Mentally Challenged VS Emotionally Challenged

On Wednesday I had a full day seminar, learning about how to handle children with learning disability. There are many types of learning disabilities. At times it makes me wonder why god wants to test a couple by giving them a mentally challenged child. I know for a fact, even though i'm not a mother yet, that having a child is already a challenge in itself.

In my 8 years as a teacher, I've crossed path with a few. I'll always remember them, because I would be the only one to teach them on a one to one basis. My very first was Mr Bollywood. He was diagnosed with ADHD with a slight Autism. 2 in 1!!!! He started when he was 6. Now he's 11 and is still a student in my centre. He was a perfectionist. At first, I didn't know how to stay calm when he chose to do his work while playing combat in his mind. While doing the work, he would suddenly disappear under the tables and suddenly I could only hear his voice calling out "NO WHERE TO HIDE!!!" He has come a long way. Being 11, he's an advance student now, but he's still the ADHD with slight Autism person I was introduced to 5 years ago.

I had 3 brothers with different challenges. Big Bro was a slow learner, Middle child was an authistic child with visual problem and little brother had Dyslexia. All three of them travelled 1 and a half hours weekly by car just to attend a class for 30 mins. When they came, everyone had to make way. They all had angelic face, being a Eurasian, they were adorable.

Mr Politician who was an authistic child would shake hand with everyone before he settled down to start his work. While doing his work, he would stop when someone new would walk in the classroom. He'd greet them and shake hand with them before he continues.

My most challenging one would be Young master Kung Fu. I had to do all sorts of self defence just to make him complete what's assigned to him.

I have to admit, in the early days, I would at times get nightmares the night before I was going to face these children. I have learned to accept that I have been the chosen one!!! to have to deal with them, in their learning years.

Land of the rising sun!

End of August, I decided to take a break. In my previous post, I called it "a much needed break!". It's a good thing that I made that decision because in the 6 days of "being away", I learned a lot!

My destination??? My 2nd most favourite country. From "never been there" in year 2000, to been there 5 times now! It's the land of the rising sun. Japan!

Why Japan? I just feel comfortable there!!! The people there are polite and never appear to try to intrude on other people's life. Even the men don't give sleazy looks to the women...well maybe accept when they're drunk. Walking alone in the city or the outskirts are just safe and peaceful....well of course, accept for the bikers passing by. If you're not careful, you'll get the "ring!" from their bicycle.

I met 2 + 1 instructors. 2 by appointment, and 1 by accident! They were great. It was an honour to meet them as they have more than 25 years of experience being an instructor.

I have been to so many centres outside of Malaysia. However, this time, it was special because I was allowed to interact with 6 wonderful Japanese students. We spent about an hour in a meeting room and we read to each other. While I try to read some English sentences to them, they were evaluating my "nihongo"!!! I tried to break the ice by letting them mark my nihongo worksheets. A few of them found it hilarious that I made mistakes.

With all the laughter and reading, I felt they were comfortable. I understood how it's like to have to speak in a language you're not confident with. I was like that too. One boy even looked like he was going to cry. I remember feeling that way at his age, when my teacher made me stand in front of the classroom to read an English passage.

Besides the students, it was great to be able to communicate with their instructors. I was there to also improve on my nihongo (well....I did learn how to change money in japanese, and I did get around the place by myself) I can't wait for their visit to Malaysia!

This trip was a hush-hush trip. The reason being me trying to find some peace and break time.

I did come back refreshed and having new vision for my centre and I feel that it's working out.

Year end crisis......here I come!!!

*** Every end of the year, we have so much problem in keeping the students to continue learning. They usually want to take a break.

Nice and easy.

By the time we closed the centre last night, I strongly felt that starting from next week onwards, things will be better for us. That's a good sign!

I saw a lot of smiles yesterday. Little young sweet talker came straight to me, and told me how his brother bullied him at home today. Knowing that all he was seeking was attention, I made an equally sad face and spoke with the same tone and told him to be strong. I also told him that one day, he'll be bigger than his brother and he'll not bully him anymore. I told him to look forward for that time because by then, they can play games together. I think he was just listening to my blabbering and not wanting me to say more when he just walked away!!!!!

