I have been giving English tuition to some kids at the orphanage nearby my home after someone sent out distress SOS in Facebook for volunteers. Out of over 10,000 fellas in the community FB, less than 5 actually responded!!! I reserve my further comments on this matter as many keyboard warriors would nowadays spring into actions to ridicule when slightest matter provoked their eyes. They could easily spare their time at night and use their keyboard skills to help others in need. Haiks!
I have been focusing on the weaker ones who would be sitting
for their UPSR this month. It has been tough for me to teach
them and even tougher for them to learn everything at this age
of 12 years old! Time and Tide really waits for no man here...
of 12 years old! Time and Tide really waits for no man here...
We understand that English is one of the toughest language to learn in this
whole world esp when it has too many crazy tenses and vocabularies!
Thanks to my smartphone and I could search for the pictures of scones,
guava, flamingo, jumble sale and the list goes on...
I realised that it would be tough for anyone to master English language
if they do not have daily practice in communication or
reading habits. I really feel sad for them as all could not
speak the correct and simple English sentence at the age of 12.
This guy dozed off many times and he is only
10 years old. He has to wake up at 5.00am and goes
to the morning sessions and would finish school at almost
evening after some activities. Back to the orphanage,
I guess he had other routines to do besides the
homework and housework. I noticed that they
probably had no chance to take naps as all their
sleeping mattresses are neatly rolled up.
These are facts of life and I am humbly grateful
that both my parents gave me a good life with sound
education and quality upbringing. I should
always try to help these kids no matter how
tough it could be. Good luck to those
who will sit for their UPSR soon.
***
Thumb up to you, TM...
ReplyDeleteThank you !
DeleteYes, I agree with you, we are blessed with good homes and education whereas these kids have affection coming from non family members, they are blessed in a way to have your care and concern from you and others, yes, all the best to them and hope they will strive through with good results!
ReplyDeleteI salute your effort and determination too, for giving your children the best. They are so successful today and mummy is happiest like a bird traveling non stop.
DeleteI wish I could be a good Samaritan like you.
ReplyDeleteThere is no stopping for you when there is a will, there is a way.
Deletethese kids would be very grateful to u if they scored well in the exams...U r such a kind person to offer them ur time and effort in improving their studies. Nearby my house there is a church who organise such activity too...but i'm yet have the time/courage to teach. Salute u, bro!
ReplyDeleteI hope the church would send more SOS to you to help them. I got moving after seeing the distress SOS so many times.
DeleteI was a bit perplexed by your post title initially. Ah, you're giving tuition to 12 year olds! As always, you have such a kind heart and I'm sure they're grateful for your time, effort and assistance :) Good luck to your little charges! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt took me so long to find a title for this simple post. I am just sharing to create awareness that the kids in the orphanages do need tutors too and not just rice, provisions and cash donations. In the past I always collected goods to pass to orphanages but had no idea about tutoring by myself.
DeleteHope you will get many pelajar cemerlang!
ReplyDeleteThank you and I hope so. Why don;t you help to create many pelajar cemerlang too???
DeleteWell done TM! Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I will make use of my smartphone too and show my students images of things they ask questions about as sometimes they will ask like what does a XXXXX looks like, etc
At first when I saw your post title, I thought you are going to sit for some examination, LOL
Good luck to your students
LOL I am too old for anymore exams and I really don;t like to study again. Unlike my wife, she loves to study and her Phd will start soon.
DeleteI hope you'll be blessed for offering your time and energy to these kids ... it's definitely difficult to master a language that's not your mother tongue. I've tried to study multiple languages, but I can only handle English and Malay!
ReplyDeleteYou only speak English and Malay! What about Hokkien and Cantonese??
DeleteI want to brush up my Japanese since I have Japanese clients now.
All the best to these children! You are so kind to give them English tuition. Sometimes their foundation is not strong so it is quite difficult for them to catch up. Must start from the basics for them but no time for that as UPSR is now.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that their foundation is not strong with their given background and exposure. I have been cracking my head to find the right solution. They lacked practice too.
DeleteDuring long school holidays start them from standard 1 and let them read many English boiks like those children ladybird series books or Petee and Jane series books. Can get those books from the public library. Hopefully can cultivate a love of reading English books in them. Let them watch English speaking cartoons or children movies or sesame street during class during long holidays on your iPad.
DeleteThanks & you have shared some good ideas but I doubt they are determined to learn that way. It is difficult to explain their situation but the reasons some volunteers have disappeared made me realize it is not easy as we are not there full time or daily. Most of the kids are encouraged to return to their kampungs during breaks as they either have a single parent left or some relative/guardians which is important for family bonding. I will need to discuss with the senior volunteers as they know the situation better and what nots.
DeleteI can understand what you mean because once I was paid to teach a std 4 boy BM as a one to one tuition teacher but no matter what I do, it just did not work due to many external factors such as his home environment is not conducive for studying and etc. In the end I just gave up and quit my part time tuition teacher job.
DeleteGreat job, & I'm sure these kids will benefit greatly from your sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you and I will try harder to help them.
DeleteBless you, TM! It is not easy to teach. One must have the passion and also the patience. These kids with very poor foundation in English find it a struggle, poor things.
ReplyDeleteI think I have no passion as teaching is not my cup of tea but I have lots of patience and pity on them that prompted me to help when others are not.
DeleteIndeed their situation is understandable as we experienced same but putting much pressure on the little ones should be prevented. Sleeping and playing is important for kids like how education is… Glad I got a nice English tuition teacher during my primary school and being an Anglo Indian her English teaching formed the base for my language that helps me now
ReplyDeleteIt was good that you had a good teacher and here you are able to write beautiful blogs. So far I noticed that all bloggers from Bhutan write very brilliant English and I was surprised that most of them had higher studies in India.
DeleteI am so proud of you and I admire people who volunteer their time to help the needy ones. I am also saddenned to see children who are feeling sleepy and sick because of the long hours of work and studies. Good luck to your endeavour and may your kindness be a great example to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind wishes. I could see the obstacles and joy you received from being a teacher full time. I was told that less privileged or orphaned kids are often emotional and need more understanding from teachers.
Delete:O
ReplyDeleteI was just telling my husband the other day regarding you taking care of the sickly and now this? Wow. You got my upmost respect here, TM.
With the cost of living rising sky high, there are still angels like you who volunteers their precious time for the needy.
One day, one of these kids will be a successful person and hopefully they will pay it forward too as they recall how a great man took time out for his daily routine to tutor them when they needed it most.
Sometimes I wondered whether I have to pay back in this life, as to become caregivers to the sick, feed homeless beggars and teach English to the Buddhist monks and now the orphans. I believe everything happens for a reason in life as I did not go all out to find them but we crossed paths somewhere. I just live each day and come what may.
DeleteNot easy being Malaysian students these days...
ReplyDeleteI feel stressed for them la! The syllabus seems to be getting tougher!
My 5yo gets average 3 homeworks everyday, i don't remember having homeworks when I was in kindergarten last time!
Thumbs up for you TM! You are really their angel! May God bless you all the time!!
Worry not mummy, as the syllabus are undergoing big changes now and my wife is assisting the MOE to bring our education to Computational Thinking like the US, UK and Europe. Your 2 boys will benefit them.
DeleteThank you very much for your wishes.
God bless you for your generousity!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind blessings and wishes. Happy weekend to you.
DeleteTM, you have a big heart and you are truly amazing. English is a tough language and I have long forgotten the grammatical rules and 'stuff'. You see, I love Manglish a lot ..haha.
ReplyDelete