It always feels nice to make people happy, especially the ones you love. Yesterday afternoon, I decided to drop by her student's tuition place to wait for her after lesson. With me was a tub of Ben & Jerry's. It was some chocolate flavour with brownies in it. She didn't know so I guess it was quite a pleasant surprise. Luckily I remembered to bring the spoons along. :P
Today was the start of the mid year exams and English was the first paper. I spent most of last night fielding questions from my students. Some needed advice while others encouragement. A couple irritated me by asking me things that I've gone through in class so many times.
Today was also my first time invigilating an exam. Many a times I have been part of the mass of students sitting in the hall feeling so nervous, as the invigilators prowled the isles. My students all seemed fine, or so I hope, as several of them finished more than half an hour before the end and were 'meditating'.
Scripts are in and already been divided. I can start on the 120 scripts anytime but I hope I can finish them before the literature scripts come in. Students don't bug me regarding your answers, I'm not marking any of the 2 classes. :)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
must be a safer driver
Tailgating, unnecessary braking, cutting lanes without signalling, fast corners..these are just some of the bad driving habits I have. Sometimes I really get angry with myself for being so irresponsible.
I've already made a promise to her to be a safe driver. The last thing I want is passengers getting freaked out when they sit in my car, especially the ones closer to me. It's harder than I thought because I get my fair share of nonsense on the roads too. Well, it's time to take a huge step back and start mastering Highway Code once more.
On a side note, my best friend who just got his license for barely 2 months rented a 220 bhp Integra and went up to 160kph at Tuas. Sports cars are meant to be fast. However, not in the hands of a new driver in a high powered car he just laid his hands on. I admire his courage but am quite taken aback and slightly disappointed by how rash he was.
I don't think I would ever go at that speeds on Singapore roads. The license was way hard to get.
I've already made a promise to her to be a safe driver. The last thing I want is passengers getting freaked out when they sit in my car, especially the ones closer to me. It's harder than I thought because I get my fair share of nonsense on the roads too. Well, it's time to take a huge step back and start mastering Highway Code once more.
On a side note, my best friend who just got his license for barely 2 months rented a 220 bhp Integra and went up to 160kph at Tuas. Sports cars are meant to be fast. However, not in the hands of a new driver in a high powered car he just laid his hands on. I admire his courage but am quite taken aback and slightly disappointed by how rash he was.
I don't think I would ever go at that speeds on Singapore roads. The license was way hard to get.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
melted gummies
Gummy sweets do actually melt.
This is what I've learnt today. Left a small bag of sweets in the car this morning and went off to start the day. It was meant as a little surprise for her.
What started out as a quaint little collection of multi-coloured gummy sweets in an array of shapes and sizes was reduced to a slimy concoction under the intense, oven-like conditions in the cabin.
Let's just say that there was a good bit of humour when she received it. The whole package just ended up in the bin. 5 bucks down the drain. 5 bucks worth of gummies I've selected myself.
At this point, I'm still feeling particularly silly.
This is what I've learnt today. Left a small bag of sweets in the car this morning and went off to start the day. It was meant as a little surprise for her.
What started out as a quaint little collection of multi-coloured gummy sweets in an array of shapes and sizes was reduced to a slimy concoction under the intense, oven-like conditions in the cabin.
Let's just say that there was a good bit of humour when she received it. The whole package just ended up in the bin. 5 bucks down the drain. 5 bucks worth of gummies I've selected myself.
At this point, I'm still feeling particularly silly.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
meeting expectations
The past week had been a hectic and tiring one. The new timetable wasn't doing anything to help the stacks and stacks of marking I should have completed during the holidays. Thank goodness tomorrow is Good Friday.
I think I'm a rather thrashy teacher. A little clueless, a little behind time, a little blur..and sometimes the lack of experience and knowledge in the area of literature takes a big chunk out of my confidence and credibility during lessons.
