Lecturer Interview Report

BASIC PRINCIPLE IN EDUCATION

LECTURER’S INTERVIEW REPORT

MATHEMATIC FACULTY

NUR FATIN SYAMIMI BINTI ZAMRI 2012265074

NOORUL FATIHAH BINTI A RAHMAN TANG 2012895088

NOOR FARAHANI BINTI MOHD LAZIM 2012296794

CLASS MPI020 2A

1.0 Introduction

As pre-TESL (Teaching English as Second Language) students, we are expected to be an
educator in the future. It doesn’t matter either as a school teacher or as a lecturer. Both of these
professions have the same responsibility is to educate students align with the National
Philosophy of Education’s purpose which is an on-going process of producing wholly developed
students in terms of physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. Therefore, as a
preparation for us in becoming an educator, we need to do a research regarding what it takes in
becoming an educator by interviewing lecturers of UiTM Campus Alor Gajah.

The objectives of this research are to prepare us in becoming the future educator and as an
eye opener for us in what an educator really does. There were two lecturers that we had
interviewed which one of them have more than 3 years experience and the other one have less
than one and a half years experience. Both of these lecturers are from the Faculty of Mathematic.
Both of these lecturers were interviewed in their office during their free time. The interviews
were carried out and recorded in the same time using a voice recorder. All the three of us
interviewed the lecturers together and the documentation of the research was done together.

An educator is someone who delivers knowledge by educating or teaching his and her
students either inside the classroom or outside of the classroom in holistic manner. There are
three factors that make a great educator. First, great educators have a desire to see all students
learn. Second, great educators have passion for what they do and the third one is great educators
must be committed and dedicated in doing their work. (Ronald Claiborne, 2012) Educators must
have the desire to educate because students nowadays are much more challenging to teach rather

than the students before the 21st century. Everything is modernized nowadays and students
prefer to learn using the technology rather than traditional teaching method. Therefore, it will be
quite challenging for our new and seniors educators nowadays as they have to know what
interests the students and how to approach them effectively.

In instance, this research is really helpful for us in certain aspects. Firstly, this research
helps us to find out more about how to become a great educator. Secondly, this research helps us
in investigating how to handle disciplinary problems among students and organizing our teaching
plan. Thirdly, this research really helpful for us to know what we have to prepare before we
enter the class. Finally, this research is an eye opener for us to the reality of education world.

Lecturer’s Biodata

Madam Yusarima Bt. Miss Farah Yasmin Bt. Yahya
11 years teaching experience 1 ½ years teaching experience
Diploma in Mathematic Matriculation for 1 year
Degree in Mathematic Degree in Mathematic
Master in Calculus (5 years) Master in Mathematic (1 year)
Taught in UiTM Segamat (2006-2010) First time teaching in UiTM Alor Gajah
Transferred to UiTM Alor Gajah (2010-2013) Fresh graduated

2.0 Literature Background

Issues and challenges are unavoidable for all people around the world. In all professions that
available in this world, there must be issues and challenges that they need to overcome to
produce better results. It is same goes to teaching profession. There are several issues and
challenges that teachers have to face in this modernized era. Three issues that are being
highlighted nowadays are teachers have too many workloads, the changes in language used to
teach Science and Mathematics (PPSMI) made by the government and the students’ behaviors.

Teachers nowadays have too many workloads that need to be settled each day and even
during the weekends. Teachers in today’s world are under a growing pressure to perform.
Higher expectations and greater needs now pressure the teachers to perform effectively in
classroom. (Hazri Jamil, Nordin Abd. Razak, Reena Raju & Abdul Rashid Mohamed, 2010) It
is because teachers are not only teaching and grading papers anymore. They need to fill up their
students’ record book, organize school events, become a judge in a competition and take care of
their students’ and schools’ welfare too. Teachers nowadays are expected to be able to do
multitasking and in the same time perform effectively in classroom. The pressure from the heap
of works on the teachers causes the students to perform poorly in their studies. Teachers are
often burdened with endless duties and chores besides the main task of teaching. Teachers
highlighted the lack of time as the greatest challenge in implementing effective professional
development. (Thang et al, 2010, restated by Hazri Jamil, Nordin Abd. Razak, Reena Raju &
Abdul Rashid Mohamed, 2010) It is because the teacher will come into the classroom and ask
the students to study by themselves so that the teacher can settle the paperwork at school instead
of settle the paperwork at home. The teacher and the students will perform poorly if this

situation often happens in our classroom. In conclusion, one of the issues a teacher needs to
face today is too many workloads.

