2008 Vision Seminar

This year, it's all about learning from excellent students. In general, instructors did not understand why we have to learn from excellent students because they're already clever and will do well in their studies. The way I see it is, when you learn from them, you can encourage the "not" excellent students on how to deal with their weaknesses.

I have had the opportunities to learn from so many excellent instructors around Asia and Oceania. I've been to Australia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Japan to witness and observe centres. Now is the time to apply what I have learned.

This year, in December, there'll be a big celebration in conjunction with our 50th year. I am reluctant to attend because of some personal reasons. However, today, I've made up my mind that.....I should be part of it. I do not want to look back and not remembering celebrating the 50th year Anniversary.

So, Tokyo Dome.....here I come!!!!

Planning starts

I have decided to organise my students' prize giving ceremony in March. We chose "A Bird's Park" outing as to enjoy ourselves for the day and a party after that. I'll update this blog on the preparation.

Giving myself a pat on my back....

I decided to thank myself this year for being able to cope with life and all the hustle and bustle at the centre and the world surrounding it. I think I deserve a better ......

So, today I made a booking for a new Proton Saga. Here's how it's going to look like...

White.....he colour of purity and new beginning.

Is it important to have the numbers?

Many Instructor will question whether having a lot of students is important or not. Many have different views when it comes to this subject. As for me, I started off with wanting to get as many students as I could because otherwise, I would not have enough to pay my overhead. Secondly, from the many students, instructors can learn all kinds of ways to guide students. Every child has their weaknesses and strength. Instructors learn a lot from them.

I have learned a lot about teaching speacial students from mothers of special students. They (mothers) are truly special because they're are so strong and determined in trying to help their children to be a better adult. I can imagine how sad it is to not help your children to not become an independant adult.

Back to the question, I think it is important to have a certain number of students at the centre to ensure that you'll always have enough to meet all your expenses occured while running your centre, as well as, giving you a large pool of learning experiences. I'm still learning and I think I will never stop.

50th year VS 10th year

The organisation I'm in is celebrating its 50th year this year, and I am celebrating my 10th. What a coincidence.

Almost there again!!!

Early last year, I struggled to get my student numbers up to more than 200. I managed to, but for only one month. It was a real struggle throughout the year. This year, I wish to continue the fight.

It's not bad considering it's only the first month of the year. We're just 5 students less than our target. We are targetting to have 250 students by June.

I'm an assistant!

My friend Jennifer has a very big centre with almost 600 students. Recently, she had some problem with her recruitment. She's left with only one English teacher. She was desparate and really needed my help.

I offered her my Mondays and Thursdays. So, now...I'm a hired assistant, until she gets some people for her English Area.

It is quite tiring, but I do enjoy it.

Happy Ponggal-2008!

Every Year, Indians around the world will have a special day to celebrate their harvesting season. It's called Ponggal Day. Last week, my Indian students collected their homework in their best Indian suits and I just can't resist to take their picture. Ishan and Inesh looked dashing.

Trishhani looked so sweet in her suit!!!!

My staff Chelvi even brought sweet food for all of us and tried to feed me with a spoonful of something that tasted really nice. Sweet and spicy.

We're blessed to be able to celebrate so many festivals. Soon it'll be the Chinese New Year.

Yipee! Another Company Trip.

I was selected to be in the Vision Realisation Club for year 2007. The Company have decided to send us to THAILAND!!!! A group of us, only 35 instructors, will visit one of the biggest and most successful centre in Thailand.

I CAN'T WAIT.

3rd week of the year and already busy

70% of the Maths students have done their Re-Diagnostic Test. One had the cheek to ask what I'd give her if she did well in the test. I told her everyone is doing it, so there's nothing to give out when someone did well.

I need to start planning for "My Bird Park excursion" by this weekend. We'll get help from Jennifer, her husband and other volunteers.

Things are looking up at the centre. That is always the case to keep me going. This week the flu bug hit me, and all I want to do it stay home and be under the cover. Funny though that my flu bug is always shy to tickle my throat so much when I'm at the centre. So, everything is under control. I'm not spreading anything around.

To date I have 21 new enrolments. This year, I'm looking into expansion. I am ready. No more distraction and I can stay focus.

