Best experience - A recognised associate tutor

It was in the Autumn semester when I was working as an associate tutor in mathematics for 2nd year computer science students. A girl did the job in first 5 weeks, then I took the remaining 5 weeks.

At the first time when I came to the classroom, there were only 2 or 3 students and they did not seem much excited with the subject. I felt that and I tried to get their attention since I knew that maths would be very useful for CMP students. I usually reminded them of the theory they were taught in the class, then I explained that more carefully and tried to extend the theory so that they could have a broader view. I summarised formulas, wrote them down in a corner of the blackboard, then helped students solve their problems. While doing that, I often explained every step very carefully, keeping students refer to the theory and formulas so that they could understand the basis better and be able to apply that to similar excercises. Sometimes, I asked a student to come to the blackboard, represent his solution and asked help students analysed the work of their classmate. I did like this method since it made student more active, thus got to understand the problem more deeply. I thought that the methodology was good since more and more students came to the sessions afterward. Comparing some 10-15 students each session with 2-3 of them in the first time, I was very happy.

There was a girl in the class and she was the only female student. She came with a guy from my 3rd or 4th session and kept coming very regularly, even when the mentioned guy did not come. She seemed doing well. And she had beautiful eyes. There was a time, normally, I asked her to go to the blackboard and represent her work. She went to do that while other students, including her friend, kept smiling very strangely. I noticed their actions but could not know why they smiled that way. Anyway, the girl did the question perfectly and I was pleased.

It was the last session of the unit and the girl came. When the time was finished, I went to my lab and the girl went to the same direction. Naturally, we had a talk. And I found somethings that surprised me so much: The girl was not a member of the class (!); she just came because her friend told her that the tutor was good and she kept coming because she found that herself(!!); and she was in her 5th year at the UEA, completing her PhD in Education (if I remember correctly) (!!!).

You can imagine how I was surpried and happy. I was unable to say anything but said some stupid thanks to her. You know, and I know, when a famous professor/boss gives a talk, people from different places come to attend his session. But what was I? Just a humble associate tutor! And that happenned! I knew why other students smiled so strangely!! I was extremely happy!!!

Everytime recalling this memory, I still feel the happiness inside. Thanks you so much, Kiki, to bring me such a sweet moment to my life...