; I love to work with students and face challenges. I devote myself to education for the hope of the future—our students.
Sandrine Han Education Consulting 