A busy week ahead

I planned to give all the students a diagnostic test this week. This is to evaluate their performance and also to give me an idea what kind of actions and planning I must do to the students.

It will be a hard job. Hard to my throat. Talking and encouraging and motivating. Children need to be motivated and there's no other way to motivate them but to give them an aim in what they're doing. I don't mind torturing my throat for all that.

Sunday and activities

I have been quite active lately. Realizing the fact that I'm not getting any younger and my body will hate me if I don't start to treat it right, I enrolled myself in an exercise centre. 3 times a week I'll be jumping about with Salsa dance, Masala Dance (Hindi Like dance) and Power Yoga. Yesterday I had to miss one of the class, so I decided to take up the offer to walk up Taman Melawati Hill. Got up at 7:15 and rushed out.

It was a nice peaceful walk. We took about an hour to go up and down the hill. My friend, Sharon is a committee member to save the hill from being abused by developers, so we had to stop a few times to say hello to the residence.

I'm going to spend the whole day baking today and am going to try my skills in cake decorating. Next week I'll have a real cake decorating class with Azreen.

A friend's Prize Giving Ceremony.

Today, I felt very happy. I was with Jennifer's advance students throughout the day. I never missed her Prize Giving presentation.

She had 2 sessions and I was in charge in the children's room. In the morning, I took 20 mins to explain what 5 steps Jet Plane Progress is all about. After that, we all enjoyed some sand art activities.

For the afternoon session, after some sharing about the high achievers' camp, we had a sudoku's competition.

Can't wait for my Bird Park's Excursion in March.

Another Mood Swing

Not from me but my staff. I'm tired of having to deal with mood swings.....enough of my own already!!!!

How can you deal with your longest serving staff who has mood swings? Is it hormone or just that's how she is? I even had to ask another staff if she was having a bad mood because of me or is it just her?

Reunion after reunion

I have been amusing myself with being involved with our BBGS reunion committee lately. To start the ball rolling, I have done 2 mini reunions so far. Yesterday's reunion was a hit. 10 turned up and everyone was happy. We exchanged presents and we shared out the bill!

I haven't seen some of them for ages. 3 of them have not seen me for 20 years. Funny how we all still looked the same.

Yesterday, some of the topic being discussed were about lasik operation for the eyes, nicest frames for glasses. It got me wonder what would the topics be in the next 10 years. Dentures and hip replacement? Botox and Liposuction? God knows.

We're all looking forward to our Class of '88 Reunion in April. I'm working hard to get in shape. Thanks to Yoga, Salsa Classes and Masala Dance, I've already lost quite a bit!!!

Busy means good.

From the day we started last week, I've been busy. To date, we have almost 20 new enrollments. I hope by end of this month, we'll get our numbers back. We lost a lot of students in November and December period. A lot of the students moved away, some decided to take a break.

Today was quite challenging. I had to test 9 students, and on top of that, one of my staff was having a mood swing. And "ALL" my 70 students turned up today. I'm suppose to be flat now, but I'm still sitting here writing this blog.

I have not updated this blog and I think I should. I've lost touch in my writing.

New Year Resolution

Since I started this blog, I've not really talked much about me and myself. Just the relationship I have with my centre. Sometimes I wonder if what I have been writing is what I really feel. Most of the time I am touched by what the children say and the little things that tickle me right into the bones. There are times when nothing would tickle, and all that I can do is weep.

Year 2007 was a real challenging year for me. At the centre, and in life. No matter what, I had to go through it all with bravery and optimism.

This year, I have to be even stronger.

Happy 2008!!!!! Happy 10th Year Anniversary!!!

I feel like I've been given some kind of freedom in my life and career at this point. Being 10 has given me that impact probably. It sounds awesome to declare...I've been doing this for 10 years!!!!

A 10 year old child has gone through just enough challenges and has matured just enough to be able to be independent. I feel similar.

I want to do much more than just making sure they meet their goals this year. I would make sure they learn some basic life skills at the centre. I'm really looking forward to it all.

I would like to thank parents most of all for their support and guidance in every way they can. Life is about learning. Teachers can learn from their students and parents too.