Chi Kang Pai●

About teaching

June 2, 2025 · Thoughts

Teaching is harder than I imagined.

This year I began leading a foundation course at Harvard. The setting is ideal—driven students, attentive professors, and teaching fellows who meet weekly and rehearse each section. Yet even with that support, the classroom tests me.

English is my second language. Although my TOEFL scores were strong, spontaneous explanation still feels clumsy. Preparing to teach material I first saw a decade ago—introductory chemistry and physics—takes hours I’d rather spend on research, books, or friends.

I also discovered that a discussion section isn’t a mini-lecture. In Taiwan I learned by working through piles of problems, so I default to solving exercises for students instead of guiding them to do it. When I rush, they watch instead of think.

The upside? Careful preparation and genuine effort have tightened my English, boosted my confidence, and sharpened my thinking. Teaching, though indirect, is proving valuable to every other goal.

I still regret not performing at my best for such supportive students. Next semester I’ll meet regularly with my PI and explore which courses play to my strengths.