Meeting Miss Shu Jien

Last week, Dr. Edwin invited one of his ex-students to share her teaching experience with us. According to him, this person was special because she believes that whatever that we practised in the universities, I mean during our micro teaching and so on can be applied in classroom. I find it quite interesting because there are some teachers who have problems in applying what they have learned while they were in teacher training because they said it is not suitable and the situation is different. Miss Shu Jien introduced herself. She had been teaching for 14 years and now she is still a secondary school teacher and at the same time continuing her master in literature. She had taught some schools in urban and rural area. According to her, students need time to accept literature as part of their syllabus because for all of this time, they have been used to the concept of right and wrong when they answer question. Whereas there is no right and wrong in literature. So, they need time to accept this new concept. Therefore, don’t expect our students to like literature immediately. She applied whatever had been taught to her while she was studying in the universities. She did ask her Form Two students to come out with the play “Phantom of The Opera”. She asked them to select their group members, choose their director, scriptwriter, actors and actresses and the prop members. I am fascinated with her because I don’t think that Form Two students can come out with play. But she proves that she had done it successfully. All her students participate in the play and they claimed a lot of things they learned from the activity. Well, I am amazed because when I was in secondary school, I never had such experience but now, I believe whatever activities that we had done either in the universities or teacher training college can applied in classroom. However, I admit that it is not going to be an easy task. A lot of time and money will be spent to ensure its success. Miss Shu Jien also told us to do whatever that we think can work for our students and don’t easily get discouraged when others against you. Have confidence in ourselves and proves to others that we can create miracle if we want. Yes, it might sound an imagination, but I believe when there is a will, there will always be the way.