A Perfect 10

In 10 years we’ve lived as man and wife

Just 9 days we’ve been apart

8 is a special day in August 96

7 a number close to the heart

6 countries we’ve travelled thus far

5 music concerts we've attended

4 may remain an elusive dream

3 beautiful girls we lovingly created

Add 2 faithful canines

Our perfect home's almost done

Just 1 final puzzle piece left to add

My dearest hub, you're the one

Happy 10th Customary Wedding Anniversary!

Teo Yuan Ching
30 September 2011

Copyright © 2011 Teo Yuan Ching

TODAYonline | Singapore | Taking the stress out of school

TODAYonline | Singapore | Taking the stress out of school

As an educator and a mother of three school-going kids, I naturally take a keen interest in all matters and policies related to education.

My first reaction to this bit of news? Skepticism.

After all these years of rote-learning and emphasis on grades/results, it's almost too impossible to believe that our education system's going to make a u-turn and focus on what matters most: the learning process and effectiveness of knowledge acquisition and retention.

I know too well how each individual has a different learning style and how there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to teaching and learning.

It would indeed be a paradigm shift if we suddenly decide to focus on the formative approach rather than a summative assessment that will ultimately determine the fate of each child. I for one suffered terribly because I detested examinations and never seemed to achieve much success in scoring good grades during these nerve-wrecking periods. But I noticed that I would get excellent grades for coursework subjects or project-based modules where I applied my knowledge and turned theory into application.

For those, like me, who perform better consistently but stumble at the final hurdle, an education system that emphasises less on academic achievements and results, and more on a holistic development, will definitely be a welcome change.

I'm all for the overhaul of our stringent and rigid education system. But right now, I'm just going to take a wait-and-see approach to see how it all pans out.

English Rules: Go back to Basics

TODAYonline | Voices | 'Good English starts at home'

Singapore's English is in a sorry state.

And I think it's going to take more than campaigns to raise the level of English here on our Sunny little island.

It's going to take a revolution.

Sure, it's the parents' responsibility to address the deterioration of English in Singapore, but the education ministry has to consider the causes of the falling standards as well. For starters, some English teachers aren't linguistically trained properly and it's amazing how they can stand in front of a class to teach English when they aren't well-versed in the language themselves.

I fully agree that the learning environment is crucial. Both my parents speak fluent, grammatical English. Of course they use Singlish sometimes but they always knew when to "switch" when the occasion calls for it. That's how I was brought up and I that's how I use English as well.

When I'm with my kids, I try as much as possible to correct them when they lapse into Singlish or speak ungrammatically. But it's an uphill battle because it's usually me against the other significant influences, including the school. My girls started picking up the sing-song twang of Singlish when they stepped into school probably because most of their friends (and some teachers) speak in that manner. And when you're constantly in a particular environment, it's inevitable that your speech patterns will alter somewhat.

So the billion dollar question is this: How can we move ahead and undo the damage that was created some 20 years ago when they threw out some rules that worked?

First order of business is to reinstate old-school spelling drills. Get rid of text language and social media versions of words and phrases like 'LOL', 'FTW', 'IDC', 'IDK' etc. I'm all for abbreviations and I use them too. But students need to know the appropriate times to use them. Definitely not for their essays and school work. I've lost count on the number of times I've to circle in red over 'btw', 'u', 'i', 'e' in my students' work.

Next is to force-feed grammar rules at the foundation level. I remember memorising idioms, phrases, antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, collective nouns and was tested on a weekly basis. It helped tremendously.

Last, but certainly not the least, is to encourage parents to try and cut out Singlish and refrain from mixing English with other languages. I hate it when people say things like "Later wo (I) call ni (you)" or "I think so ba". If possible, eradicate the 'la', 'lor', 'meh', 'sia' from daily speech.

We'll need to take baby steps to re-establish some good habits and practices at home. On a larger scale, the Ministry of Education should review the way English is taught in schools, especially at the foundation level.

Easier said than done, of course. But my stand is that when things go horribly wrong, we should always go back to the basics. And start from scratch.

Words before midnight

It's five minutes to midnight.

Yet my brain refuses to rest. It's always the case when I'm in my "research" mode - reading new material that I'll be incorporating into my lessons next term.

