인터뷰: 2012 핵심교양 우수교수 4명

 
From left to right: Park Sun-hee, Nam Dong-ha, Kim Hyun-gu, Jo Eun-suk
 
 
Every student at Chonnam National University (CNU) may be interested in the Core Liberal Education (CLE), which is a part of CNU liberal and general education. Literature and Arts, Philosophy and History, 011, CNUians must take one course in each of the four fields of the CLE—  Understanding Society, Understanding Nature—at least 3 credits per field to graduate from CNU. The CLE aims to help students enhance critical thinking skills, to learn how to study and to improve their abilities in integrative thinking and problem solving. CNU strives to provide better core liberal arts classes for its students and last February 2013, the Center for General Education (CGE) at CNU named the four best professors in the CLE to serve as role models of in promoting effective teaching. The Chonnam Tribune met these high-performing professors to know more about their efforts and passion to provide quality courses with students.
First, we met Lecturer Kim Hyun-gu who taught “Understanding Philosophy”. He said that he always 'sings for joy' whenever he lectures, and tries to listen to other professors’ comments and suggestions for teaching to provide better lectures.  An interesting part of his lecture is a very intimate relationship with each student through individual feedback. He said, “I know that some other professors who teach the same course do the same as me, but the key point is passion”. He added that as students have to express their own thoughts, he was eager to listen to all of his students’ voices in his class by encouraging his students to verbalize their own thoughts in the class.
Secondly, we met Professor Nam Dong-ha who taught “Environmental Science”. He said that when he first taught, he was very surprised that every student's answer for his questions were the  same or similar. So he wanted to hear all students’ thoughts and make students think more diversely. The most difficult thing in teaching is preparing a syllabus and the plan of lecture because he taught Environmental Science in English. He translated foreign books for his Korean class. Also he always listens to student's opinions about the class and changes a way of assessment and contents of the course dynamically. He said that it is vital for effective teaching that students tell their needs to professors and participate in a class actively.
Jo Eun-suk, the third lecturer we met, taught “Understanding Korean Literature”. As she thought that every lecture must be pleasing, she tried to make students happy by turning on music before the class and listening to students’ worries. She said, “The focal point of literature is 'understanding you and me' and eventually thinking about mutual benefits.” For that reason she always tries to connect literature to real life. She talked to students in her class using a movable microphone and did an individual feedback for book reports. Professor Jo said liberal arts is the basic step in learning so students have to make an effort to apply knowledge taught in liberal arts classes to their own lives.
Lastly, we met Lecturer Park Sun-hee who taught “Introduction to Psychology”. As this subject is the first step in learning psychology, she wanted to introduce it in a fun and interesting manner. Therefore, she always kept in mind the connection between real life and humorous psychological cases. In preparation for her class, she always is reminded of the grandmother's tale. Grandmothers have a way to attract young people to listen. She wanted to make her lectures like a grandmother’s tale and attached one real-life story to each class. But it is in her strong belief that most students who take liberal arts classes are not well prepared for her class as compared to those who major in it. She, however, asks students to enjoy the class with an open mind.
Through interviews with the four professors, we can find that listening to student’s voices and working close with them is a common point. Active participation is then a key factor in making the best of the classes for the students themselves. Heads up for the new semester!
 
 
 By Jo Hye-min, Tribune Reporter
저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지