What makes a Good Teacher?

Hi there! Recently, I was at a gathering with my old uni friends. All of them expressed shock at what I was doing now.

They thought that I would be the last person to go into teaching. They didn't know that I was teaching tuition all the way since I was 16 and my whole family were teachers. They all expected me to climb the corporate ladder and get fat!

Well, they did get one thing correct. I did get fat! Haha! But I explained to them that teaching comes natually to me. I suppose its the environment that I grew up in. Being in a family that stressed on learning and not studying makes it a lot easier to go into teaching. I guess its something like doctors. It just runs in the family.

I thought back about the approach that my teachers used on us and I found a similarity. They talked about the fun in learning. They never really used the s-word. S as in Study.

As I grew older, I realised that the passion for learning will always continue burn even when you are old. It not that we are nerds. It just that we like learning new things. Thats where the fun is.

Therefore, I think that a good teacher these days should highlight the joys of learning and not just get people to study.

Studies will end one day but learning continues everyday that we live!

Ray

Clarity

Hi there! I have enlarged the font size so that we will have less difficulty in reading the blog.

Clarity is such a important thing to have in this day and age.

Now, as I look back at the days of me being student, I suddenly wonder how much better it would have been if I had the wisdom that I have now.

I would have done things the same though but I would have done things more purposefully.

As a young student, I went through the motions as my parents, elders and teachers told me that I had to study hard or there was no way out in life for me.

Looking back now, I must say that I am happy that I actually tried my best to follow the instructions passed down on me. As my friends and I started to work, the general thinking amongst us is "Thank God for education!"

We lacked the clarity while we were younger to see into the future. We were told stories of how bleak the future would be if we did not strive hard then. We were threatened, scolded and maybe even rough handled to study hard.

We used to hate it. We wanted to rebel against the system. Whether it was the lack of courage or a stroke of good luck, we ended up following the system.

Look where we are now. We might not be at the top of our professions yet but hey, we are alot better then the average person on the street.

Clarity, that is all we need now.

Ray

Ps: I can't seem to get the format of the blog correct. Please bear with me for a while.

Re Pleasant Experience

Hi there, I was at the Popular Bookstore at Heartland Mall the other day checking out new books to purchase for the upcoming year and I bumped into one of my students.

She was actually there with her mom and bro looking for books for the next academic year. Wow! I was so impressed by her! This is exactly the kind of spirit that I want to nurture in my students.

Always looking ahead and preparing for the future!

The new academic year is here soon. Lessons will start on the week of 3rd Dec 2007.

Registration is now open for classes. Contact us @62899559 to find out more!

Ray

Reasons for Having a Blog

Hi all, this is the all new blog of My Tuition Place. Actually, I have been toying with this idea for the past year but never really got down to doing it as I have been trying out other ways and means to overcome my fear of computer. (Haha!)

There are numerous reasons why I want to start this blog. The first and foremost, i.e the most important one was that I felt that with the growing numbers of students at My Tuition Place, I was not able to reach out and connect with each one of the students. At the same time, the students were not able to ask me for advice or help due to the lack of time.

This blog aims to reduce the gap between the students and the staff of My Tuition Place. As it would be quite hard to explain solutions to problems online, we would use this as a way to hear your problems and solve it during class time.

Also, I aim to impart what I read and learn each day to each and every one of my students. The students that have taken my classes will know that I am a big fan of the National library. On the average, I read about 3-4 books a week. Therefore, I hope to able to pass on what I learn in the books I read to the students that I have come into contact with!

The second reason for the blog would be to reach out to the parents and assure them that we are not up to nonsense at My Tuition Place. It is a way for you to preview the culture and attiude of us at My Tuition Place and also to read about the learning process that your child undergoes.

It is important that we have great communication links so that we can work hand in hand to ensure that the future of your child will be bright and illustrious!

Ray.

First Post

Hi all, this is the first post that I am publishing on the blog of My Tuition Place. This is a personal way of communicating my thoughts and experiences to you all so that you can learn from my mistakes and observations.

Today was the fourth day of the Holiday revision camp and I was taken aback by certain observations that I made.


The first was that I thought the general mood of it was that everyone showed great determination to revise through whatever topics that they were lacking. No doubt, there was a "Holiday Mood" in you guys but the spirit that you have shown me tells me that next year will be a great year for you!

The next observation was that maturity of the upper sec students. During the holiday revision camp, I would allow students to take a 20 min break for meals in between. The lower sec students usually take the first oportunity to rush off and relax.

However, the upper sec students simply refused to move and carried on working on the piece of work that was in front of them. I couldn't believe my eyes and I am telling you guys now that I'm extremely proud of you and that makes teaching so much more worth it!

A final reminder to all those students that attended the camp. Remember the holiday schedule that I made you guys plan? Please try your best to follow it.

It only takes a 2 hour session per day to complete your revision! Please do not forget what i have taught you about how to get a headstart for the next year!



Ray