Lord Tas - teach, learn and be smart!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Mid-May is always a joyous occasion. Just last week, the graduated batch of students that I had taught over many semesters had come together for their graduation. It was an occasion to celebrate. A milestone. The crossover from student life to adult working life. I had seen so many of the former students, now decked out in their working attire, looking so professional and so grown up! I could not believe that it was just a mere few months ago that we sat down to talk about life after graduation. Here they are, standing before me, graduates. I would like to wish them the very best in their endeavours and their future.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
I was never one to shy from controvesy. Well readers, school term started 3 weeks ago and since the whole circus started my "fuse" was shorter than ever. Unlike previous semesters, this semester, I was loaded with 2 subjects and my teaching hours up went considerably, plus the other side effects of having to set papers, manage my R&D unit as well as other admin stuff which is sapping all the energy away. And I had to have the dubious honour of taking a rather rowdy pack of students in their Junior year (2nd year). I started with 100 students in my class and after a few rounds of insults, the crowd thinned out and today, I could count a measly 30 or so in lecture. To me, I was happy. I would rather students come to class with an intent to study and not talk or play PSP2. My insults? Well...you got to try saying it with a straight face. My boss says that I got a sharp tongue, and I think it could have given a katana a run for its value!
Sample 1
To a misbehaving student who had coloured his hair blonde I said;
Me:"Hey! Golden Tamarin. if you want to monkey around, please leave. I can hear the 'keeper calling you for your bananas."
Student:"If I monkey, you zookeeper lah!"
Me:"At least I am human, but you?, a monkey. Now please leave if you don't feel like studying, after all, you do that thing so well (micmiking a monkey scratching)"
Sample 2
To a pair of boys sitting at the backrow talking;
Me:"Hey! You may take leave and go walk in the parks next to school and hold hands till the end of the day. But in class, you should participate in the lesson, not in yourselves".
(draws laughter from the class at them)
Do you feel irritated? Normally, the minority are so inconsiderate and make so much noise that the majority cannot enjoy the priviledge of being in class and interacting in the lessons. One other thing I dislike is lateness. But I will leave that for another post.