Some of my students are more straightforward and they tell me not so nice things in my face. I hate to give the excuse that I'm untrained because I feel it's a responsibility to do my best. I am. However, my students see it as inefficient and I'm not meeting their expectations. Sometimes, it feels terrible because it almost seems I'm giving excuses everytime I try to explain.
Just had Meet the Parents session until 9pm. Reached home at 2pm thinking I could have a good nap but received a phone call to go down at 430pm to get ready for it. Totally slipped my mind, and I took the chance to rest before heading down again.
The session was okay. Quite an eye opener. I still remember my own Meet the Parents session way back in secondary 2. I wasn't a particular good student, and I remember it didn't feel exactly fantastic to be grilled about stuff you didn't do in front of your parents and teacher.
Spent the entire time speaking and explaining to parents regarding their kids' performance in literature. It didn't feel too good failing three quarters of a class, and I had much explanation to do. I still have to settle the issue for giving double zeros to a particular kid who didn't hand up his assignments. However, the parents seemed satisfied with what I had to say.
Oh well..suffering from a headache at this instant..I don't get these often but I guess the previous week has taken quite a toll on me.
I think I'm a rather thrashy teacher. A little clueless, a little behind time, a little blur..and sometimes the lack of experience and knowledge in the area of literature takes a big chunk out of my confidence and credibility during lessons.
Some of my students are more straightforward and they tell me not so nice things in my face. I hate to give the excuse that I'm untrained because I feel it's a responsibility to do my best. I am. However, my students see it as inefficient and I'm not meeting their expectations. Sometimes, it feels terrible because it almost seems I'm giving excuses everytime I try to explain.
Just had Meet the Parents session until 9pm. Reached home at 2pm thinking I could have a good nap but received a phone call to go down at 430pm to get ready for it. Totally slipped my mind, and I took the chance to rest before heading down again.
The session was okay. Quite an eye opener. I still remember my own Meet the Parents session way back in secondary 2. I wasn't a particular good student, and I remember it didn't feel exactly fantastic to be grilled about stuff you didn't do in front of your parents and teacher.
Spent the entire time speaking and explaining to parents regarding their kids' performance in literature. It didn't feel too good failing three quarters of a class, and I had much explanation to do. I still have to settle the issue for giving double zeros to a particular kid who didn't hand up his assignments. However, the parents seemed satisfied with what I had to say.
Oh well..suffering from a headache at this instant..I don't get these often but I guess the previous week has taken quite a toll on me.
Monday, March 17, 2008
what u get when u blog when sleepy.
In our lives, we meet many people. Strangers, acquaintances, friends, good friends, best friends. Some make a significant difference, some just fleet past our minds, barely registering in our memories.
Some of the people we meet develop into 'hi bye' friends, some of them might just stay acquaintances. And there are several who would become close pals, while others we forget about a few years down the road.
Which makes me wonder how many people I am in contact with now will become at least an acquaintance or maybe a friend that will still be there 5 years down the road..
Ok.. I intended to write more. However, I'm too tired to carry on. Blahh..
Some of the people we meet develop into 'hi bye' friends, some of them might just stay acquaintances. And there are several who would become close pals, while others we forget about a few years down the road.
Which makes me wonder how many people I am in contact with now will become at least an acquaintance or maybe a friend that will still be there 5 years down the road..
Ok.. I intended to write more. However, I'm too tired to carry on. Blahh..
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
just an update..
The past week has been overwhelming, in bits and pieces. I mean it in a good way though. Sometimes, things just happen and the moments, though fleeting, are beautiful.
I guess this is how life is. Unpredictable. You can be reeling with excitement one moment and the next, you have the wind sucker-punched out of you by something you didn't even see coming.
For me, at least for now, life seems to be cruising along at the right pace and right direction. One thing I've learnt recently is that we should make the most out of the present. Seize every opportunity to make every moment you live worth remembering.
