Teaching Philosophy

I care for the well-being of my students and really want them to succeed in my class. For many students, economics is dreaded and dismal. So, the question arises, how do you make economics easy and fun to learn? In my case, I tell jokes frequently in class and create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, which lightens the mood and helps students feel more comfortable. Students can lose their attention in class very easily. Therefore, I approach student engagement as an essential part of my work. Funny examples and stories or drawings are used in my class, and thus, the monotony of supply and demand curves is made enjoyable and entertaining. In this manner, I am balancing professionalism and kindness; I do not usually assume a position of superiority, but instead humble myself as a peer who is willing to help students better understand economics. This makes learning and asking questions much easier and less intimidating. In my class, I encourage students to ask questions whenever they have one. I answer the question immediately after it is raised and give plenty of time after class to further explain the answer if a student does not understand it the first time. With a friendly manner and a sense of humor, students want to come to the classroom and talk with me about their questions.

To keep students engaged, I also construct my own notes for each course I teach. For every class, I give my students a handout with the thorough outline of the lecture, as well as definitions and concepts for each topic, but most of the key information in the handout is left blank. In class, I write down on the board all the information students need to know, which is in line with the handout. Those handouts are the only study materials that my students get from me, which forces them to come to class and stay awake to take good notes for themselves. Meanwhile, in the handout there are also some practice problems. After a topic is completed, I let students work on these problems on their own, testing whether they have learned the material, and then go over the answers in detail. This teaching method has proven to be very successful. Students have been enjoying it and learning very effectively in my class.

I have a real passion for economics, and I take it as my responsibility to go above and beyond to ensure all my students have a solid understanding and appreciation of economics. I believe understanding is the most vital aspect of learning. So, in my class, I start by explaining the fundamentals and break down the bigger concepts into smaller and simpler terms, and then go through them step-by-step in a slow, methodical and clear way. When a student does not understand a concept, I take a step back and offer alternative explanations until the confusion is resolved. I then follow up with numerous examples to solidify the concept, as well as, to help students better grasp how the terms and rules can be applied to the real world. This is especially crucial for economics, as economics is an “everyday science” that relates to almost everything we encounter and do in our lives. Sometimes I show some much more in-depth analyses of the material. This perspective helps students with overall understanding of how the different concepts are linked together throughout the course.

Another important part of my class is preparing my students for the exams. If an instructor does not teach students how to solve exam-type problems, students will struggle a lot with the course. In my class, I never fail to show how to apply concepts to test-type questions. More importantly, I give examples of tricky problems, so that students are equipped with the right information and skills to excel on the exams. At the end of the semester, I provide my students with a comprehensive study guide of every topic covered in the entire course for the final exam. With all these methods, students are very appreciative and do very well on the exams.

I also take it as my responsibility to conduct myself as a role model for my students in order to motivate them to study hard and to pursue their dreams. On the last day of class, I compile a presentation of my own research about China, as well as, my personal endeavors as a student. I show some pictures of underprivileged Chinese students attempting to learn in a small one-room schoolhouse with very harsh conditions. Students are convinced that their good lives and education opportunities should not be taken for granted, as many children in the world cannot get access to what they have. Instead, they should take good care of those opportunities and make the best use of them. Also, I convey to students that many people in the world today still need our help, and thus, it is important to get the education they are pursuing so that they can help and improve the lives of others. After my students leave the classroom that day, they feel motivated to be a better version of themselves and to make a difference in the world.

To conclude, I love teaching and I am dedicated to teaching. This is largely due to my personal experience. I spent a large part of my childhood alone with my mother and life was difficult for us. We received much help, without which we could not have survived. I learned to be grateful, and to do whatever I could in return to those who had helped us out in our need. As I grew older, my teachers played a vital role in guiding me and leading me. I felt so appreciative that I wished I could do something for my teachers, but I found out that I really could not. I realized the only thing I could do is to carry on the valuable human virtue – by being a good teacher myself and helping my students as I was helped.