the hustle and bustle of life

Listening to: Some random cny song

Now, now, where shall i start with this entry?

well, strange it seems how i manage to find time to blog only when it's a public holiday. that can't be good.. cos it'd mean my next entry may only come by in april!! :P will definitely try to avoid that..

again, thanks for all the tagging :)
one thing that has struck me in the past month is the number of you who have gone to become relief teachers :) reading vanessa's comment brought a smile to my face..and meeting some of you in school.. made me think: "wow.. have i played a part to make teaching look so enjoyable that you guys went to take it up?" yes, the money's pretty good..but as you guys might have realised, the money might not be that easy to earn?

so for those out there who want some tips/insights on being a teacher - well, i've always said that teaching is a tough job. It's one of those jobs that you are not quite allowed to have a bad day. so for example, no matter how upset you feel about your personal matters, you cannot bring those emotions along into the classroom. Simply because the students will not benefit. So teachers have to be rather good actors (tho' i can't act on a real stage) and good managers of their emotions.

if you have to teach the unruly classes of normal (academic) and normal (technical).. i've taught them before.. remember that most of them might have been condemned by their teachers.. so going there to scream and shout at them just wouldn't help. When it comes to these classes, treating them with RESPECT is all what it counts. Once you earn that respect, you would see that they'll try to behave for your sake. It takes time, so be patient.

but is the world of teaching so different from other fields of profession?
suddenly, it strikes me that so many of my students are now in the working world, being exposed to the elements. I've heard complaints of "exploitation" and "mistreatment"..but do hang in there.. i've been through that phase myself.

The world of the school is a protected one, no matter what you think. Though you hated the four walls that seemed to close down on you every single day, it was one which was a comforting environment and one that sought to protect you from harm. now that the walls have disappeared to reveal the world outside, we now miss those times. ..

but what's most important is the values and lessons we have tried to impart to you in those two years... there's nothing we can do to try and make sure that the transition to the "real world" is a seamless one.. but i can only hope the lessons taught and in some way i'd managed to influence you.. for the world may change but you don't have to..

on an another note, have started lessons with my new students.. and erm, yes, unashamedly, i shall say, "i really do miss you guys" :)