Shan Shan

Introduction

Diversity brings about creativity and innovation for schools/institutions to make better decisions. I am Shan Shan and I am a believer. I am a returning Chinese teacher from First Toa Payoh Primary School of 5 years to pursue a degree in BA Chinese Language and Literature with NIE. Being a recipient of the Undergraduate Award (UGA) from MOE, I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to hone my teaching skills and continue contributing to the society.

Chinese Language teachers are typically sent to either Asia-pac region namely China and Taiwan for teaching exchange. Thus, this experience would allow me to explore the European’s education system so as to broaden my perspective towards teaching languages as well as various teaching strategies which I could incorporate into my teaching as a returning teacher upon completion of BA (Edu). The regret of Chinese Language Teachers being deprive of this kind of opportunity to do teaching exchange in Europe proved limited exposure in our teaching pedagogies, I am glad to be selected to take up this keen challenge, and receive invaluable teaching and personal takeaways.

Thus, this led to my curiosity in Sweden’s education system, classroom structure and the kind of teaching strategies employed by the teachers while conducting their lessons. I strongly believe that this overseas exchange trip would allow me to experience first-hand the renowned teaching pedagogy, and give me a chance to assimilate into this culture. This would subsequently allow me to grow as a teacher and learn beyond the classroom through first-hand experience.

Teaching Philosophies

Teachers who form a lasting impression in students’ memory are those who are able catch their interests and able to ensure that they received invaluable takeaways. Teaching profession is certainly not meant for money-grubber and faint-hearted but a sacred role where we “mould” people. Thus, in my perspective, using of heart to nurture the future generation and character development plays an important aspect in teaching. 

Having good academic result but a poor character, I found it to be both myopic and detrimental to younger generations’ development. I believe that character building should form an integral part of the learning journey. Also, student’s achievement should be defined and altered according to individual’s learning ability i.e. benchmark should be set at an individual’s level.

Incorporation of core values

I believe values are both taught and caught; therefore I always emphasise on incorporating core values into lesson where students learned about:

1. Responsible (Self-motivation and discipline)

2. Respect  (Perspective taking)

3.  Love  ( showing care and concern, helping one another)

4.  Integrity (Taking pride in their own work)

5. Perseverance ( Always trying their very best)

Integration of “compassionate” element 

I believe that a way to connect with the students is by having heart to heart talk to show that you care and it can be felt once you open up her world to the students.  Hence I love imparting and sharing of both my life experience and knowledge with my students, students love to hear about travelling experiences especially and this justify my decision to embark on a teaching exchange trip to Sweden. 

All in all, I always remind myself to teach with heart -

( 用心：1. with utmost effort 2. Relentless love to touch students’ heart and mind)