End of classes for 2015

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Last lesson for 2015 today, 3 Nov. End of Sec 3 Extended Curriculum for me. Good lah… most of them aren’t serious in lessons anyway. May teachers said so too. The Sec 3s this year are quite disappointing as compared to last year’s. 

Now gotta take care of the performance items for the Taiwan Twinning Programme. Also meddling with CCA. 

Counting down to 21 Nov!! 

It’s ok if you have tried your best. Not 100% but at least 80%? However…!!

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After bringing cadets for 2 competitions and winning nothing at all sets me thinking if we have really put in at least 80% of our efforts. 

I often tell my students it is ok not to do well in Chinese as long as they have put in their best in it, or at least 80% of their effort. Not everyone is good in languages anyway, especially Chinese. I told my cadets the same thing: Gaining experience is the most important. Winning is a bonus. 

Yes!! The issue is putting in their best, or at least 80% of their effort so as not to be too stringent on them.

However, have cadets really put in their best in the competitions? Not putting in their best is already bad enough. Worse still I heard someone has even purposely chosen the wrong answers so that the team will not progress to the next round! I’m shocked to hear that! Is it true? I’m not sure. But should I ask? I’m afraid… that the truth will hurt! 

Shall wait for the result from HQ first, ie., if they send them to me. 

HTA Store 

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At HTA for Inter-unit Quiz and went to the store to change spoilt badges for cadets but was rejected because I didn’t bring the G7 and most importantly, I didn’t have the school chop. Haix! 

Lesson learnt: must bring G7 WITH school chop for any dealings with HTA store! 😓

One observation: many teachers are marking away. 😂
   
 

An MTL teacher’s rant.

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The advantages of retaking the MT paper:
(1) Another chance to do better so why not?
(2) The better grade of the 2 sittings will be used in the computation of L1B4/L1R5;
(3) Less stress as compared to the 1st sitting;
(4) Better prepared, stand a higher chance to achieve better grade;
(5) For this year, because of SG50, you don’t even have to pay if you are a Singaporean.

Besides telling them (AND their parents!) all these REPEATEDLY, there are students who still want to drop MT, because:
(1) They are not good in MT and they (and their parents) think that the grade is good enough;
(2) They need to concentrate on MORE IMPORTANT subjects;
(3) MT is optional for L1B4/L1R5 anyway.

As a MTL teacher, I have my dilemma. On one hand, I would really want my students to better their grades and to retake the paper. On the other hand, I know many of them wants to concentrate on other subjects. So how?? I do not know.

What I do know is that MTL teachers have always put in as much effort (if not more!) as other subject teachers but we often do not get the respect and support we need from parents and students, especially from my fellow Singaporean Chinese. Just what is the value of the subject “Chinese Language” to them?? Also, why is it the only subject that they can offer in mid year?? So that they can throw this burden away asap to make way for MORE IMPORTANT subjects which can help them succeed in life??

I have done whatever is required of me to persuade those who want to drop CL – talking to students and calling the parents. I still need a lot of time to mark my Sec 3 compositions and their workbooks, as well as to set 1 Sec 3 end of year exam paper. After that, it will be tense period for me again, as 3 out of my 4 classes (4E2, 5NA and 3HCL) will be sitting for the CL paper on 2 Nov.

Why rant so much here since nothing is going to change and why not just quit since I’m so unhappy with the system? Well… I need to eat and live. And even when I don’t, my family needs me to bring back the bread and butter too. I am also keeping that bit of my passion for teaching CL, and appreciating that minority who still appreciate MT teachers.