“Critical thinking, thinking out-of-the-box, finding information and ways to solve problems. Students need that.”
“I’ve always liked to invent stuff since young and that inquisitive nature drove me to pick up science. I wouldn’t say I’m the brightest, but somehow I managed and have had quite an eventful life in terms of what I’ve done so far.
I wasn’t a rich kid, so I went through the typical route – SPM, Form 6, then went to University Malaya to do physics. It was either that or electrical engineering. In hindsight, I’m glad I took physics as it opened up my mind to a broader perspective of things. I’ve always had a liking for physics because it covers a lot of topics and it tends to look at things from a very fundamental aspect. So you need to understand things from the very basic idea. But I have to say that the training in Malaysia is still lacking in some aspects compared with overseas universities.
Maybe lecturers are busy in Malaysia, so they don’t drive the inquisitive nature of students. Whereas when I was overseas doing my PhD and master’s – my science advisor would frequently ask the class, ‘What do you think?’. So it made me question things and think for myself.
I try to bring that learning style to my students. Some students in Malaysia tend to be a little passive and too relaxed, as I still see some students wanting the lecturers to spoon-feed them. I wish students would be more driven to find some of the information themselves. I’m trying to slowly find a way to encourage that.
Critical thinking, thinking out-of-the-box, finding information and ways to solve problems. Students need that. I think it’s important because if you think about it, jobs automation – people say that it won’t take away your jobs but if you don’t have critical thinking skills and if you conduct your job in the usual and typical way, then I don’t see what value you can add to your job.
I’ve also noticed that students still need to build up their courage – not all of them but some. I don’t know whether this is from school but there’s something that’s missing there. It may be cultural – a very Asian thing. I saw the stark difference between the white and the Asian kids when I did my degree in the UK. I noticed that in the UK they emphasize a lot on critical thinking and they give flexibility and freedom, whereas Asian students focused more on discipline. I believe that we need to find a middle ground between the two – a studying environment that is not too intense but not too relaxed either.
How did I end up becoming a lecturer?
My dad actually told me not to become a lecturer but I like to train and teach others. I think humans are naturally compelled to teach others in some way – whether big or small. I came into lecturing like an extension to what I was already doing. Even during my PhD and post-doctoral at Cambridge, I was training other PhD students. I believe it’s part of human nature for us to need to pass on the legacy of our knowledge.
We want to be remembered, we want to know that we have done something good in this world.”
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Dr Teh is currently a Senior Lecturer and Program Coordinator for Foundation in Engineering at Taylor’s College Malaysia.
Humans of Kuala Lumpur is working with academics from Taylor’s College to share stories which embody their values; Hope, Grit and Slay
