Going To Teach, But Returning With Being Taught

For many years now, I have had the pleasure and responsibility of teaching many individuals in terms of language, school syllabus and even church related activities. However, this was my first time teaching an adult. At initial glance, teaching is teaching, so I figured it would be much like the many time that I taught chatty little kids. Boy was I wrong!

There were many foreign elements at play when I taught Sinah Supang. First, the age gap; second, the teaching environment; third, difference in culture and conduct.As a result of these foreign elements at play, I had to apply many new techniques to my teaching with her. Each day I had with her was a completely different and new experience. One day, our classroom would be her section in the beautiful Arur Dalan longhouse. The next, we’d be having our lesson knee deep in mud, in the middle of the paddy field. It was quite exhilarating when you  really think about it. Each day was a whole new adventure for the two of us, complete with its own set of challenges.

Sinah always made working in the paddy field look like a walk in the park

I distinctly remember trying to figure out how to get my teaching across to her. The age difference was somehow a considerable challenge for me. You could say that many a times I was intimidated by this. So in the early stages of my time in Bario, teaching an older person didn't appear to be conventional. In all honesty, it had to be the hardest of all my teaching experiences. I was most often lost for words when it came to my lessons with my Sinah. In those moments, applying my past teaching experiences seemed rather useless.

As my confidence began to build, I started to realize that my teaching methods didn’t have to be constricted to just the classroom way. Either way, she learnt without any straightforward methods being implemented. One way was through her keen observation. I remember one of my final days with her when Daniel tagged along with us to do some work in the paddy field. Every now and then, when I striked up a conversation with him in English, I would catch my Sinah just observing the two of us. Later on that week, she brought up my conversations with Daniel. That’s when I  realized that she was observing how we spoke to each other and that in turn improved her confidence toward the language.

We bonded the most during our break times, over some delicious Kelabit food

In many ways, my Sinah and I, even though we come from two totally different cultures, are alike. We’re headstrong and always crave for a sense of independence. That is why our relationship with each other was a rather unique one. With the realization that we were quite closely linked, I began to find it easier to get through to her. I would teach her the way, I foresee myself being taught- subtly, without being forced. We would both share with each other stories (my favorite past time of course, and hers too) and that is when I would slip in conversations in English. That subtle approach began to bear fruit, when out of nowhere Sinah Supang would start to repeat phrases in English aloud. Moments like that, I would internally and sometime outwardly, do a happy dance.

Me casually standing over my Sinah during the Arur Dalan beauty session

The many challenges I faced while trying to teach Sinah Supang served as a great lesson to me. I learnt from the tough times that we had together. Those moments that I felt that I couldn't quite get through to her or that my efforts seemed useless, served as a lesson for me to never give up and think of a more creative approach. That in turn helped me go a mile further. Besides that, Sinah Supang taught me the importance of being hardworking. This was exemplified by her commitment to her work in the paddy field.  She implored me to procrastinate less and be more determined toward my goals during the project as well as the life goals that I have set out for myself.

Sinah Supang, the very lady who taught me lesson after lesson, just over a few days

 How ironic really. I went to Bario to teach but return with being taught many lessons.

Cultural night with my Sinah

Jedida Ravi