Receiving a Stellenbosch University (SU) Teaching Excellence Award 2020 is a testament to Mr Juan Ontong's hard work and passion for teaching and learning.
Ontong, a lecturer at the School of Accountancy in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, says receiving this award in the category “Developing Teacher" is an affirmation that he is on the right track and his purpose in life is to contribute to the education of the youth.
Launched in 2017, the SU Teaching Excellence Awards acknowledge lecturers in two categories, 'Distinguished Teacher' and 'Developing Teacher', based on their experience and leadership in the scholarship of teaching and learning. The awards were designed to acknowledge excellent teaching at an institutional level.
Ontong's excellent teaching skills have been partly moulded over the past four years as being the module head and lecturer of the Financial Accounting 188 module, an introductory and prerequisite module for all first-year BCom students. Approximately 1 200 students enrol annually for this module, making it the largest class in terms of enrolments in the School of Accountancy.
His task is to give students a robust and clear understanding of basic financial information.
“I teach four lectures a week and also assist with tutorials and beginners' classes. The importance of understanding and interpreting financial information is a fundamental outcome of this module," says Ontong.
What makes teaching this class more complex, is the fact that many students are often not interested in financial accounting, says Ontong.
“My role thus involves creating content that is relatable to the real business world, that it ensures that they remain captivated and that the content sparks a sense of inquisitiveness about the importance of this module."
“I recognise that teaching can be used as an important tool to empower students. I really enjoy working with students and having class in a conversational style. I try to be the kind of lecture who does not just 'transfer' knowledge but also creates interest in the subject matter," he says.
As Ontong knows what it takes to be a good lecturer, he is continuously developing his teaching skills.
“A good lecturer should constantly adapt to keep up with the generational changes of students and their way of thinking. Teaching is a team effort of colleagues and students; we also learn from each other's experiences.
“My message to new lecturers is to always remember the initial reasons why they joined SU. The hard work and the commitment to quality teaching will have a huge impact on your students' lives. I would like to encourage new lecturers to make use of SU's resources and become involved in projects that will help them develop their teaching skills. The ability to transform and assist with the development of students can be a fulfilling job."