One mother came in looking exited and looked like she can't wait to tell me something. I then made my way to the entrance and said hi! to her. She said that her son told her that she likes his teacher because his workload was reduced last week! It's not really a good thing to reduce a student's work, but at times......I find that it can be motivating. To make up for the reduced Maths workload, he promised to do more reading. Yesterday, he read 2 sets of work and 60 flashcards. I read him a story book in return.

Nowadays, I try to find time to read short stories for the children. I try to change my voice when I need to, and made facial expressions. I hope I can develop some kind of interest in the children to read more.

sigh sigh sigh..............

This week has been quite a busy week for us here. Short of staff, children coming back from their break and children started their new school year and were very excited to share with us what has been happening.

Today, I interviewed one candidate and I'm going to let her start on Monday. Yes......we are desparate! Miss Italiano has been absent for 2 weeks. I had to tell her off yesterday. She's just taken us for granted. Going for a holiday for a week in July, and now, 2 weeks of medical leave. I just can't stand it anymore. However, I'm giving her one more chance to come back on Monday, but I can't let her do all this to me again.

I'm sitting in for her, I'm marking for her....and I have to pay her at the end of the month when it's such a pain to survive! Ok, Ok I'm being a little complainer I am. But that's reality!

I'm not doing too bad for someone who hasn't really spent time marking for a long time. I've been through it all before. 70 students and I was all on my own. Marking, setting, teaching, meeting.......smiling, laughing, coughing and crying....I have done that all on my own at the centre when the word assistant didn't even exist.

Those were the days......I know better days will come.

La La La La La La La......

Today is a seminar day for me. Most Wednesdays I make an effort to go to the Head Office to attend various seminars. I also go to keep in touch with the other instructors. It's good to keep the fire burning....so they say.

Today was good because after the seminar, a group of us sang. As in a choir group. We are going to sing for the students during the National Prize Giving ceremony. We all came out smiling from the practice room, thinking about us being on stage and sing. It's going to be funny in a way. However, I'm sure it'll be fun for the students to see their teachers on the stage.

Talk about singing. I have before experienced having students singing while doing their work. It was hilarious when a Korean Boy started singing in Korean. He didn't mean to distract the class but because it was a foreign language to us, everyone started to pay more attention to his singing than to their work.

I have a few times been caught humming by the students. Most of them have approved of my songs but one time, a boy said he hates love songs. I think that's why I started to listen to USHER!!!!! However.......it's easier to hum love songs.

Back to work!

After missing 2 classes on Friday and Monday, I am now back at the centre. How disorganized I feel this morning. Like it's my first day at work.

I was briefed by both staff of the things that has happened during my absence and before we finished, I had an appointment with a parent and spent 45 minutes talking to them.

Called 2 parents and talked to them on the phone. One mother was complaining about how her daughter is just not taking the hormone changes in her body well. Can you imagine??? The daughter is 10 and acting like someone approaching menopause. Always tired, always agitated !and just not like her. Our solution.....take a month break. Ah well!! One absent, 3 new enrolments and 7 came back from the summer break. I don't think that sounds so bad.

Another mother was concerned about her daughter not knowing how to subtract the bigger digits. She's been taking off for a week due to chicken pox, and she's doing an advance level....so that explains.

Now, the action plans have to be put to action. NO more just on paper and planning. I have to now take over the English Area and I'm going to just have so much fun.

While I was away, my staff were able to handle things well. I'm just so thankful.

A much needed break

I`m taking a break from my centre at the moment. I`ll be back on Tuesday. I needed the break. I think every instructors go through moments of despair and just need time out. At times like this, all an instructor need is words of encouragement and some TLC...(Tender Loving Care!)

Anyway, on Tuesday, I`ll be back with new ideas and higher spirit to go on in my journey as an instructor.

I think every instructor should be in touch with each other, and this does not ony include instructor from the same country. When you meet up with instructors from other countries and share your classroom moments, you get all charged up.

I`ll share in my next entry what I`ve been doing in the last few days. Till then, have a good weekend.