The changes in language used to teach Science and Mathematics (PPSMI) made by the
government is one of the issues that are being highlighted these days. This issue is always being
talked each year since its implementation. The alteration of the language always has been made
by the government without considering the students and the teachers themselves. However, the
teachers are the most important people that the government should consider first. It is because
some Science and Mathematics teachers learn these subjects in Malay and some in English. The
terms used in English and Malay language are totally different. Even teachers can get confused
with these terms. It is unfortunate that many teachers are still not proficient in English but then
again, proficiency in any language requires continuous practice and requires a long time to
master. Short courses here and there will not guarantee proficiency and mastery. It has to be the
teacher’s individual effort, the school’s buddy system and support from the community
complementing each other and a long time that will help teachers be more proficient in English.
Proficiency breeds confidence and with confidence teachers will be more at ease to teach in
English. Five years is too short to show that both teachers and students are at ease listening to
and begin to communicate and comprehend the English language and the science and math
taught in English. (Dr. Jaafar Jantan, 2008) Hence, the government should decide which
language is easier for the students to use and make it fixed so that it will not be an issue for the
teachers. There are some prejudice thinking which are the students who do not have the
efficiency in English, they would prefer to learn in Malay and learn in English will not help them
to master the subject or even English language. These thinking are totally unacceptable as
students are getting better in English when they learn Science and Mathematics in English and
they master both of the subjects better than in Malay language. Hence, the government needs to
revise back the PPSMI’s policy and consider both teachers and students before making a
decision. In conclusion, changes in language used to teach Science and Mathematics (PPSMI)
made by the government are also one of the issues that a teacher faced.

Last but not least, the most common issue that a teacher faced is the students’ behavior.
There is a big comparison between the students in the 90’s and the students nowadays. It is
because the advancement and evolvement of technology that make the students nowadays are
expecting to learn or adapt something new and fresh from their teachers through the usage of
ICT rather than in traditional ways. Students learn better when they are interested in the subject
or the teacher who teach the subject. However, when the students are not interested in the
subject, they will sometimes throw tantrums toward the teacher or even totally outcast the
teacher. These students are what we call problematic students or lack of discipline students.
These students nowadays are so extreme up until the extend of hurting the teacher themselves,
flattening the teachers’ car tyres, smashing the teachers’ car mirror and so on. Challenging
behaviors such as these do meet some basic needs for a student. Students who act out do get
more attention, higher levels of physical contact, or escape from work. But while meeting their
immediate needs, disruptive behavior (such as aggression) interferes with others, especially in
inclusive settings. (Michael B. R. , Higgins C. , Glaeser J. C. B. , Patnode M. , 1998) Hence,
teachers need to be prepared mentally and physically in handling these extreme students so that
they do not easily get terrified by their threats and threaten remarks. Teachers need to know
what are their roles and to whom they can report these problematic students. The most important
thing is teachers should not be afraid of their students instead their students should be afraid and
respect their teachers. In conclusion, one of the issues that teachers have today is the students’
behavior.

In a nutshell, the students’ behavior, the changes in language used to teach Science and
Mathematics (PPSMI) made by the government and the teachers have too many workloads are
some of the issues that teachers are facing nowadays. These issues cannot be resolved if there
are no actions taken by the government and also by the teachers themselves. Therefore, first and
foremost, teachers need to know how to discipline their students either during class session or
outside of the class. There is no other way but only by discipline and rules implemented by the
school authorities that can make those problematic students to behave. Next, the government
should revise back the policy of the PPSMI. I believe that a modified PPSMI can change the
English proficiency shortcomings faced by universities and the workforce but most importantly,

the revised PPSMI can raise the standards of knowledge level of Malaysian citizens if the
instructional strategies are carefully aligned with the learning outcomes. It is a promising policy
to turn Malaysians into knowledge generators and knowledge exporters rather than just end-users
of knowledge. (Dr. Jaafar Jantan, 2008) Last but not least, the paperwork and the workloads
need to be lessened. This is to ensure teachers can perform in class and outside of the class. If
teachers are stressed out, of course the students are not interested in learning too. Therefore,
there must a balance between a teacher duties and an employee of a school duties. In conclusion,
the government and teachers should walk hand in hand to overcome these issues.

