Darinee Alagirisamy

Teaching

“Teaching is…the greatest act of optimism”

National University of Singapore (2020–)

  • SN2285 What’s Cooking: Food & Drink in South Asian Cultures (Course developer and convenor) 
  • SN2275 Wicked Words: Contemporary Tamil Literature (Course convenor; taught bilingually in Tamil & English) *Check out Inaiya*
  • SN3275 Subtle Tamil Traits? Tamil Culture & Society (Course convenor; taught bilingually in Tamil & English)
  • GEX1000/GEH1009 Framing Bollywood, Unpacking the Magic (Course convenor)
Students leading a hands-on learning activity on street foods in South Asia.
Assembling their own chaat — and demonstrating how to do it like a pro.

University of Hong Kong (2018-2019)

  • Chasing the Dragon: Alcohol, Drugs and Imperialism in Asia, 1800-2000 (Course developer and convenor)
  • The Idea of India, 1857-1947 (Course developer and convenor)

Supervision Experience

  • Vani Swarupa Murali, “When Sowing is not Reaping: Decentralisation, Groundwater Extraction and Agrarian Livelihoods in Tamil Nadu,” PhD Thesis, National University of Singapore (2024)
  • Raashida Elahi Bte Mohamed R, “Identity Crisis among Tamil Muslim Youths in Singapore: Effects of Plural Identities on Culture,” BA Honours Thesis, National University of Singapore (2021)

Student Feedback

“Prof. Darinee possesses a unique blend of strengths that enable her to inspire and educate students effectively. One of her most valuable qualities is strong communication skills, which allow her to explain complex concepts clearly and engage students in meaningful discussions. Additionally, she demonstrates patience and adaptability, understanding that every student learns at their own pace and may require different teaching approaches. Prof. Darinee is also passionate about her subject, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm in her students. Furthermore, she cultivates a supportive and inclusive classroom environment, fostering mutual respect and encouraging students to express their thoughts confidently. Ultimately, Prof. Darinee’s strengths lie not only in her expertise but also in her ability to motivate and guide students toward success.”  – April 2025

– Dr Darinee is an exceptional educator whose dedication, innovation, and compassion make an extraordinary impact on students. She consistently goes above and beyond, creating an engaging and inclusive classroom where students feel valued and motivated to learn. Through creative lesson plans and personalized attention, Dr Darinee adapts teaching methods to support diverse learning styles, ensuring each student can thrive. Dr Darinee’s dedication has led to improvements in student performance and enthusiasm for learning. She is an inspiring teacher, deserving of this award.  – November 2024

“..the way you structure lessons, organise content, prompt our thoughts with questions and don’t really provide us with direct answers but encourage us to think deeper to answer the questions in our own way – all these helped me keep up with the lesson content… I find your way of teaching very understandable. For most of my academic modules, the content I learn don’t really seem to change the way I think about the world, perceive others and myself. But in your SN modules, I usually look forward to new perspectives, ways to think that I have not explored before. Thank you for such enjoyable lessons!” – March 2024