Reflection on "Teaching in Teamples" Workshop -- Charlene Teo

LISTEN !! This was the first skill we learnt in the “Teaching in Temples Today?seminar at Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery during the period from 8 -10 June 2007.

All of us were very excited and curious when we first went there. Firstly, we were all volunteers in our respective temples and we took up the task of being a Dharma teacher with no official training. Nothing like NIE-we didn’t graduate from any teaching institute. Some of us attended Adult Dharma classes; Dharma teachings/ seminars/ workshops conducted by monks and some just read extensively from various Buddhist texts or websites but none of us were officially trained as a Dharma teacher. So this course was like a gift from the Buddha to help us spread his teachings.

Venerable Mujin Sunim told us the first skill is to LISTEN. When we call out to the students to listen, they will call back to us to 1isten - to listen to what is around us, to listen to the audible and the inaudible, to listen to the children, to listen to our hearts ?to pause and listen to the world before they pass us by.

Our greatest problem as Dharma teachers is: How to teach Dharma Buddhism to children effectively and in an interesting manner? Buddhism is like History or Psychology ?a very dry subject which if not taught properly will send everybody to sleep or will make them lose interest and finally will not even turn up.

As most of the kids are compelled to attend Dharma class by their parents, we need to instill in them an interest in the Dharma so that they will look forward to attending Dharma Class. Our aim is to help them progress and connect Dharma to modern life. We have to teach the children how to apply the age-old teachings to the present day life. Even the teachers in schools have to adopt new teaching skills. Likewise, we, in the temples, have to use modern, fun, interactive and interesting methods to impart this knowledge to the children and to show them how it connects to their life and that it is not just a History lesson.

We were taught strategies and techniques of varied learning sequences and with clear achievable objectives, so that children of different ages know what is expected of them. As we went through teaching styles, we also had to consider learning styles. Apart from using a multitude of teaching materials, we have to know our little children. Is this child more visually inclined or audibly inclined. Which teaching materials and method of delivery should we adopt for this group of children without sending them to sleep?

What do children and young adults expect and need when they go to the temples? Can we as Dharma teachers guide them and give them a purpose in life? How do we keep and maintain the interest of a 5-year old and a 12-year old? We need to respect the children to earn their respect. After which, we will be able to reach out to them.

With all the new teaching skills, we came out of the course a lot wiser and more prepared to face the challenges ahead. We, not only had a lot of ideas for new teaching materials, we also had a lot of fellow teachers to consult and discuss about Dharma teaching. We are not alone anymore. We have new friends, new ideas and most important NEW GAMES!

I believe all of us came out of the class a more confident teacher. We have graduated from our first Dharma teaching workshop and we can’t wait to attend a second one. We are well-equipped now, with a whole bagful of ideas. We are READY.... Thank You Venerable Sunim.

LISTEN!!!

(The author is a voluntary Dharma teacher with Foo Hai Chan Monastery's Sunday school.)