3.0 Interview Report

3.1 Comparison and Contrast of 2 Lecturers’ Views about What Makes an Educator.
3.1.1 Transcription

LECTURER A LECTURER B
Question 1: Describe the best lesson you have Question 1: Describe the best lesson you have
delivered. Why was it successful? delivered. Why was it successful?
Answer 1: The best lesson I have delivered Answer 1: The best lesson I have delivered
was in year 2011. All of the students in my was last semester. I taught a class of business
class passed their calculus paper with flying statistics’ students. It was the best lesson
colours despite the changes of syllabus at that because all of the students passed with flying
time. They were struggled to adapt with the colors and none of them have failed in this
new syllabus which was harder but they subject which I am teaching in. It was
managed to do well. The easiness of Math successful because there were two ways
depends on the students skills, knowledge, and responds, the students were hard working and
how well they use their techniques to solve the they did all of the exercises that were given to
problems given. Therefore, the first thing that them.
I always do before teaching is I describe the
terms on the topic that they will learn and how
they related together with the techniques on
how to solve the problems given. The
explanation before starting the class is
important because sometimes student will be
misunderstood with the questions given and
they will not answer correctly according to the
questions. How the students answer the
questions depends on the students situation
themselves either they focus and understand or
not the questions given.
Question 2: Have you developed any new Question 2: Have you developed any new
ideas about teaching in the past few months? ideas about teaching in the past few months?
Describe one or two of them for us Describe one or two of them for us
Answer 2: For me, it is hard to develop new Answer 2: - First, I have prepared manuals,
formulas or ideas because the formulas are notes and exercises for my students. Some of
already fixed and proven to be effective and the exercises I took them from the internet but
easy to understand for the students. It is time I did some alterations to the materials to ensure
consuming if I want to create a new formula it suits the students credibility.

for the students. Therefore, I just use the same - Second, mathematic has many ways to
ideas for my teaching in these past 11 years. solve its problems. Therefore, I prepared a few
ways for my students to solve the problems
and they can use any of the ways that they feel
confident with and easy to apply to the
questions given. Mathematic is a flexible
subject because whatever ways that we choose
to solve the problem, we will still get the same
answers.
Question 3: How would you apply technology Question 3: How would you apply technology
to enhance daily instruction and increase to enhance daily instruction and increase
student learning? student learning?
I would use power point to give the exercises Answer 3: None…
that have long explanation to the questions to
my students and to show them the precise
shapes of the graphs and sometimes I will use
it to show how to solve the problems given too.
However, for Math it is better to teach the
students in old school way which is using the
white board to show them how to solve the
problems as they will understand better and I
do not have to worry about the symbols as
computer do not have certain Math symbols.
Question 4: How well organized are you? Question 4: How well organized are you?
Why is organization important for a teacher? Why is organization important for a teacher?
Answer 4: I am very particular when it comes Answer 4: 1) As an educator, organization is
about organizing. Organization is very very important. As for me, I always plan and
important for an educator. As for me, starting prepare beforehand before I come to the
this semester I am teaching new subject for campus the next day. It is because students can
calculus (MET 183). Therefore, I need to detect if you are well prepared or not when you
study everything that I need to know about this enter the class. It is the first impression of me
subject and be prepared beforehand. If I just towards the students and I need them to feel
directly teach my students without myself do confident with me to teach them.
not have a better grip on this subject, they will 2) I will prepare my tutorial questions for
definitely have a hard time to understand what my students and I will google other questions
I am trying to teach them. I also will be that available on the internet to give them more
puzzled to answer the questions if I do not exercises needed. If I think the questions are
familiarize myself with the questions and the quite difficult for my students, I will adjust and
ways how to solve the problems if I do not do some alterations to them and make sure
prepare and organize everything before I enter they can solve the questions easily.
the class.
Question 5: What do you include in your daily Question 5: What do you include in your daily
lesson plans? lesson plans?
Answer 5: In my lesson plans, I would include Answer 5: For my lesson plan, I will include
which topic I want to teach to my students. tutorial questions. I will have a target which

