My brother just came back from Japan. He is currently doing his degree in Electrical engineering in Nagasaki University. Therefore, when he got back here last 28 February 2009, he told me that he wanted to observe most of my classes. Just to gain experience from different environment.

Last 28 February, I picked him up at the airport and he is staying at Hafriz's now. Hafriz and his housemates are very kind because they are willing to let my brother stays with them for a week, before he goes back to Perak to meet the parents.

And so, as for today, my brother finally had the chance to observe the class. He has got the permission from the deputy dean earlier.

Today's lesson was on Chapter 8. Madam Lim had asked the whole class, "What makes a good literature teacher? Please write it down in your journal."

In my humble opinion, firstly, a literature teacher must have in-depth knowledge about literature, regardless of the modern ones or the classic. The rationale behind my first notion is that, students nowadays are very challenging. In a word, some of them are difficult to handle because they have the nerve to question the teacher. Of course, this apply only to those who come from the advanced class with good family background history who speak English at home. Presumably, they must have the exposure on literature from their readings, parents and whatnot. The knowledge on both modern and classic literature can actually helps the teacher to prepare for the unexpected 'events'. Can you imagine, when your Form 4 students ask you about Shakespeare out of their curiosity (prior to learning sonnet 18), and you have zero knowledge about it?

I still remember, in my Form 4 year, when we were learning Sonnet 18, one of my classmates asked, "Mrs. Lee, is Shakespeare a gay?" after our English teacher explained that Shakespeare actually dedicated Sonnet 18 to his lover, who was actually a man.

And our teacher clarified that Shakespeare was a gay, but it was meant not to be discussed because if the students knew the truth, it would be indecent.

You see, when my teacher justified that Shakespeare was really a gay, I believed her. Until my fifth semester of my degree in TESL. But then, I learned something new when I joined Mr. Bhanu's Introduction to Shakespeare in my sixth semester. He is one of the people I know in the faculty that really has high passion and love towards Shakespeare's works. And he instantly gets angry when he hears people claiming his 'love of his life' was a gay.

I found the info a little too late. When Mr. Bhanu explained thoroughly about Sonnet 18 and also about the history of Shakespeare, I doubted whether my Form 4 English teacher purposely said that Shakespeare was a gay just to keep the lesson interesting or she merely did not have the real knowledge about classic literature.

Secondly, a literature teacher must have elevated patience within herself. Teaching literature is a great difficulty when you have to deal with students who do not have the interest to learn and also students who do not have the proficiency in English. Thus, the teacher must be patience when teaching these type of students. Patience is essential so as to enable the teacher retain her teaching styles. When the teacher loses her temper, she might 'jeopardize' her status as a teacher before her students' eyes. The students, in return, may end up disrespecting her, or become more docile.

Thirdly, a literature teacher must be creative. Different students need different teaching styles from the teacher. Hence, the teacher must be creative when planning or conducting her lesson. Even though she is just teaching literature, she must consider this as well. Because certain teachers have the idea that teaching literature is already enough by providing the students with notes. In other words, it is more preferably prone to teacher-centered. They believe that since the majority of the students dislike literature, it is not worth an effort to come up with creative lesson plan with creative activities to teach them.

Last, but not least, I believe that a good literature teacher needs to stay positive. Although the students have less interest in learning literature, the teacher needs to constantly motivate her students in whatever means. She can never judge the students just by looking at their outer appearance. Doesn't mean if there are students who dislike literature, they do not have the potential to score the subject.