Staff Spotlight | Nick Lang

Mr Nick Lang, Year 4 Teacher 

What do you love about working at St Mary's College? 

I love the environment; I never get tired of looking at the convent building or the Cathedral or arriving early in the morning and watching the sun come up over Hobart as I walk past the Nagle Centre. I love the energy and the commitment everyone has to improving and doing the best they can for our students. Most of all, I love the people – my colleagues are generous, warm and go out of their way to be kind. The students are creative, curious and hilarious.

What's your favourite thing about your class this year? 

I think a full class might defy attempts to order and rank things like this! I wouldn't know where to begin. I can say, they're never boring. 

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice at your students' age, what would it be? 

My mum gave me this advice and now I know how valuable it was. She said she'd read it in a study, but she'd often claim that, so don't quote me. The advice was: "Look at your teachers when you're listening to them, and smile when you understand." I used to think she meant it as good manners, but it always helped me deliberately consider what I was unsure of and when you're already making eye contact, it's so much easier to clarify and ask specific questions. 

What's something your students might be surprised to learn about you? 

That I had a career as an insurance adjuster for eight years before I started my Master of Teaching. Exciting stuff!

Do you have any hobbies outside of school? 

I do, but I rarely get to think about them until the school holidays. Sometimes I enjoy some parts of schoolwork, though. I've been learning to program my keyboard to cut down on little things I need to do 28 times in a row!

You've got your hands full with twins under the age of three. What's been the biggest lesson you've learned so far as a new dad? 

I have two two-and-a-half-year-olds, Orla and Hugo. I have learned so many things, but I think the biggest lesson of all is how huge a difference a calm, predictable routine can make.

If you and your family could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I've taken the twins on the plane a few times. I'm going to draw the line at a four-hour flight for now. Does that get us to New Zealand? We've been talking about Malaysia once they're a bit older, and one day I'd love to visit Spain or Portugal.