After that, I would prepare what I want to say my students need to solve the questions in the
to my students for the introduction and how targeted duration and I will discuss the answers
everything are relatable to each other. Then I with them together after all of them have
would make sure that I will achieve the targets solved the questions. The duration given to my
or objectives that I have for my students. I students to solve the problems are depending
would make sure all of them will understand on their credibility either they can finish
fully what I have teach them and I will give answering the questions within the time limit
them further explanations if they do not fully or not.
understand.
Question 6: Describe your philosophy Question 6: Describe your philosophy
regarding discipline. regarding discipline.
Answer 6: I am an easy going person. After Answer 6: My students are already 19 years
teaching for 11 years, I can detect which old and above. They know what are the pros
students are problematic and which are not. I and cons of their actions. Unfortunately, I am
rarely have discipline issues in my class. It is not the type of person who get angry easily.
because my philosophy regarding to discipline Therefore, my philosophy regarding to the
is if my students respect me, I will respect discipline would be…
them back.
Question 7: What techniques would you see to Question 7: What techniques would you see to
handle discipline problems that may arise in handle discipline problems that may arise in
your classroom? your classroom?
Answer 7: After 11 years of teaching, in each Answer 7: Some of the discipline problems are
classes that I have taught every semester, there not too serious in my classroom. As for me to
must be latecomers, talkative students and discipline my students, I always threaten them
students who do not focus in my class. I would to reduce the test marks if they did something
handle these students without giving any that against my instructions.
pressure on them but in the most delicate way
which is I would approach them like a mother
approaching her children. However,
sometimes I can be a cold hearted person to
them if the students are too stubborn and
disrespectful to me.
Question 8: Share three interesting Question 8: Share three interesting
techniques used in the classroom. techniques used in the classroom.
Answer 8: 1.Sarcasm: This technique is used Answer 8: 1) Sarcastic : Students who are
for my students who always talking during my always late and texting in my class, I will
lecture or texting or do not focus in my class mention their name and say something to them
2. Punishment: I would ask the like a friend but in a very sarcastic way. This
latecomers to sing in front of the classroom technique makes them feel embarrass in front
before they take a sit. of their classmates and it works tremendously.
3.The hardest punishment that I did 2) If the students are too annoying and
was I do not let the latecomers to enter my they are too hard to handle, I will leave the
class even though they are 5 minutes late classroom immediately to show to them that I
am angry and they need to show some respect
to me. Some of the students are too rude and

they do not listen to my instructions. They do
not treat me like a lecturer instead they treat
me like a friend. Therefore, for last semester, I
did this technique and it worked on the
students. I gained my respect from them and
they never disobeyed and rude to me after that
incident.
3) If there is anything that bothers me
from my students, I will stop the lesson and tell
them a story about my life as a student before.
I will compare their attitude with my friends
and even my attitudes toward our lecturers.
This technique causes them to do a self
reflection and I will regain my respect from
them after that.
Question 9: Why do you want to teach? Question 9: Why do you want to teach?
Answer 9: Teaching is my passion since I was Answer 9: It is my passion and interest. I
a child. It is the field that I always wanted to never thought of teaching before. I am only
involve in despite the commitment and interested in mathematic. However, after I
sacrifices that I have to made to become an finished my matriculation, I was attracted to
educator. When my students did well in their teaching. Therefore, I continue my studies for
studies and succeed in their life, I feel satisfied degree and master with the intention of
and proud for them and also for myself. becoming an educator.
Question 10: What do you enjoy most about Question 10: What do you enjoy most about
teaching? teaching?
Answer 10: The students respond when they Answer 10: I feel satisfied whenever I
understand what I have taught them and their managed to deliver my knowledge to my
result for tests or examination. It is because all students. They understand everything that I
of these are indicators for me either I did well have taught them and they did well in their
in teaching them or not. I feel really satisfied tests and final exam.
and enjoy when they are nodding and smiling
because they have understood what I have
taught them and answer the questions easily.
Question 11: Tell me three things you believe Question 11: Tell me three things you believe
about teaching. about teaching.
Answer 11: 1. You need to share and deliver Answer 11: 1) There must be two ways
whatever you have learnt to your students as respond.
they are your responsibilities. 2) Sincerity is important to make sure
2. Even though if one day I do not both me and my students will benefit
get paid for my teaching, I am still feel something from my teaching
satisfied because I am truly passionate toward 3) In whatever that we do, we must enjoy,
teaching. never give up and love executing it.
3. Teaching sometimes can be
stressful, however, if you see the positive side
of it you will definitely be an excellent

