Outreach architect

I had a great oppportunity last month to be invited as a visiting professor to teach at Chulalongkorn University, Cultural Management Program. This program is belong to the Graduate School and it is a coordinated program between 3 faculties which are Architecture, Fine Arts and Liberal Arts.

There are several major steps in my life regarding this opportunity. First, it was the first time that I teach Master Degree students. Second, it was the first time that I have to teach and gives grades and assignment. Third, it was the first time that I have to teach non-architecture degree students. And last, it was the first time that I have to do the series of lecture rather than a single one as a visiting lecturer.

I had this opportunity to prove myself whether I can be in a teaching profession. Therefore I was really concerned with several reasons. First, because the wide-variety of students' background make it hard to prepare the teaching documents and slides. And seconds, because it was a 21-hour length of lecture period, I have to make sure i have enough information to give them since they pay so much money to be in this class.

I started preparing for this class since middle of October 2005 to teach in February 2006. If I calculate my hour-rate by dividing the total amount of teaching fee that they gave me with the amount of hours that I spent on preparing, it might come up to 30 Baht per hour which is nothing compare to what I am making at my regular job. However, as an exploration for this career I understand that I need to take this task seriously therefore I can see my limit and my problem in the phase of "performing" to the students.

One thing that makes me feel great is that most of the students write the good comment about me. Not only the nice words but they also write some strong critic regarding my way of teaching such as speed of my English and speed of the slides that they do not have enough time to note things. However, as I saw it, the overall class had a good time and they learned something about the Hotel Operations which is the major pupose of the class and they learn quite a lot regarding "Architecture and Interior Design Professions"

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