My humble thoughts is a section I share with parents and students to express my experiences on teaching and learning. I do not expect everyone to share the same thoughts as me. However, if my article benefits you, I know I have contributed to your life.
My Reflections after 16 Years of Teaching
Time flies! It has been 16 years of teaching for me. I have been in this teaching work ever since I graduated from NUS and NIE. I started off as a school teacher for 3 years serving my NIE contract bond. Thereafter, I left the MOE teaching service and came out to become a full time tutor. I can give myself a long service award "liao"! Lol! =)
So far, throughout my years of teaching, there are so many memorable memories. I have met with and taught students from all walks of life, or should I say from all types of backgrounds. There were students from weaker academic background as well as students from strong academic background. Students from top schools as well as students from neighbourhood schools.
If you ask me, which types of students have I enjoyed teaching the most? I would say all types of students. I enjoy teaching those students from weaker academic background because it gives me great satisfaction when we managed to work together to pull through the national exams such as N levels and O levels. There were bitter sweet moments in the process of working together, those episodes of almost wanting to give up and throw in the towel for both my student as well as me. I remember one of my weaker students from Normal Academic who frequently told me, "Cher! I know I will not do well eventually even if I try hard and I know I will disappoint you. But I know you are a great teacher and I enjoy my time learning with you!"
My reply to her was, "You just continue to work hard and put in your effort. This is what I like about you, your consistent effort put in. I know it is not easy for you. But I am already very happy with what you are doing now. And no matter what you will get for your final results, in my eyes, you are already an A grade student because you make me enjoy so much my interaction with you and teaching you."
And fast forward, that student did not fare that badly and moved on to be eligible for Higher Nitec. Though she may be from Normal Academic background, she may have an inborn condition of mild autism. However, she was always very engaging and friendly. She may feel like giving up to the challenges of the education system. However, she still pressed on with constant encouragement from me and her parents. I think she has done well for herself. There is no need to always base a person's achievements and self worth on how many As or Bs or which institutions of higher learning one can qualify for after the national exams. In my opinion, this student of mine has done herself proud. I am certainly proud of her and enjoyed having her as my student!
There were also memorable experiences teaching those students who were from good schools. Students from good academic backgrounds are also fun to teach as well as those from weaker backgrounds. I guess at that kind of age, teenage years, you will expect vibrancy and rebellious stubborn moments when the child is trying to establish his or her identity. The many conversations with my teenage students were very engaging and interesting when I learn about the many things teenagers now do with their time. There were students into chasing idols or idol groups, KPOP or English POP. Some are into gaming and even one or two doing online business. Some are doing competitive sports on school and/or national levels. Some are accomplished musicians, violinists and pianists. At least they are more accomplished than me. I did not even have any formal certification in any music background and these are the students with grades between 1 to 8 in piano, violin and guzheng.
For the academically stronger students, many of them also have their fare share of experiences in chasing idols, gamings, social media or other sports and music engagements. So I would say at that kind of teenage years, there are so many happening things in their lives. So teaching academcially stronger students is not a boring business peppered with these experiences they share to me as well as some rantings about friends, teachers and even their parents (>_<''') now and then. I will put it as every student is a unique individual having that unique engaging experience to work with him or her. Of course, we are mostly into serious teaching and learning. But it is those unique life experiences of every single student which makes teaching fun and engaging.
And not to forget the handmade Teachers' Day cookies, sweets and personalised cards of gratitude I have received, the many hours of spent sweat, toil, striving and frustrations in ploughing through lots of questions together before the N and O levels until the student laments of fingers and wrist aching. And with each and every new year, with some new faces I see in my students, this teaching work continues to intrigue me with a new adventure each year.
It is the every new year starts a new adventure experience that has kept me going for the past 16 years. I wonder if I will ever change my work anytime soon? Because people changes jobs at least average 3 times in their lifespan. For me, so long this work continues to provide a new adventure each year, continues to build up memorable bitter sweet experiences working with different students, perhaps it will be difficult for me to stop this work anytime soon! So will I still be in this teaching work for another decade's time? Hmm..........we shall see! Haha! =)
So far, throughout my years of teaching, there are so many memorable memories. I have met with and taught students from all walks of life, or should I say from all types of backgrounds. There were students from weaker academic background as well as students from strong academic background. Students from top schools as well as students from neighbourhood schools.
If you ask me, which types of students have I enjoyed teaching the most? I would say all types of students. I enjoy teaching those students from weaker academic background because it gives me great satisfaction when we managed to work together to pull through the national exams such as N levels and O levels. There were bitter sweet moments in the process of working together, those episodes of almost wanting to give up and throw in the towel for both my student as well as me. I remember one of my weaker students from Normal Academic who frequently told me, "Cher! I know I will not do well eventually even if I try hard and I know I will disappoint you. But I know you are a great teacher and I enjoy my time learning with you!"
My reply to her was, "You just continue to work hard and put in your effort. This is what I like about you, your consistent effort put in. I know it is not easy for you. But I am already very happy with what you are doing now. And no matter what you will get for your final results, in my eyes, you are already an A grade student because you make me enjoy so much my interaction with you and teaching you."
And fast forward, that student did not fare that badly and moved on to be eligible for Higher Nitec. Though she may be from Normal Academic background, she may have an inborn condition of mild autism. However, she was always very engaging and friendly. She may feel like giving up to the challenges of the education system. However, she still pressed on with constant encouragement from me and her parents. I think she has done well for herself. There is no need to always base a person's achievements and self worth on how many As or Bs or which institutions of higher learning one can qualify for after the national exams. In my opinion, this student of mine has done herself proud. I am certainly proud of her and enjoyed having her as my student!
There were also memorable experiences teaching those students who were from good schools. Students from good academic backgrounds are also fun to teach as well as those from weaker backgrounds. I guess at that kind of age, teenage years, you will expect vibrancy and rebellious stubborn moments when the child is trying to establish his or her identity. The many conversations with my teenage students were very engaging and interesting when I learn about the many things teenagers now do with their time. There were students into chasing idols or idol groups, KPOP or English POP. Some are into gaming and even one or two doing online business. Some are doing competitive sports on school and/or national levels. Some are accomplished musicians, violinists and pianists. At least they are more accomplished than me. I did not even have any formal certification in any music background and these are the students with grades between 1 to 8 in piano, violin and guzheng.
For the academically stronger students, many of them also have their fare share of experiences in chasing idols, gamings, social media or other sports and music engagements. So I would say at that kind of teenage years, there are so many happening things in their lives. So teaching academcially stronger students is not a boring business peppered with these experiences they share to me as well as some rantings about friends, teachers and even their parents (>_<''') now and then. I will put it as every student is a unique individual having that unique engaging experience to work with him or her. Of course, we are mostly into serious teaching and learning. But it is those unique life experiences of every single student which makes teaching fun and engaging.
And not to forget the handmade Teachers' Day cookies, sweets and personalised cards of gratitude I have received, the many hours of spent sweat, toil, striving and frustrations in ploughing through lots of questions together before the N and O levels until the student laments of fingers and wrist aching. And with each and every new year, with some new faces I see in my students, this teaching work continues to intrigue me with a new adventure each year.
It is the every new year starts a new adventure experience that has kept me going for the past 16 years. I wonder if I will ever change my work anytime soon? Because people changes jobs at least average 3 times in their lifespan. For me, so long this work continues to provide a new adventure each year, continues to build up memorable bitter sweet experiences working with different students, perhaps it will be difficult for me to stop this work anytime soon! So will I still be in this teaching work for another decade's time? Hmm..........we shall see! Haha! =)