Choosing the
best lecturers
Communication between university lecturers and students encouraged
By Ada Sin
D ead Poet Society portrays the ideal friendship shared between teachers and students. However, such good relationships seem to be only rarely found in universities nowadays.
Recently, a “Best Lecturer Election” was organized by the Chung Chi College Student Union at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The relationship between students and lecturers is reflected indirectly from this election.
According to Miss Grace Cheung, spokesperson for the election committee, the main aim of the election was to remedy the deficiencies of the course evaluation process.
At universities, lecturers are evaluated under three criteria: teaching performance, research productivity and service at various levels.
“The term ‘evaluation’ sounds quite negative, and the results may not be released. Lecturers with good performance may not be rewarded,” says she.
In the Best Lecturer Election, favoured lecturers were assessed by students according to various standards such as easiness of examinations and clarity of presentation.
The election results reveal that lecturers are favoured mainly because they are humorous, enthusiastic in teaching, and well-prepared for lessons.
One of the winning lecturers was Dr. Chan Kin Man of the Sociology Department. “In lectures, students sometimes feel sleepy and bored. I have to tell jokes to maintain their concentration,” says Dr. Chan.
Humour is also one of the characteristics of Dr. Eric Ma Kit Wai in the Journalism and Communication Department. Nevertheless, it can go too far.
“I think too many jokes is not appropriate in lectures, but students feeling bored is the biggest obstacle,” says he.
Dr. Michael Fung Ka Yiu, another winner, is in the Department of Decision Sciences and Managerial Economics. He claims that students make demands on him, while no parallel effort is made by them. “They require vivid presentation, but we are not entertainers,” says he.
He thinks that students should take greater responsibility for the sake of effective teaching and learning. “In the first year of my teaching life, students reviewed the notes and asked questions promptly after lessons. But students today lack such drive,” says he.
Expectations arise not only from the students’ perspectives, but also from lecturers’. Dr. Chan of the Sociology Department recommends that students widen their horizons. He adds that this is one of the aims of the university.
He welcomes General Education courses very much. However, he says, “Shortening the academic years from four to three was very bad. Students are preoccupied with their major subjects, neglecting other fields of knowledge.”
Dr. Ma of the Department of Journalism suggested that, in transferring knowledge, lecturers should encourage students in self-exploration. The greatest satisfaction is to see students’ growth in wisdom, analytical powers and maturity.
Besides, he advises them to try their best in their work instead of asking for less work. He hopes they enjoy doing the assignments.
Lecturers themselves meanwhile have their own “study pressure”.
“The pressure of doing research is very great. It is even heavier than teaching,” said Dr. Chan of the Sociology Department, “but it may be an objective measurement of a lecturer’s performance.”
In this way, the time spared for students is greatly reduced. Lecturers have striven for maintaining a balance between teaching and research.
According to Miss Cheung of the election committee, there were some interesting, but upsetting, occasions during the election.
“Some Year 3 students wrinkled up their foreheads and told me that they had no favourite lecturers, ” says she. “Also, some students could only recall the course codes, but not the lecturers’ names.”
What she said may reflect that students are not acquainted with their lecturers. Perhaps there is a lack of mutual understanding between them.
Dr. Chan of the Sociology Department regards communication with his students important. “I have requested to have tutorials and directed study in order to understand students’ thinking,” says he. “A few discuss their life problems with me.”
According to Mr. David A. Hoekema, the author of A Reflection on the Morality of Teaching, a too distant relationship with students may generate aloofness.
To Dr. Fung of the Decision Sciences and Managerial Economics Department, the bond with his students is often made upon academic matters. He thinks that students’ initiative is needed at the outset.
“Students come to me when they have problems in assignments or projects. Under these situations I may ask and talk about their personal matters,” says he.
He also says the number of students is too large in some classes. He is particularly concerned about freshman’s adaptability to the new life.
“I am glad that some students have consulted my opinions in choosing their careers. Our friendship may continue after they have graduated,” says he.
Miss Lo Wai Luen in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature says lecturers are both teachers and friends.
“My teachers come from mainland China. They share their love of Chinese culture with us,” says she.
In her department, some lecturers are responsible for taking care of freshmen. This helps reinforce their ties.
However, Dr. Ma of the Journalism Department says he does not want to be too intrusive into students’ personal lives. He thinks that students should set up their own interpersonal support systems.
Most students have no motivation to approach lecturers. Miss Yu Nga Fong, a Year 2 Business Administration student, considers it hard to make friends with her lecturers, because there are too many students.
This year, she has a good tie with one lecturer, however. “He is easy-going and says hello to me whenever we meet each other,” says she.
Miss Michelle Lee, a Year 1 English student, prefers lecturers with friendly attitudes.
“If lecturers are serious and stern, I prefer to keep a distance from them,” says she.
There are some exceptions. Miss Paine Chan, a Year 1 Journalism and Communication student, claims that her relationship with the lecturers is good.
“My classmates went for picnics and occasionally had teas and lunches with lecturers.”
So, efforts are still needed to pull students and their instructors closer.