educator.
Question 12: What are your plans for Question 12: What are your plans for
continuing your professional growth? continuing your professional growth?
Answer 12: If God willing, I will further my Answer 12: If God willing, I will further my
studies in PhD in Mathemathic as soon as studies in PhD while working as a lecturer here
possible. in UiTM Alor Gajah.
Question 13: What are your suggestions to Question 13: What are the difficulties that you
new lecturers in terms of; How they can face as a less experienced educator teaching in
become better educators/lecturers teaching in UiTM?
UiTM?
Answer 13: 1. They need to prepare before Answer 13: 1) As I am a new lecturer here, I
they enter the class. These new lecturers are don’t have a wide range of knowledge and
still new to teaching, they cannot handle their experience like the senior lecturers do,
nervousness in front of these students. They however, I am still doing my very best to
sometimes do not really feel confident in front deliver my knowledge to my students and help
of their students, therefore, they need to them in their studies.
prepare, prepare and prepare. 2) As I am one of the young lecturers
2. If they do not understand certain terms here, many people expect something more
or ways on solving the problems, they need to from me. I am trying my hardest to reach their
seek for the senior lecturers to get further expectations and with God willing, I will go
understanding and explanation regarding to beyond their expectation.
their issues. 3) I am always being compared with the
3. They need give further explanation to lecturers who have been taught for more than
their students and not only read the notes given 10 years which is sometimes can be one of the
in the module. reason why I feel unmotivated.
Question 14: What the institution (eg. Question 14: What are your hopes or
academic, lecturers, staff, units) can do to help expectations towards the institution (eg.
new lecturers? academic, lecturers, staff, units) to help you
become better educators?
Answer 14: 1. The senior lecturers can help Answer 14: 1) Uitm needs to make a lot of
them by make a special class for them if they workshops for the new educators so that they
do not understand certain topics. will be aware of any changes and challenges
2. The coordinator, HEA or HEP should that they will face in each change. They need
be able help them if they have any problems to get a lot of briefings about the students,
regarding to students, teaching, or the syllabus. systems and the institution itself.
3. UiTM can prepare workshops for the 2) The manual given to use in the class
new educators so that they will be aware of any and for the students must be updated and
changes and challenges that they will face In according to the latest syllabus.
each changes. They need to get a lot of 3) Provide textbooks for the students and
briefings about the students, systems and the lecturers
institution itself. 4) Uitm needs to be aware of the latest
syllabus and knowledge that the students need
to learn. If needed, reorganize the syllabus and
create a new one so that the students are
updated with the latest knowledge that they

need to learn.

3.1.2 Report
3.1.2.1 Similarities

Both of the lecturers have the same personalities which are warm-hearted, sincere
and open-minded. For Mrs. Farah, she was very warm-hearted and anticipated our interview.
Thus, we felt eager to interview her. Even though she is a young junior lecturer, she has shown
us a very matured thinking and how dedicated she is in her job. Her personality has inspired us
that age does not matter if we really want to excel in this field. As for Madam Yusarima, we can
see the same personality in her which exists in Mrs. Farah too. Her dedication for work is
overflowing. Even when we are in the middle of interview, when her colleague called her to ask
a few question regarding Calculus she excused herself in order to help the colleague. It shows
how dedicated and sincere she is in educating people.

On the other hand, they also use the same discipline technique in their class. Both of them
think that kicking the students out from the class is not a good solution to make the students
behave instead it will fabricates more problems. For example, students love to play with their
phone nowadays even when the lecturer is teaching. They did not have a respect towards their
lecturer. Thus, these two lecturers did sarcasm techniques. However, if they still do not listen,
Mrs. Farah and Madam Yusarima will take an action towards them for instance, consult them if
they have any problem or give them counseling. They would handle these students without
giving any pressure on them but in the most delicate way which is they would approach them
like a mother approaching her children.

Aside from that, Mrs. Farah and Madam Yusarima both are using the same technology.
Since they are Mathematics and Calculus, it is quite difficult to teach the students by using wide
arrays of technology. Madam Yus would use power point to give the exercises that have long
explanation to the questions and show them the precise shapes of the graphs and sometimes she

will use it to show how to solve the problems given too. However, for Math it is better to teach
the students in old school way which is using the white board to show them how to solve the
problems as they will understand better and I do not have to worry about the symbols as
computer do not have certain Math symbols. Plus, they also use LCD to show the students a few
examples of questions.

