Teachers Stories

Students with zero motivation? Well, let's try thinking out of the box. Miss Eunice Tang reflects on her first substitute teaching experience, how she turned a class of boys with zero motivation, to learners who began to develop an interest in learning English.

To see the script, go to: http://paulsze.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/try-thinking-outside-the-box/

As her seventh year of teaching comes to a close, Miss Teresa Wong ponders on the crucial question of 'Why am I still teaching' through reconnecting with, in her mind, the teachers who have taught her, and the students whom she has taught.

(Background music: 'Fragrant grasses' by Sambodhi Prem; CC License

Only love can make a difference. I still remember that was what a Father at my church said. And let me add something to this phrase: Only unconditional love can make a difference. How tolerant and patient can you be to a class of students who are labelled losers? To what extent do you believe you can bring about changes, no matter how slow and frustrating the experience can be? I had such an experience.

That was a few years ago. Although I had several years of teaching experience, I was new to this girls’ school. I thought things would be easy and I had so many ambitions, but I was wrong. I was given the so-called worst F. 4 class. When I walked into the classroom, I saw students who enjoyed chatting and fooling around more than learning. They didn’t like or respect me either because they didn’t know anything about me. They just didn’t take me seriously. I felt disheartened, but did I wave the white flag? No. I still had a firm belief that every individual can be molded and inspired to do great things in different ways. You just have to show them you care.

So back to my class. I had a girl who never really paid attention in the English lessons. She just slept through them and whenever I intervened, she became hostile and refused to cooperate. I didn’t remember what exactly I did. I guessed I just kept on doing what I should do. I kept on preparing well for my lessons. I still marked her work in detail. True that I still failed her compositions, but I tried to adjust myself a bit and added in some interesting stuff to my lessons every now and then. I remembered how overwhelmed with joy I was when the whole class clapped their hands after watching two Youtube clips. The first one was the Mum’s song. The students marvelled at the performer’s clarity of speech and the funny content about a mum’s life in the melody of the famous horse-racing song. Another time was when they were too stressed out, I chose a clip called “Inspiration for All” telling them to calm down, relax and things would be okay. The cute pictures of some animals together with the simple encouraging words somehow broke the ice. They finally felt that I was not the kind of teacher who only focused on their results. I always tell my students, even though you don’t love English, don’t hate it. Learn to make friends with English and all the other difficulties can be resolved gradually and naturally.

To my surprise, this girl began to show positive changes even though I did nothing special with her. At the end of the Form 4 school term, I got a long letter from her. She told me she could only write me a letter at that time because she was so sorry for what she had done in the year. She apologized for not being polite with me and confessed that she only copied the answers when she did the exam practice. Touched by my patience and persistence, she promised to do her own work and study English seriously. She also shared her excitement in watching America’s Got Talent every week because I played the clips of Susan Boyle and Connie Talbot on Britain’s Got Talent in class. In fact, she still failed her tests and exams, but she finally got a pass in the Reading and Writing papers in her mock exam. She truly valued her improvement and the marks she deserved. The truth is, I didn’t give her any privilege. I just treated her like any other student and gave her a chance. I would never forget the note she gave me on her last day at school. She wrote, “Miss Wong, don’t worry, I’ll study hard and I won’t let you down.” She could have got a fail in her HKCEE, but finally she got a Level 3, which enabled her to study F. 6 in another school.

To me, once a student sees hope and develops a genuine interest in the language, the rest will take care of itself. It’s much more effective than doing drills and exam practice all the time. Students are not robots. They can feel what you are doing for them. A teacher is not just teaching a subject but the whole person. Love for students isn’t just about giving out presents, assigning less homework or playing games with them. Letting them go their way may work for a while, but we are doing this at the expense of a student’s righteousness and character. I don’t and won’t let this happen. With reasonable expectations and unconditional support, both we teachers and our students will eventually find our way. By that time, you will feel that all the sufferings, frustration and tears are worth it. What’s more, you’ve won the trust of your students and left footprints in their hearts. After all, you got to bear with the rain before you see the rainbow. Let us believe and be ready to give.

As Ms Becky Cheung is about to embark on her new job, Paul Sze invites her to look back on her teaching days, and to look ahead to her new position.

No one can expect anyone else to change, but when they do, it feels as if they have left a seal of love in my heart ...

... Instead of walking up to him for another attempt, I walked out on him .... Story written and narrated by Catherine Chan.

I have produced this episode as a tribute to Mr Patrick Chan, an expert teacher of English who has served tirelessly Hong Kong's primary education for over thirty years.
To see the script, go to:
http://szepaul.xanga.com/701986896/every-lesson-is-a-new-lesson/

Teachers need encouragement too. In this episode, Professor Icy Lee tells how she rebuilt the self-confidence of a teahcer with her words of encouragement.
(Visit her blog at:
http://foodforthoughtfromicy.blogspot.com/)

Primary English Teacher Ada Ho relates an incident in which she was completely helpless to do anything about an at-risk student. (The written version can be seen at http://www.xanga.com/szepaul/; entry of July 14)

Pauline realises that the impact of our words can go beyond our classroom and our school.
To see the script, go to:
http://www.xanga.com/szepaul/ (Blogpost of August 21, 2008)

Tiffany had been carrying the gift with her for years, just so that if one day she ran into her teacher, she could give it to her in person.

 As teachers, we long to deliver lessons that touch the hearts of our students, lessons that students will remember for many many years, but we also know that such highly teachable moments are rare. ..
(To see the script, go to the blogpost of March 7, 2008 on http://www.xanga.com/szepaul/.)

Jack was singing to himself, and in effect to the whole class, "Don't laugh at me."
To see the script, go to http://www.xanga.com/szepaul/, and scroll to entry of Jan. 9, 2008.

"I believe that as long as we continue to have a heart of compassion, to put ourselves in other people's shoes, to feel what others feel, and treat each other with kindness, the world WILL become a more beautiful place, and you yourselves will become happier people."
(To see the script, go to http://www.xanga.com/szepaul/; Dec 14, 2007)

"There were times when I thought I would be better off without a father ...."
(To see the script, see the blogpost of December 11, 2007, at http://www.xanga.com/szepaul/.)

'Miss Mak, this is the only present I can afford.'

Rainice will never forget that touching moment.

When Lala took up supply teaching at a low-band secondary school, she was in for a very big shock.

Show your students you believe in their ability, and they will respond accordingly.

Today, Ada is still willing to make sacrifices for her students. But now, her students have become too busy to see her.

 Christine said to defiant Pinky, "I want to be your friend." Pinky responded coldly, "I don't want YOU for a friend."

She has taught me that blaming is an effective way to kill a student's self-confidence.

So, this is teaching?

Sometimes, we just have to have a bit more confidence in our students.

"For the first time, I discovered that I could be a teacher ...."

 "Why can't joint lesson planning in my school be like this?"

"Miss Lau, you got 9 Distinctions! How come you became a teacher?"

The girl gazed at Ruby, as if she was her mother.

For the first time, Clairine realised that her work was not just affecting her students ...

This human connection is made possible, because I am a teacher.

Teaching could be your job for the next 35 years? Should you take the plunge?

... When I asked her whether she would apply to an elite school for a teaching position, she gave me a short and sharp answer ....

Teachers have the most enviable job because they have many many holidays?

To take it or not to take it

If I hadn't become a teacher more than 30 years ago, what kind of person would I be like today? Why do I want to tell teachers' stories?

If I hadn't become a teacher more than 30 years ago, what kind of person would I be like today? Why do I want to tell teachers' stories?