I say this because sometimes we tend to get too caught up in the past that it prevents us from moving forward. We dwell too much in its shadows that it deprives us of the multitude of opportunities that creep past us without our knowledge. And once a moment is gone, it's lost forever.
School holidays this week. No school, no pay. I have a whole lot of marking to complete. They just keep coming it's scary. The classes are actually hurrying me for the assignments and tests. Busy is good though. I love busy.
I guess this is how life is. Unpredictable. You can be reeling with excitement one moment and the next, you have the wind sucker-punched out of you by something you didn't even see coming.
For me, at least for now, life seems to be cruising along at the right pace and right direction. One thing I've learnt recently is that we should make the most out of the present. Seize every opportunity to make every moment you live worth remembering.
I say this because sometimes we tend to get too caught up in the past that it prevents us from moving forward. We dwell too much in its shadows that it deprives us of the multitude of opportunities that creep past us without our knowledge. And once a moment is gone, it's lost forever.
School holidays this week. No school, no pay. I have a whole lot of marking to complete. They just keep coming it's scary. The classes are actually hurrying me for the assignments and tests. Busy is good though. I love busy.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
you might not understand this post
Today I'm going to break my number 1 rule in blogging. I am going to hold back on my writing and feelings. Mainly because my students read this blog and I don't think it's appropriate to write everything down.
Students, if you are reading this, let me apologise first for being slightly irrelevant and incoherent in my lesson today. Some of you might have caught me staring into space thinking, and ignoring you. I apologise for letting my feelings and emotions get in the way of my lesson. I am sorry for undermining the professionalism and responsibility I'm required to display.
Earlier, I've said something about not writing everything down because it's inappropriate. Scratch that. I don't think I'll be able to do so even if I tried. Things are just a total mess right now. My mind's clouded with a million thoughts that I have been trying very hard to put in perspective but to no avail.
I tried to cast them at the back of my head and lose myself in the pile of literature assignments but they all start coming back to me, pleading for some form of resolution..or at least some organization.
The thoughts just don't flow smooth. So many coursing through my mind, yet all scraping the surface of comprehension.
I have already made my point clear last night. Time is on our side. Yet, I don't think I can continue with what I've set out to do in the midst of this seemingly interminable wait. It's only been that number of hours since yesterday but I can't get you out of my head no matter how hard I try.
I've already explained that it's necessary. Things can't just move on if one is held back by one thing or another. Lying to yourself is wrong. So taking a step back for a breather always helps.
I'm sorry for being a tad emo. However, I had to if not I would explode. I guess that's what emo does. I know, emo is a form of release..
It's not easy to hide your hurt behind a smile.
Students, if you are reading this, let me apologise first for being slightly irrelevant and incoherent in my lesson today. Some of you might have caught me staring into space thinking, and ignoring you. I apologise for letting my feelings and emotions get in the way of my lesson. I am sorry for undermining the professionalism and responsibility I'm required to display.
Earlier, I've said something about not writing everything down because it's inappropriate. Scratch that. I don't think I'll be able to do so even if I tried. Things are just a total mess right now. My mind's clouded with a million thoughts that I have been trying very hard to put in perspective but to no avail.
I tried to cast them at the back of my head and lose myself in the pile of literature assignments but they all start coming back to me, pleading for some form of resolution..or at least some organization.
The thoughts just don't flow smooth. So many coursing through my mind, yet all scraping the surface of comprehension.
I have already made my point clear last night. Time is on our side. Yet, I don't think I can continue with what I've set out to do in the midst of this seemingly interminable wait. It's only been that number of hours since yesterday but I can't get you out of my head no matter how hard I try.
I've already explained that it's necessary. Things can't just move on if one is held back by one thing or another. Lying to yourself is wrong. So taking a step back for a breather always helps.
I'm sorry for being a tad emo. However, I had to if not I would explode. I guess that's what emo does. I know, emo is a form of release..
It's not easy to hide your hurt behind a smile.
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