Get Busy... ... I'm a workaholic

Busy

Still Busy

Really busy... ... the other two only posing... ...

The best way to stopping missing someone is to keep yourself busy. It works perfectly well for me... ... for today. The MLS course is coming to an end, 4 more days, and it's back to school. Hooray! Meanwhile I'm really busy with the curriculum project. Thursday-the BIG day to present to the panel.

Goodbye... ... Mrs Rathi

Photo taken by Ng WN

Farewell to Mrs Rathi... ...

A Principal who has made a difference in my life... ...

I really don't know what to say... ...

But I also don't want to hide that I have been tearing... ...

And I didn't know farewell can be so painful... ...

A parent said that Mrs Rathi is very lucky because she has so many staff crying for her... ...

This says very much of a Principal... ... doesn't it?

Greatest Love Of All

Greatest Love Of All

.

I believe the children are our future

Teach them well and let them lead the way

Show them all the beauty they possess inside

Give them a sense of pride to make it easier

Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody searching for a hero

People need someone to look up to

I never found anyone to fulfill my needs

A lonely place to be

So I learned to depend on me

.

[Chorus]

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows

If I fail, if I succeed

At least I live as I believe

No matter what they take from me

They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all

Is happening to me

I found the greatest love of all

Inside of me

The greatest love of all

Is easy to achieve

Learning to love yourself

It is the greatest love of all

.

[Chorus]

And if by chance, that special place

That you've been dreaming of

Leads you to a lonely place

Find your strength in love

.

.

I remember that in 2001, during the induction programme we attended at NIE before we were posted to school, this was the song played during one of the sessions, and we had to stand and sing together. Till today, whenever I hear this song, it reminds me of my own mission and vision in teaching, more than anything else... ...

我对华文教学的看法——只是遗憾

　　没有一个民族会看不起自己的母语，讨厌自己的母语。除了新加坡人。

　　参观了北烁学校和监狱学校。这两所学府都有一个共同点：没有华文课程。我只是觉得很遗憾。语文能够陶冶性情，如果说我们要感化学生，让学生掌握谋生技能，我觉得更应该教母语，通过母语教学，让学生了解文化的精髓，灌输优良的传统价值观，培养学生的品德。这正是我们生存和发展的重要条件。

　　今年八月初，教育部宣布从明年起把中学特选和快捷源流合并，统称“快捷课程”。这或许只是措施上的重新部署，但还是会有人质问，华文的地位是不是被动摇了？华文还重要吗？这也难怪。家长认为孩子被逼学华文，认为应该降低华文的重要性。孩子的语文掌握水平不断下降，那我们还剩下什么？教育部改革国民教育的框架，强调如何提高学生对新加坡的归属感，让年轻人从小就心系祖国，可是，如果我们连对华语都有这样唾弃的心态的话，这不是一个很大的反讽吗？如果我们不要被讥为无根、浅薄的一群，我们更应该积极推广华文教学。

　　我觉得身为华文老师，我们更应该争气，改变他人对华文老师形象的看法。一般上，我们听到看到的是华文老师课室管理有待改进，而且他们总视英文为障碍，对学校其他方面的贡献不大。尽管他们有刻苦耐劳的美德，但学校排名时，我们都被其他因素蒙蔽了双眼，所以华文老师总是排在最后，虽然口口声声说无所谓，满不在乎，但这也多少影响了部门的士气。此外，有些总把责任推给整个大环境，推给学生，认为学生轻视华文，不把华文老师放在眼里。

　　可是，与其抱怨华文难教、学生难教，华文老师做了些什么？2004年华文教改，你有跟着改吗？学生现在顶多只是说“I hate Chinese”，千万不要有学生对你说“I hate Chinese teacher”的那么一天。

　　“在每个学生的心田种下一颗华文种子。”华文课程与教学法指导委员会主席黄庆新接受联合早报专访时说了这句话。播种不难，可是我们如何灌溉就不易。我只希望学生会遇到一个好的园丁，能细心灌溉语文的种子，而不是扼杀学习华文的兴趣。

　　去菲律宾参观了当地的学校。意外发现学校竟然有华文课程。中国崛起让很多国家意识到学习华文的实际利益，所以全球掀起一股空前的华文热，世界各地千千万万的非华人正热切地学习华文华语。

　　当我们在说华文难学时，全世界都在热衷于学华文。除了我们。