Working Class Heroes

During National Day, one of the staff members mentioned to his class about the photography competition that is being held.

Lecturer: Ok class, the theme of this year’s National Day photography competition is The Singapore Spirit. Go take a few days to think about it and submit your entries.

Student: ….Er…. Teacher, need to go cemetery ah?

Today I went about teaching my students on Managing Relationships. Part of the topic includes tips on getting over rejection and breaking up. (what an irony… But I try my best still )

2 girls from my class stayed back and requested to speak with me. Turns out that one is breaking up with her boyfriend tonight (he’s cheating on her), the other got the bad news last Friday (because he is going back to his ex-gf). They stared at me, teary eyed and looking for a direction. I remember…  I was like that a while ago.

I told them no matter how bad it is, they can get past it.  I will be here for them. And we are all survivors and this can only make us stronger. I hugged them for a long time. They were crying in my arms.You know that it’s the sort that is from the bottom of their shattered hearts. I spoke to them for a long time, and I promised that I will be there to see them through this rut. In fact,I am glad I have the chance to be here for them.

This is why I love my job. I can make a difference to their lives no matter how insignificant my efforts might seem.

I  hope you guys had a good day at work today. My day turned out to be very different from what I had in mind, but in a good way I guess.

school lingo: ‘cher = short form for teacher

When teaching them effective habits…

” ‘cher, is smoking a bad habit?”

“no, I personally feel that it is just a lifestyle choice.”

*A lot of cheering and high 5s from students*

“i’m not advocating that smoking is good. i’m saying, just don’t pretend to be shocked if you get cancer. You’ve got it coming!”

“‘cher, you don’t smoke, but do you drink?”

“yes, i do. I don’t see what’s wrong because I am not an alcoholic nor a recovering one. You guys just wait till you’re 18. Don’t be impatient.”

*claps and cheers all over the class*

“‘cher! You good lah! Dare to say you got drink outside! We like you! So many teachers all geh-siao (pretending)! Pretend that they are holy!!!”

After that I have to remind that never to do things in excess. I don’t want them to think that it is ok. Haha. I find it surprising that these little details can make them go crazy. Teachers are over-stereotyped man. When are teachers supposed to be holy? We’re only supposed to teach.

Today I was in class when I heard a student sneezing, so I asked:

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Oh I got the bug, so I am not feeling well…”

“Oh the flu bug? Take good care, be sure to drink lots of water!”

“No, not the flu bug. I got the Cholera bug. You know what that is right?”

“(?!)….erm, yah. Just take care of yourself.”

*In my head I’m thinking: isn’t cholera fatal? what in the world?! but he was so sure about it i had to just say yes.

So, I went to Wiki it.

Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic or epidemic cholera, is an infectious gastroenteritis caused by enterotoxin-producing strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.n a common scenario, the disease progresses from the first liquid stool to shock in 4 to 12 hours, with death following in 18 hours to several days, unless oral rehydration therapy is provided.

Ok, if my class headcount goes down, I guess I know why.

Hi everyone I’ve finally completed my 1 week of work and my first day of teaching.

IT IS COMPLETELY EXHAUSTING. My department is short staffed so I am lecturing maximum hours, about 25 or so. 4 hours of lessons at one go is no joke…

Most of my students are very shocked to see me, because currently I am the youngest lecturer in my school! I have some 250 students that I teach this term and some of them are freaky but most of them nice. or maybe I haven’t seen what’s coming yet.

Some FAQs from my students on my 1st day:

Teacher, how old are you?

where do you stay?

How much are you paid?

Do you have a boyfriend?

Can I have your number?

Can we ask you out?

What you like to eat?

You like to watch movies?

Freaky comments:

Teacher, I promise you that I will never miss your class *looks at you with bambi eyes*

Teacher, you like to drink that? Where you buy from? Why I can’t find it in my supermarket? If you like I buy for you after class. Every class I will buy for you.

Teacher, I think my brother wants to know you.

Teacher, guess which CCA i am from.

Teacher, can I call you SEXY in class? (?!?!)

Teacher, can I don’t call you teacher? I want to call you my ZONG4! (meaning your senior in hokkien or something)

Hahaha…

i have more to share but I guess I’ll have to do it later! GTG!

Yup yup, the unforgiving monday is making its grand entrance with spiked boots and a club to knock our senses out.

and I haven’t finished my work hahaha. So much for thinking that I will make full use of my long weekend, but well… as a good friend has said before, nothing in the world would have been done if not for the last minute. and I still have half a day, so to speak… Anyway, I spoke like the old woman who lives in a shoe in my last post, it is my PMS speaking i think. I actually had a good friday night after that. ahha, what the hell.

Here’s something a friend told me, it’s pretty silly though, from primary school students:

After I give out your compositions to you, please do your corrections on another page and hand it in to me

Teacher, how to do corrections?

Just copy it out, rewrite the wrong parts with the correct ones in another colour. For example if you spelled a word wrongly, rewrite it this time with a green pen instead, so I will know.

Teacher, can use green pen ah? Then can I use red pen?

Yes you can.

Then can I use purple pen?

Yes you can use anything you like as long as its not the usual one you use.

Then can I use glue pen? (fishes out UHU glue)

Haha, I can’t decide if its more annoying or amusing… But my friend was pretty irritated. Have a good week ahead everyone, and let’s start to look forward to the next weekend. Oh, my actual class starts this coming Wednesday! Looking forward!

Today someone sort of informed me that maybe I might want to get another bag for a change. Because apparently a LV bucket bag is deemed a little too playful for a person lecturing. Hmm?

I am carrying the bucket bag from the left. If for a second you thought it was the one from the right….. I can only say… WOW……….you must really have a lot of faith in me to think that I will pull something off like that. hahaha!

This is one of my personal favourite dilemma situations that were being brought up during the students’ camp. This is dedicated to Candy, Dorothy since they stay in opposition wards. Some might have heard it already, pardon me for repeating, but here it goes:

You come from a very poor family. Many years ago, an opposition MP gave you money for your ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels exams, the amount of money covered all your exam fees. With the passing of time, you forgot about the good deed that this man had done.

Recently when you returned to your village, you asked your father why he continued to vote for the opposition MP when he cannot provide any progress. The school that you had studied in 20 years ago had not been renovated. The place is dilapitated. Your father reminded you of the money that the MP has provided you many years ago. You would not be what you are, if not for the small sum of money given by him then. Your father had supported the opposition MP all through the years, while you have forgotten the deed.

The next general election is round the corner, and this is the year you will be able to vote. Will you vote for the opposition MP for the kind deed he has done for you, or will you vote for the other so that your village will get the development funds promised, never mind if it deems you ungrateful?

My favourite answer: blue=trainer (not me though) they try to prompt students to determine their decision making process.

“I will vote for the ruling party, because using the common-goods approach, this decision will benefit all the villagers when development occurs”

“But the MP helped you when you were young!”

“I understand, but I cannot be selfish. We have to think of the others who will be affected by our decisions.”

“But you will be a ungrateful person! What if he finds out that the person he has helped so much voted otherwise???”

*boy gives a sneaky look* “…..But I thought the TV say nobody will know who we vote for? Voting is confidential? Hmm….So how will he know???”

So if it’s you, who will YOU vote for?

Most wtf answer I heard:

“Pope John Paul”

“Why?”

“Because I heard that he’s a good guy. He likes to spread peace, and he sounds like an ethical guy, and ethical people are holy, I think…”

“Why do you think are his leadership qualities?”

“He looks clean and nice…. so, (*in a loud scream) rock on my brudder, JOHN PAUL!!!”