You would not like it. But, it happens often.
Here is a sample email I often receive from my students.
"You are one of my favorite teachers. I took your course in 20xx. I enjoyed your lectures. I learned a lot from you. I worked very hard and was so glad that I got "A+" in your course. Recently, I've just got an offer to exchange for a semester at yyy university. They require filling in a recommendation form by one of my teachers. Since you are my favorite teacher, would you please help me fill in the recommendation form?"
Here is the reply I often give them.
"I would like to support but I really don't know you much.
Please do the following, as a test. Imagine you were Ka-fu Wong. Ask yourself how much interactions you (Ka-fu) had with the applicant and still REMEMBER. Try your best to fill in all items in the form. Send it over to me.
Most students would discovered suddenly how little I know about them and that I would have no way to fill in such a form for them.
If you remain convinced that I should be able to fill in such a form, send over the filled form. I will adjust according to what I know about you before sending it out. Be careful. I do insist writing honestly, i.e., to include what I truly know about you."
Students remember teachers. Teachers don't remember students -- unless they have substantial interaction off class. What are the possible interactions? Questions and answers about the subject during and off class, at the very least. Some proactive students will volunteer their time to work as research assistants for the teachers.
2015-12-17 | Why learning fails to happen despite the great design of the course and the great teacher? |
2015-10-20 | Can I trust you, my friend? |
2015-10-17 | If we have the second chance to "retake", failing or getting a low grade would not be so stressful. |
2015-09-18 | My first-hand experience on why learning is not taking place in lectures! |
2015-08-20 | Are you sure Econometrics is useless? |
2015-05-04 | Eating 100 bowls of rice in a day |
2015-01-31 | You say you love me. How can I tell whether you truly love me? |
2014-10-24 | I would be happy to write recommendations letter for your PhD or Master application if .... |
2014-10-23 | Master of Finance at MIT |
2014-10-06 | Are you sure what you saw was black? |
2014-03-05 | GOLDEN opportunity -- only to the hard-working students. |
2014-03-01 | What to do when your teacher's teaching style does not fit your learning style? |
2013-11-28 | A negative experience? Not completely. It can be made into a positive one! |
2013-11-27 | Many thanks for your appreciation of my teaching (II) |
2013-07-23 | My next stop is Barcelona! |
2013-06-01 | Her decision to pursue Master of Finance after her undergradaute study at HKU |
2012-11-10 | What should I do at HKU (activities versus study and many other things)? |
2011-09-12 | Coach, can you teach me to swim? |
2010-02-18 | How government policy with good intention can create frustration and political instability? |
2009-12-01 | Cherish our beloved ones who are still around us -- when we still can! |
2009-11-27 | Trust your teachers, but don't trust them blindly! |
2009-11-26 | You can give me a low score but please write some comments to help me improve my teaching. |
2009-08-26 | The similarity in health care service provision and fire fighting service provision |
2009-03-23 | Be brave. Visit your teachers. Ask them questions. Your teachers are a lot nicer than you think. |
2009-03-14 | How can you verify this is really you -- Dr. Ka-fu Wong of HKU? |
2009-03-09 | I dream to work in the business sector. Should I pursue a master degree before I join the private sector? |
2009-02-19 | Any economist can predict this... Can you? |
2008-12-21 | My students performed poorly in the final exam.
Help me help them.... please. |
2008-12-20 | Learning should not end with the final exam! |
2008-11-19 | Exchange in Europe can be very rewarding! |
2008-11-18 | UC Berkeley is my top choice for exchange! |
2008-11-02 | Why did we not have fresh mushrooms twenty years ago? |
2008-02-23 | Dialogue is preferred to monologue. |
2008-02-13 | If I were a single unemployed old man who lives on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) |
2007-12-17 | Is forecasting a pure guessing game? |
2007-12-16 | I want zero emission of CO2! |
2007-11-30 | How would I choose universities for exchange? |
2007-11-28 | Excuse me. Can you write a recommendation letter for me? |
2007-11-12 | No pain, no gain! |
2007-09-14 | Teaching is to be enjoyed, and so is studying. Grades should only be secondary. |