In Conversation with a Student
As a way of getting closer to my students, I thought I'd pass my MSN email address to them so that they can chat with me when they get online. That certainly beats passing them my mobile phone number and risk them calling me at weird hours, and even worse, belligerent parents. While the past few conversations were quick hies and byes, I just came out from one that addressed directly my existing teaching style in class.
Rather than pasting the whole conversation over, a summary would be more suitable. This boy (that much I can divulge) sits near the front of the classroom where the whiteboard is, where by traditional convention he belongs to the more attentive category of students as compared to those at the back of the classroom which usually live in their own world where the teacher is a distant presence. Anyway he started ranting about the worksheet on refraction that I gave out today about how incomprehensible the questions are and how the whole class was stumped. For the record, I wasn't around to clarify the questions as I had to rush down to NUS to take pictures with SoC friends. :) Anyway, while some of the questions are phrased awkwardly, the questions are typical 'O' level ones so I guess they might not have gotten use to the way in which sentences are structured. What that seemed to herald was a long day ahead tomorrow where I've got to work with the class through the worksheets, in particular the reflection portion which will appear in the test this coming Monday. I like the way he tried to change the topic though, with "are u very pissed off wif our class"
I considered that for a moment. It won't be totally truthful if I am not pissed at all, which in retrospection isn't what he's asking. So to his question, the answer is 'no' and I cited horror stories about disciplinary problems in neighbourhood schools and how thankful I am that the school does not have as much. The next comment which turned closer towards his goal was:
"Student X says:
i tink
Student X says:
sumtimes u teach very strange"
"Bingo!" I went. After leading with a "oh? how is that so? can you tell me more?" he moves on to how I should learn from the experienced teachers about using their authority as a teacher and practicing their classroom management skills. Argh! I'd better just list the whole thing out for your reading pleasure:
Student X says:
Hi!
Me says:
hi
Me says:
ah, 原来是你！
Me says:
:)
Student X says:
?
Student X says:
wat yuan lai s ni
Student X says:
oh
Student X says:
u saw my pic right
Me says:
yeah else i'd never know who's who for goodness
Me says:
Student X says:
Student X says:
i wan ask u bout sci WS
Me says:
sure, no worries
shoot
Student X says:
cos i tink
Student X says:
the sci WS 10B is ridiculous
Student X says:
the way they phrase the qxns
Me says:
how come
Student X says:
i cant undertand
Student X says:
and is not oni me
Student X says:
is the whole class
Me says:
wow, that's bad yeah, i have to agree some questions are phrased quite awkwardly
Me says:
but believe it or not, they're o level questions
Student X says:
omg
Student X says:
cos nid measure the refractive index
Me says:
yeah, so it's rather a matter of getting used to their phrasing
Student X says:
and the angle of incidence
Student X says:
den still nid apply
Student X says:
and draw
Me says:
huh isn't it the case where they either give you the diagram and ask you to draw
Me says:
else it'll be the opposite
Student X says:
i not sure
Student X says:
in fact
Student X says:
i dun even noe wat dey t ing bout
Me says:
haha
Me says:
yeah that's why have to go through I guess, and everyone'll have to get a hang of the way questions are asked
Me says:
but don't worry too much, after a while you'll get the hang of things with more practice
Me says:
just like the sine function I introduced
Student X says:
sci test nxt wk leh
Me says:
yeah, but it's only up to reflection mah
Me says:
so once we cover both the reflection portions of WS10A and B, we're ready to go
Student X says:
huh
Student X says:
we are ready to go
Me says:
nono
Me says:
i mean once we go through the portions on reflection in WS10A and B
Me says:
we don't have any more material to cover this week, so we can concentrate on them for the remaining lessons this week
Student X says:
reli meh
Student X says:
n seriously speaking
Student X says:
a
Student X says:
are u very pissed off wif our class
Me says:
haha will you believe it if I say i like all the classes I have so far
Me says:
really
Me says:
at least you guys are willing to listen
Me says:
i'm so proud that you guys take responsibility for your own learning too
Student X says:
duh
Student X says:
of cos we will la
Me says:
haha yeah pls do although I haven't taught in other schools before, I hear many horror stories
Me says:
rather sometimes I feel quite guilty actually
Student X says:
