Teach in the third year? Teach the third year?

I am thinking of some words to say during a language competition among students at my university and I am not sure if it will be correct to say (about the jury):

I must say that our jury members are not biased at all, because they do not teach in the3^rd year, so they don’t have any special affections like some us who teach the 3^rd year.

My questions are:
1) to teach THE third year students OR to teach third year students (without an article)?
2) if I don't want to use the word "students", is it all right to say "to teach the third year" or "to teach IN the third year"?
3) Could you please correct the phrase above and make it sound more natural?

Thanks in advance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by englishhobby

I am thinking of some words to say during a language competition among students at my university and I am not sure if it will be correct to say (about the jury):

I must say that our jury members are not biased at all, because they do not teach in the3^rd year, so they don’t have any special affections like some us who teach the 3^rd year.
This says that the members do not teach while in their third year. It does not say that the members do not teach third year students. To say that the members do not teach third year students, "...because they do not teach third year students...". By also using this wording in the second part of the sentence, the sentence conveys the thought you intended.
My questions are:
1) to teach THE third year students OR to teach third year students (without an article)?
2) if I don't want to use the word "students", is it all right to say "to teach the third year" or "to teach IN the third year"?
3) Could you please correct the phrase above and make it sound more natural?

Thanks in advance.

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Gil

Thanks for the explanation.)
I just wanted to cut it short and skip "students" without a change in meaning, but now I see that I must use the whole phrase "teach third year students" only.