Adrian Goh

Today, I had my first session of SCUBA diving training.  It was pretty interesting.  Well, it could have been more fun of course, like going deeper (but the pool wasn't that deep anyway, only 3m).

I noted something interesting though.  When you talk to the girls, they would sound like they are very interested in guys.  When you talk to the boys, they would sound like they are interested in girls (some guys are more interested in playing games).  But when you actually put them together, they behave like they are afraid of each other...  I mean, it was very clear that during the training, the boys didn't mix with the girls at all, or vice versa...

Do they just talk because it makes them sound cool and helps them to stay in the group?  If I'm in a group of boys (not men), and I don't talk about girls or games (maple, dota, CS, etc...) then I won't be able to mix in the group?  That group of boys would think that I'm weird?

Is it possible to ever be different yet still be able to mix in a group, be acceptable by that group and be considered as one of their friends?

I remember my days in secondary school (all boys school), there were 2 distinct groups - those who played soccer (I'm in this group) and those who were more 'gentle' and didn't play soccer.  But we mixed pretty well.  Our class was known to be one of the more united classes.  Of course the guys who played soccer together were closer because soccer is a game that bonds people together!  But we still went out together, studied together, watched movies together, etc.. with the rest of the guys.

I wonder if this has anything to do with maturity...

Ok, been a couple of days since I blogged something. Seems like I'm starting to lose my momentum.

Better add something first. This week has been good because test for every class. One thing that teachers like about test is, they don't have to prepare lessons, just go in and give out papers and do nothing.

Another thing I like about test is... It's a good time for me to find out whether they really understand what I've been teaching or not.

It's funny, but I remember that when I was a student, I liked tests too. It's a good time for me to find out what I know or what I dunno. I didn't hate test or exams like students did. All simply because of the way I see it and the attitude behind it. I saw test as something that helped me to study less. Why?

If I got something correct: That means I don't have to spend so much time studying that topic the next time.

If I got something wrong:  I just need to find out why is that wrong, then I don't need to spend so much time studying that part.

In other words, either way also I benefit from it.  If wrong, I learn from it, so next time study less.  If correct, I don't need to spend so much time on it, so, also study less.  But some how, students don't seem to see it the way I saw it...  Dunno why...  It really makes sense mah.  Maybe I'm just smart la, muahahaha...

I think many students wonder what do teachers do with their weekends.  And sometimes, I wonder what do they think I do with my weekend.

I suspect they all think that I go to pubs and discos and stuff like that.  That's probably what they think of every young teacher.

The truth is... 
SATURDAY:
If I'm free in the morning, I might be playing soccer with my team against another team arrange by the referee.  If not, I'll probably be lazing around in the morning.  How often do I get to wake up late?  Waking up late on saturday mornings is important!

Later on in the afternoon, I'll be heading down to church for the youth service.  Nope, I'm not a youth (I wish I was...  After all, I'm only 21 years old :P).  But I'm serving in the youth ministry because I believe that's where God has called me to be.  But it's been a while since I was down for the youth service because now I'm more involved in conducting classes for the youths in church.

Although it's been 3 weeks since I was at the youth service, the service is still as AWESOME as ever.  From the very moment I stepped in I felt the very presence of God.  Throughout the service, I knew God was letting everyone know of his goodness and His love.  It's amazing and heartwarming to know that in the midst of all the struggles, the frustrations, the difficulties, the failures we face in life, there is someone that knows how we feel, understands what we are going through, promises to be our strength when we are feeling weak and carries us when we can't stand up on our own.  Nothing beats knowing that in this person, I know that I am loved, a love deeper and stronger than a parent's love, a friend's love or a husband/wife's love.  It is a love that is unconditional, has no limits and will never leave me!  This love is found in JESUS!

SUNDAY:
It's one of those rare sundays that I actually stayed at home all day!  But I had work to do.  And students think that we teachers don't have homework?  They are so totally WRONG!  Some teachers bring lots of marking home over the weekend, others spend the weekend planning and preparing for the next week and yet others spend time making a list of things to do in the coming week, for example - list of students that they must chase for homework, list of classes that have yet to hand in PTM form, donation booklet and money, etc...

Which leads me to the next point...  Why can't students just remember to bring forms and instead require teachers to chase them for it EVERYDAY!?  Sigh...