I'm always excited when I'm given a chance to run a subject - that's when I can structure my lessons and decide the flow of the classes.

But I've a long day ahead. Meetings scheduled at 9am, and another at 9.30am, before the examination scripts for Corporate Events Management (CEM) come in around noon.

Then I'll be huddled in my cubicle with the curtains drawn. It'll be marking in progress.

So I'm going to take my leave now because I *need* the rest and a clear mind when I whip out my red pen tomorrow afternoon.

In exactly 12 hours' time, the fate of 80 plus CEM students will rest in four teachers.

Mess is my Middle Name

I've to seriously clear my work station! Even I can'... on Twitpic

Stepped into my work station today and realised what a disorganised space it has become.

Behold! My Messy Work Station

Piles of papers, files, folders and stationery strewn all over the table. Bags and boxes on the floors. Yes, I'm a clutter-bug.

I absolutely need to get my act together and clean this mess up!

Admittedly, I've never been Miss Neat and the hub never fails to remind me about how I can never find my stuff. And towards the end of the semester, when we're all scrambling to meet project deadlines, my work station becomes a dumping ground. 

Now I'm impatiently waiting for Monday's Corporate Events Management exam to be over so I can get cracking on the marking before I begin on my exam results processing next Friday.

OK, I need a good day or two to throw away ANCIENT projects and assessments that I've been hording for far too long.

It's going to be Operation Clean Table in a week's time.

Teaching Heartware

It's the first day of September and as far as I can remember, it's always been associated with Teachers' Day.

In many of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools (and perhaps the junior colleges), there will be celebrations and no lessons are conducted. And by now, my younger two would have been home (it's 11.15am) while Xian just called to inform me that she's finished school and managed to locate her school bus.

All my kids brought little gifts for their teachers yesterday, although a few declined to accept them.

Over at my work place, all's quiet as the examinations are still on-going. Many of my colleagues (including myself) are buried in marking, tidying up administrative documents or getting ready for examination processing. I left sticky post-it notepads for my colleagues as tokens of appreciation for their boundless energy and enthusiasm in their efforts to shape the future generations.

A few students posted on my Facebook wall or tweeted their Teachers' Day wishes. It's always nice to get a simple 'Thank You' from them. A little goes a long way.

To all my fellow educators, enjoy this significant day where we pay tribute to all the teachers who've made an impact in our lives. Several of these remarkable beings must have inspired us to become educators ourselves.

For me, I will always fondly remember my Primary 5 English teacher, Mrs Jennifer Tan, who was also my form teacher. She appeared strict but she was a really kind and gentle soul and she was the one who nurtured my love for the English Language. Unlike some other teachers, Mrs Tan never gave preferential treatment to the "good" students. Suddenly, average kids like myself were given opportunities which were usually "reserved" for the academically brilliant. She taught with her heart and we could feel her warmth and sincerity.

Mrs Jennifer Tan made a difference in my life.

The other unforgettable teacher was my Secondary 3 English and Literature teacher Ms Barbara Clark who, coincidentally, was also my form teacher. She's funny, witty, spunky and made Literature fun! I'll always remember her reading of George Orwell's Animal Farm: "Four legs goooood, two legs baaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaad!" Ms Clark was, for the lack of a better word, "unconventional" and "non-traditional". She's probably the first teacher whom many of us acknowledged as our friend, someone who could relate to us at our level.

Ms Barbara Clark made a difference in my life.

Needless to say, both Mrs Tan and Ms Clark greatly inspired me and I'm honoured to have been taught by them. Both of them are my role models and they've influenced my teaching style. If I am ever considered a good teacher, then I would say I have even greater teachers because I learnt from them.

Teaching should always be from the heart. And these days, students can clearly tell if their teachers genuinely care about them or are just doing a job for the heck of it.

It's been 10 years in this education industry. Although I do miss the rush of corporate life at times, I don't regret trading my business suits for "less intimidating" office wear. I enjoy the classroom environment and interacting with my students. Yes, I definitely know where my heart is. I want to give back what I took from all my wonderful teachers.

Perhaps I too can make a difference in someone's life.