huh
Student X says:
horror stories
Student X says:
ghost all tis
Me says:
because I am unable to answer everyone's questions completely
Me says:
haha no of students who don't pay attention in class, make teachers give up, cry and run out of class.etc
Student X says:
i tink so
Student X says:
tats true
Me says:
yeah so actually I'm quite thankful already
Student X says:
i tink
Student X says:
sumtimes u teach very strange
Me says:
oh how is that so can you tell me more
Student X says:
cos in one way
Student X says:
u how to use
Student X says:
shld learn more from otha teachers i tink
Student X says:
HOD nobody dun dare not to greet
Me says:
hmm can you tell me some examples of what you notice
Student X says:
ppl can t during
Student X says:
still
Student X says:
when u shout at dem
Student X says:
continuously
Me says:
ah... you mean you have other classes where pple are absolutely silent
Student X says:
dey dun care
Student X says:
quieter
Student X says:
den sci
Student X says:
everybody noe nxt period is sci
Student X says:
dey got those kiam pa face lioa
Student X says:
*liao
Student X says:
u mus show dem tat u are their teacher
Student X says:
and tat dey haf to listen to u
Student X says:
try to be fiercer la
Me says:
ah, ok point taken
Me says:
do u think i shld start punishing
Me says:
i haven't really started doing that (i'm sure you've noticed)
Student X says:
i noe
Student X says:
not reali punis ng
Student X says:
u can sit there and dun do aniting
Student X says:
den dey will start take notice of
Student X says:
u
Student X says:
cos u can say
Student X says:
if those hu dun wan learn
Student X says:
can jus get out of the class
Student X says:
den u can say
Student X says:
"nid me help u throw
Student X says:
Student X says:
tis type of fierce fierce stuff
Student X says:
hey
Student X says:
u listening>
Student X says:
Student X says:
why oni i writing
Me says:
yeah of course don't worry
Me says:
you're telling me things mah, so I should be an attentive listener
Student X says:
Student X says:
or best
Student X says:
take a ruler wif u
Student X says:
cos got one method is the most useful
Student X says:
be fierce
Student X says:
but kind at times
Student X says:
oni to those hu deserve it
Student X says:
those boys at the back
Student X says:
u can do wadeva u wan
Student X says:
to dem
Student X says:
best is take a ruler
Student X says:
and t their tables when necessary
Student X says:
n best is those w den ones
Student X says:
den the ruler break
Student X says:
show dem u are strong
Me says:
ah, ok, good idea
i only thought of using them to hit
Student X says:
den the whole class will be scareed
Student X says:
n no one will dare make a noise
Student X says:
when u take out the ruler
Me says:
wow that's quite strict
Me says:
have u seen teachers use this method before
Student X says:
got
Student X says:
its very VERY useful
Me says:
because i'm not sure if you've noticed, but these days parents are more protective over their children
Student X says:
if u are striced
Student X says:
*strict
Student X says:
dey will learn to appreciate the kind u
Me says:
ah, ok, thanks for the advice
Student X says:
Me says:
such a pity that they don't apreciate
Student X says:
n try teach
Student X says:
in a more
Student X says:
how to say
Student X says:
i how to say
Student X says:
jus learn from the better teachers
Me says:
haha formal
Student X says:
not formal
Student X says:
try mix wif ppl
Student X says:
haiz
Student X says:
learn from a few teachers la
Student X says:
i list out for u
Me says:
ok, thanks
Student X says:
-- a list of teachers --
Student X says:
-- another teacher --
Student X says:
-- another teacher --
Student X says:
-- another teacher --
Student X says:
try crack some j es sumtimes la
Student X says:
try learn from – another teacher L --
Student X says:
cos she is model teacher
Student X says:
for the many yrs
Student X says:
she has been in – the school --
Me says:
ah, yeah, she was new when I was in sec 3
Me says:
haha most of these teachers are very experienced
Student X says:
Student X says:
all those i haf listed
Student X says:
teach more den 10 yrs
Student X says:
except mr tay
Student X says:
he's new
Student X says:
but he is
Student X says:
and fun
Me says:
haha that's great
Student X says:
-- teacher L -- got teach u b4 arh
Me says:
no lah, she taught the class next door
Me says:
but i got – teacher T -- for remedial in sec 2 though
Me says:
she was good too
Me says:
motherly
Student X says:
Student X says:
she not here liao
Student X says:
n i hu she is
Me says:
huh i see her in the staff room leh
Student X says:
o
Student X says:
oh
Me says:
well if you have a chance u can see the yearbook
Student X says:
tan lao s huh>
Student X says:
Student X says:
not tang
Student X says:
its tan
Student X says:
right
Student X says:
CHINESE HOD right
