When I first walked into my trigonometry class in early January, I believed this would just be another math course where I would struggle to sustain focus and get bored. This could not have been further from the truth. Four months in, I look forward to trigonometry every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, finding it easy to enjoy my learning and maintain focus. That change is because of Nikan Hodjat.
Hodjat rejects the idea that staying focused is solely up to the students. Rather, he commands our attention, using his loud voice, animated gestures, and the occasional unexpected call of a student’s name every few seconds. For someone like me who often struggles to maintain focus in class, I have found these strategies to be very helpful. With Hodjat’s attention-demanding gestures and tactics, I often find myself naturally pulled into the material.
What makes Hodjat engaging is also his charisma. Hodjat brings personality and vibrance to the lesson. On top of his strategies to sustain attention, Hodjat sprinkles in wit and informality that not only capture a student’s focus, but also create a more tight knit, friendly classroom atmosphere. He also promotes teamwork and collaboration, often dividing the class into small groups while he checks in and offers support. He also frequently invites multiple students to contribute to different parts of a problem, all while administering tremendous support and energy for the students. I have found this created an atmosphere similar to the sports teams, unified by Hodjat in our quest for understanding.
Hodjat’s complete transparency as a teacher is another reason why his class stands out. When explaining new methods to problems, Hodjat explains how it works and why it works. This demonstrates his commitment to helping us truly understand the concepts. His teaching leaves me feeling constantly motivated and purposeful, regardless of my mood or energy levels.
Lastly, one of the greatest things about Hodjat’s teaching style is his awareness of the Growth Mindset. Several months ago, I read a book on this mental framework by Carol S. Dweck. In it, she writes about how this way of thinking leads to increased resilience in the face of challenges and promotes growth. Dweck outlined key elements in this mindset, including valuing effort over results, practicing, and not judging yourself for failure. In Hodjat’s classroom, he puts an emphasis on effort above everything. If someone is having trouble with a problem, Hodjat praises the student for their effort and strategies while simultaneously teaching them new ones. He also prioritizes active engagement over lengthy lectures, giving students the opportunity to wrestle with ideas for themselves. Even on days where the class feels tired or discouraged, Hodjat acknowledges our responses, but also urges us to keep trying.
This for me has culminated in an amazing class experience. I feel my class is tight-knit, collaborative, and is ultimately a place that honors Concord Academy’s mission as fostering love of learning. If you ever have the opportunity to take one of Hodjat’s classes, I highly recommend you do.