Lastly, their planning skills which are kind of similar to each other. Madam Yus recently
are assigned to teach new subject for Calculus (MET 183) ) therefore, she need to study
everything that she needs to know about this subject and be prepared beforehand. She would
familiarized herself with numerous kind of question so it will be faster for her to master this
subject and teach her students effectively. Madam Yus lesson plans also include topic that she
wants to teach that particular day then, she would brief her students about the topic and explain
how it is relatable. Then she would make sure that she will achieve the targets or objectives that
she has for her students. The same goes for Miss Farah, she will prepare tutorial questions for her
students and she will Google other questions that available on the internet to give them more
exercises needed. If she thinks the questions are quite difficult for her students, she will adjust
and do some alterations to them and make sure they can solve the questions easily. She also will
have a target which her students need to solve the questions in the targeted duration and she will
discuss the answers with them together after all of them have solved the questions. The duration
given to her students to solve the problems are depending on their credibility either they can
finish answering the questions within the time limit or not.

3.1.2.2 Differences

As we done interviewing these two lovely lecturers, we recognized that their teaching
techniques are totally different. Miss Farah prefers to play pop quizzes and battle between sexes
to encourage them to be more competitive because the students seemed to give a great feedback
toward this activity. It also helps em to reinforce their calculation skills and their memory in
memorizing the formulas. However, Madam Yusarima favors the traditional methods of teaching
more. If she wants to give an exercise, she just simply gives them handouts. She has never tried

to make any games yet but she is looking forward to make some changes in her teaching
techniques.

Another vast difference between Miss Farah and Madam Yusarima is their commitment.
Since Madam Yusarima is a married woman, she will have to divide her time wisely between
family and work. Madam Yusarima said it is slightly difficult for her to make an extra class
during nights because she has to spend time with her daughters and sons too. However, she has
made several extra classes already. She acknowledge that her job as an educator require a lot of
sacrifice and patience. Different from Miss Farah who is still single, she gave all her
commitment in educating her students. She made classes when her student want to have class
and she also made an extra class during weekend or at night with the students who got low marks
in test.
Madam Yusarima is a senior lecturer who has 11 years of teaching experience. She
always gives a hand for her colleagues whom need her help. Apart from that, Miss Farah has
been teaching for 2 years and she is a new lecturer, she admitted she don’t have a wide range of
knowledge and experience like the senior lecturers do, however, she is still doing her very best to
deliver her knowledge to her students and help them in their studies. Miss Farah also stated that
she always being compared with the lecturers who have been taught for more than 10 years
which is sometimes can be one of the reason why she feel unmotivated.

3.1.2.3 Suggestions and Comments by Lecturers.

LECTURER A: Madam Yusarima

Madam Yusarima gives a lot of suggestion regarding the tips to become a great educator
and how they can improve themselves. She said the junior lecturers need to understand certain
terms or ways on solving the problems, they need to seek for the senior lecturers to get further
understanding and explanation regarding to their issues. Furthermore, they need give further
explanation to their students and not only read the notes given in the module. Moreover, the
coordinator, HEA or HEP should be able help them if they have any problems regarding to
students, teaching, or the syllabus. She also suggested that UiTM to prepare workshops for the

new educators so that they will be aware of any changes and challenges that they will face In
each changes. They need to get a lot of briefings about the students, systems and the institution
itself.
She also commented that we, as a future educator need to explore these young
generations’ world nowadays. It will be easier for us to approach our students if we can interact
with our students by exchanging opinions in different issues related to their generation.
Then, we also need to be prepared mentally and physically because not all students are fast
learners. It can be stressful sometimes if there are no responds from our students but we need to
keep calm and do not get angry. The most crucial thing is, we need to be prepared to sacrifice
our time by preparing the materials for our students and grading their papers. To conclude,
commitment is everything in teaching, without commitment you cannot excel both in your
carrier and your own personal life.

LECTURER B: Miss Farah

Miss Farah suggested that Uitm needs to make a lot of workshops for the new educators
like her so that they will be aware of any changes and challenges that they will face in each
change. They need to get a lot of briefings about the students, systems and the institution itself.
Next, the manual given to use in the class and for the students must be updated and according to
the latest syllabus. Plus, they also need to provide textbooks for the students and lecturers. Lastly,
UiTM need to be aware of the latest syllabus and knowledge that the students need to learn. If
needed, reorganize the syllabus and create a new one so that the students are updated with the
latest knowledge that they need to learn.

