This is the last blog exercise and I suppose most of you are unlikely to visit this blog beyond the Storytelling classes.
So I’ll take this opportunity to say thank you for doing your weekly blogs so conscientiously, (though I know you’re compelled to because your grades are dependant on it, I still appreciate the effort).
The thing about the Storytelling module is that it seems like a less serious cousin to Scriptwriting. The truth is that compared to Storytelling, I feel like I’m doing alot more ‘teaching’ in Scriptwriting classes. Perhaps it’s because the topics seem so concrete. Students in year one always tell me how different it is when they get to year two. Scriptwriting unlike what they imagine, is very ‘technical’ and dry as compared to the fun and games in Storytelling.
However, I love teaching Storytelling mainly because the students are more enthusiastic. I think it’s a year one thing. Somehow, the students seem to enjoy themselves and to me, that is very important. While I do expect students to pay attention, it’s a bonus if they seem to be having fun.
One word of advice, eventually, you’re going to be so used to staring at the laptop that you’d eventually forget to make eye contact with the lecturers. Try not to let this happen but it usually does in year two. For some reason, it’s unnerving when I don’t get eye contact from students. Despite their assurance that they’re listening, I never quite feel assured.
I think for me, I assess a person’s sincerity based on his eye contact with me. Perhaps it stems from my perception that lack of eye contact somehow equates lack of respect. When I don’t get eye contact from people, it makes me feel like they don’t have the time for me and rather be doing something else than listen or talk to me.
Once I tried this experiment during a script consultation session with several students – as they related their stories, I continue looking at my laptop screen and nodded occasionally. One of the students eventually asked, “Ms Phuah, I’m not sure if you’re listening or understand my story plot because you look very busy staring at your screen.” I looked at him and said, “Now you know how I feel when I teach you!” In actual fact, I was reading his synopsis.
I hope you never underestimate the importance of eye contact when spoken to!
