I just watched Channel U's "Internship Challenge", which showcases 2 students doing their internships. This week, the students were from Early Childhood Education from Ngee Ann Poly and they did a 1 month attachment at the Little Skool-House International. I thought I really liked the programme - because you could really see the progress of the students learning to be teachers, very similar to what i'm doing right now. If there's a re-telecast, be sure to catch it.

And in case you haven't found out yet, I'm doing my school attachment at Dunman Secondary. Am currently "shadowing" (gosh, i feel like a stalker) the HOD, Maths around. Haven't actually got to do any classroom teaching, although I did do quite a bit of individual tutoring (because i've been following the Sec 4/5 classes and they're doing revision and preparing for the O levels), including a mini-"tuition" session for a student who asked for more help. Thus far, I must say it's been quite a fulfilling 7 days, although I must say a lot of what we're doing is self-directed, i.e. we have to initiate the classroom observations that we want to go for ourselves. Can't wait to start teaching - which I realise is not gonna be for another 2 years!!! *frownz*

Some things I bet they don't teach you in NIE
1. During morning assembly, if it's in the car park and you have to stand in front of a car, be sure to check that the car isn't radiating too much heat, otherwise, you might roast in a slow and painful fashion during the announcements.

2. Make sure you don't drink coffee right before class. I did that during recess one day and went into class. And then one of the students told me, "(tea-)cher [teacher has now been abbreviated to "cher". i suppose spelling it out, it's kind of an endearment term eh? like mon CHER-ie. ;p], you drink coffee ah?" I suppose the coffee breath gave it away. So now I carry mints in my pocket. muahaha...

3. Apparently, if your school has a red tie for teachers, which we wear on Monday together with all the students (who wear a maroon tie), a white shirt seems to be the preferred choice of coloured shirts on that day. I went into Mr Kang's class to observe only to have the students burst into laughter when they saw the both of us in our white shirts and red ties ("cher, you all brothers ah?"). And it didn't help when the next teacher who walked by the classroom and then the vice-principal, also wore a white shirt with a red tie. I bet they were wondering why the whole class was hysterical when they went by. Mr Kang took off his tie soon after.... ;p

4. Any female teacher you're seen walking with is probably your girlfriend - if only it was that easy... haha

I'm also supposed to have a project to complete - How to apply "Teach Less, Learn More" to Maths... ideas anyone?
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Labels: Singapore, Teaching