I walked into school today and much to my surprise, I saw something...  And it looked really good.

It looked really good because of 1 particular picture, haha...

On another note...  I think I'm getting old...  NO NO NO, I think just lack of exercise...  I've stopped running for about 3 months already.  Today, ran 5 rounds outside the school.  Not very tiring, but I wasn't happy, cos I was running real slow...

I could have chosen to walk just like the rest of the students, but I chose to run...  I did that because I wanted to motivate my students.  I wanted to set a positive example.  But not many people were encouraged by the example I set.  Sigh...  Only a handful whom I noticed tried to keep up with me, Zhi Kwang, Li Kai, Jin Sheng,...  I might have missed some others.

What's the problem ah?  When I try to set good example, no one follows.  When I set a negative example only, everyone follows...  Sigh, i also dunno what to say about it man.

I remember watching Shrek 2, and the donkey ask the same question "Are we there yet?" like 97162398123 times.  Of course, Shrek answers that question a few times then finally he gets fed up.  That's exactly how I feel man...  Why do I say that?

I simply cannot understand why after Student A, ask a question, I reply, then Student B ask the SAME QUESTION!  Nevermind, I'm very patient, I answer Student B, then guess what?  Student C ask the SAME QUESTION!  Then what?  Nevermind, God grant me patience...  I answer Student C...  Then what?  Student D ask the SAME QUESTION!!!

Can someone tell me what's wrong???  HELP!!!  Sigh...  What should I do?

What if I replied the student this way:  "Why weren't you listening when I was explaining?  GET OUT OF MY CLASS!"

I don't think they would like the feeling, I wouldn't like it if I were them.  So I refrain myself from screaming...  But if I can spare a thought for them, why can't they spare a thought for me?

Sigh...  I love my students, but I can't stand their restlessness and their daydreaming powers...

I just finished the topic on Statistics with 4 Faith/Joy. And I asked the standard question: "So do you find this topic easy?"

And the answer was... A resounding "YES". Well, not resounding la. Their answer was rather soft, but generally, most said it was easy.

Sometimes I wonder... Do they know what they are saying? Or are they just replying that for fun, maybe just to get me to stop asking?

I just hope and believe that they really did find it easy. That would mean that I'm a good teacher! Haha...

They are different from last year.
More sensible
More responsive
More interested to learn
More students showing a positive change in attitude towards work

Take Sherman as an example. Loud, the way he talks is... sigh... I also dunno how to say, but when he's asked to do work he will try, when I'm talking, he will listen and try to respond. That's what I like about him, MINUS away the way that he talks, haha...

On the whole, I'm proud of this class. Seeing how they were last year and how they are this year. It tells me that these students have a future, a potential. Because if they can improve positively in just 1 year, imagine 5 years later, 10 years later...

Walked into 4 Faith / Joy for lesson. I tried to teach for a while, only to realise that I looked like a silly fool, talking to myself.

It really pissed me off. I wonder how many people enjoy looking/sounding stupid. I told them how I felt and much to my surprise they empathised.

Subsequently, I felt that it was a good lesson and I enjoyed teaching the class because they looked like they were really trying. Something I noted about someone. Zhixiang...

He may behave in a manner that seems rather unpleasant but I see another side of him. I noticed that when he found a mistake in the book, he went around telling everyone to change. The way he helps out with AV stuff shows the helpful part of him. He shows a willingness to learn and a quick learner I must say.

I told my class 4 Hope, to appreciate the Class Executive Committee because they are doing a job which perhaps the rest wouldn't want to do. So I think we should try to make life easier for them.

Talk about appreciating, I wanna commend Neo Jun Yuan, when he came looking for me to take back his art stuff that he left in ITR4 last week. After he took it from me, he said "thank you".

2 simple words that we often overlook. Some of us, don't even know how to say it. Others who hear it, don't think anything of it. As for me, I'm glad he said it. Not that I'm desperate to hear it. It doesn't really bother me if he hadn't, but I would have had a bad impression of him.

Saying it, gave me a good impression of him and I see potential in this guy.

I'm testing to see if I can actually maintain a blog. Haha... Well, if I could, I intend to put up my thoughts about my lessons in school, my students, etc...

That's all for now... If this is the last post, then I know... I can't maintain a blog, haha