Me says:
oh yeah, opps
Me says:
yup
Student X says:
how old are u
Me says:
i'm 25
Me says:
i was in 4X in 19XX
Student X says:
den u sec 3 – teacher L -- teach how long
Student X says:
liao
Me says:
yeah, you count from there lor
Me says:
probably around 10
Student X says:
huh
Me says:
near to 10 i guess
Student X says:
when u sec3 she teach 10 yrs lioa
Me says:
oh oh no
Me says:
she's new I think
Student X says:
oic
Student X says:
tat means she teach 15yrs liao lor
Student X says:
in – school --
Student X says:
she's the best teacher in – school -- lah
Student X says:
so far
Me says:
wow, serious ah
Student X says:
the sch has awarded her
Student X says:
the award
Student X says:
serious
Student X says:
she can mix wif studenst lor
Student X says:
*students
Student X says:
cos tis award is voted by students and teachers
Student X says:
teachers all say she very spontaneous
Student X says:
so tmr
Student X says:
go 拜师学艺
Me says:
haha ok
Me says:
but time's always on the short side
Me says:
it's quite a pity that i don't have formal training as a teacher
Student X says:
she teaches 2C
Me says:
but i'll try
Student X says:
u noe how she l ks lyk right
Me says:
yeah, don't worry
Student X says:
i reali hope
Student X says:
u can make 2E lyk science
Student X says:
den everytime sci liao
Student X says:
wil say YES SCI LIAO
Me says:
haha that's certainly a most challenging prospect
Me says:
but i'll give it a shot
Student X says:
last yr –- another teacher -- was our sci teacher
Student X says:
u can ask m oso
Student X says:
he can make us say YES SCI LIAO
Student X says:
n mind u
Student X says:
he was 2nd in the ranking
Student X says:
for the best teacher award
Student X says:
3rd was – another teacher C --
Me says:
wow -- teacher C’s -- so popular
Student X says:
Student X says:
u noe m right
Student X says:
is he same age as u
Me says:
yeah, we were in – the eca group -- last time
Me says:
nah, he's a year older than me i think
Me says:
and he's very smart
Student X says:
Me says:
or intelligent
Student X says:
n tell u sumth
Student X says:
im oso in – the eca group --
Me says:
Me says:
then is it still – another teacher --
Student X says:
Student X says:
– another teacher --
Student X says:
tmr got sci or not
Me says:
haha wait lemme check my timetable
Me says:
yeah, got
Me says:
third period, right
Student X says:
not sure
Student X says:
lazy to walk to my bag there
Me says:
hope you guys have tried the 10A and B
Me says:
hey
Me says:
you're so evil
Student X says:
Me says:
I actually had to walk to my bag to check it haha
Student X says:
i evil
Me says:
haha yeah, cos you were too lazy and i automatically went to grab the timetable haha
Student X says:
lidat evil arh
Me says:
just kidding lah
Student X says:
so tmr go check out from the teachers i mentioned
Student X says:
dey are
Student X says:
n i hope u can reali make 2E lyk u
Me says:
haha i'll really love to too
Me says:
it'll be a tragedy if i leave at the end of the month without a trace
Student X says:
lor
Student X says:
beta to let u leave wif peace rather den regrets right
Me says:
haha no lah say until like that
Student X says:
den why after 1month u leaving
Student X says:
Me says:
that's when the perm teacher from nie is supposed to come
Student X says:
har
Student X says:
new teacher again arh
Me says:
yeah i told you guys liao mah
Me says:
i'm only here for a month or so
Student X says:
den why no experienced teacher come teach us
Student X says:
we so unlucky
Me says:
when I was in sec 2 i also had relief teachers
Me says:
so I empathise with you guys actually
Me says:
but then it is a real issue with the availability of teachers
Student X says:
let the lousier classes haf beta teachers la
Student X says:
den all the classes flock to class liao
Student X says:
-- teacher L -- shld teach us la
Student X says:
not tat stupid TST
Student X says:
doesnt even noe how to teach la
Student X says:
den the geog
Student X says:
oni noe how to act in front of her bosses oni
Student X says:
got VP come
Student X says:
act lyk teach so
Student X says:
i go TV liao
Me says:
hey sure ting, ciao
I hope I've changed all the names there. Anyway, the whole issue now is while I feel I've tried my best to teach, it's quite a slap in the face to find out that it actually isn't so. Frankly, I've been pretty tired the past few days, clocking 11-hours days when I only need a minimum of 5.5 hours trying very hard to relearn all the material that was tucked away in the far corners of history 10 years ago. Wow, 10 years! I didn't realise that. Maybe that's why I am feeling so awful, that I am inadequately equipped with the relevant information to teach? Sigh.
posted by Ned Nickerson at 9:11 PM
1 Comments:
HARLOW....the conversation abit long dude...haha!!!ur sis popping by!!!
9:08 PM
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