She said in her comment regarding the tips to become a great educator, first and foremost,
we need to have passion in teaching then sincerity is important since teaching needs a lot of
patience and virtue. We also need to have high expectation toward our students and feel
confident with them to ensure they will try their best in whatever they are doing.

4.0 What We Have Learnt From the Assignment

o Communication Skills
o Manners
o Teaching is not as easy as it looks
o Patience is important

This assignment has given us a lot of knowledge on what the world of educating and how
to adapt in it. As we interviewed the lectures, it is proven to us that educating is a serious matter
and must be guided with seriousness, dedication and determination. As we are required to
interview the lectures who fulfil the criteria needed, we have improved our communication skills.
Among peers, our communication skills lack of profesionalisme as we do not take each other
seriously. However, as we interviewed and interacted with the lecturers, we have discovered a
form of profesional communication skills which is useful to use in the near future.

Besides that, we developed better manners. As the fellow lecturers are older than we are,
it is important to be polite and graceful. When we were needed to interview the lecturers, first of
all, we searched for their phone numbers so that we could arrange an appointment. After
agreeing on the time and venue, we remembered to thank the lecturers for willingly to be
interviewed by us. We ensured that we arrived at the venue minutes before the actual time so
that we would not be late. Even we bought some gifts for the lecturers as a sign of thanks and
gratitude (however, we did not get anything for Miss Farah as we forgot).

Other than that, we discovered that teaching is not as easy as it looks. One can’t simply
stand in front of a class, face the students and speak out facts like a robot. Such as the quote ‘The
Mediocre Teacher Tells, The Good Teacher Explains, The Superior Teacher Explains, The Great
Teacher Inspires’.

And last but not least, the importance of patience. It is common to have students who
will come late to class, ask silly questions or even create havoc in class. A teacher must remain
calm and cool. If a teacher over reacts, the outcome will not turn out good. Hence, it is
important to be patient. Even in our religion, Islam, states that patience is a virtue.

4.1 What We Like

o Lecturers attitude ( heart-warming, welcoming, open minded )
o Exchange point of views
o Gain knowledge

During the interview, not only did we just interview them about the world of an educator,
we also were able to interact and get close the fellow lecturers. Even though things got serious at
first, we were able to see the soft side of the lecturers. We even exchanged stories. Both of the
lecturers had nice attitudes. They were heart-warming, welcoming and even open minded.
After the interview, as the lecturers had more free time, we exchanged point of views on
like how to become a good educator, what to do to become educators and how to survive the life
of a university student.

As we were able to interact with each other, heart – to – heart, we actually gained a lot of
knowledge. For example, the life of a student and the life of an educator.

4.2 Challenges

o Find the lecturers who fulfil the criteria needed
o Misunderstanding
o Lack of cooperation
o Finding the suitable souvenir/present for the lecturers

It would be a lie if we say that the assignment was a ‘breeze’. As the criteria needed was
to interview a lecturer who had experience of 1 ½ years and a lecturer of experience of 3 ½ years,

there was a lot of calls made. Most of the lectures who were willingly to be interviewed did not
match the criteria and those who did match were not plenty full.

Other than that, there slight misunderstanding. As one of us called a suitable lecturer and
asked if the lecturer was free, the lecturer said she was free. However, she did not mean she was
free to be interviewed. She was actually free if one of her students wanted to meet her and ask
about the assignments. In the end, the caller got scolded.

Moving on, there was an issue on lack of cooperation. There were quite a few lecturers
who did match the criteria. However, they refused to be interviewed.

And lastly is the search of the gifts. As this is our first experience on interviewing, we
had no idea on what to give them. Fortunately, the area near the faculty had an open fair so we
brought some eatables for them.

4.3 Our Comments

o Challenging
o Time consuming / tiring
o Enhance interaction skills
o Eye opener to what makes an educator

We all agree that the assignment given has been quite a heck of a challenge. We have to
search for the suitable lecturers, give them a heads up call, organize venues and appointments,
walk long distances under the scorching sun, get gifts and plenty more.

The assignment has been quite time consuming and also very tiring. However, all is for a
good cause.
By interviewing with profesionalisme, we had developed and enhanced our interaction
skills.

The interview has also given us an eye opener on what lies beyond the world of an
educator.

5.0 Conclusion

Lecturer Interview Report

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