Teacher Gen is one of our longest-serving teachers. Many would know her as our Head of Science and regard her as an impressive teacher. But here’s a seldom known fact about Teacher Gen: she comes from a family steeped in pride and pedigree – for teaching that is! Her mother, in particular, is a senior English teacher at a reputable primary school in the East.
From a tender age, Teacher Gen was exposed to the world of a teacher, and the impact that had on her endured to this day. She is now proudly carrying on her family tradition. Like her mother, she hopes to devote her career to teach, inspire and transform the minds of our young ones. In this interview article, we put Teacher Gen in the spotlight. We ask her about the influence her family has had on her personal work ethic and teaching philosophy. We also get her to share her vision for primary school science programmes at Think Teach. And as always, we will cap off the interview by getting to know Teacher Gen on a more personal level.
Q: You just came back from a long and well-deserved holiday in France. How was it? Do you feel recharged to ready to take on a new academic year?
I feel recharged to take on 2023! Travelling around Europe has always been on my bucket list. It really makes me feel as if I’m living in the Middle Ages. I’m a creature of habit – I must start my day with a good breakfast. I wouldn’t call it breakfast if it didn’t come with a cup of coffee. In France, I would start my day early and search for a classic Parisian café where I can find a seat outside the café and enjoy the view. I must admit that travelling gives me the opportunity to learn more about myself and it also gives me that space to brainstorm ideas to improve the Science curriculum. Working on the Science curriculum naturally motivates me, it’s just something I find joy doing.
Q: Sounds like you had a good trip but not sure about a good break. It almost sounds like you were having withdrawal symptoms from not teaching for 2 weeks! Where did this love and passion of teaching come from?
This is so hard to pinpoint. Yes, I come from a family of teachers. My uncles are lecturers themselves. Growing up, I lived with my grandparents and my uncles shared the same roof too. As a young kid, I always remember myself sitting next to one of my uncles and just watch him mark his student’s worksheets. Apart from my mother, they were my teachers too! When I need help in my homework, I will knock on their doors, and they will patiently teach me. Not sure if you used to have an imaginary friend growing up, but I soon found myself pretending to be a teacher and I would teach this “friend” my schoolwork. I would say my love and passion started there but I never realized it until much later.
Q: That sure is interesting. I remember your first job after graduation was actually a short stint in Sales. I suppose you did want to give yourself a chance to experience something different. But how did your family take to that? And during your first job, was teaching always in the back of your mind?
My family has always supported me in my decisions, even from the time I received my PSLE results when I felt I did not meet my own expectations. I remember breaking down in front of my father and without looking at my grades, he gave me a hug and believed that I had given my best. My mother and grandparents have always encouraged me to be a teacher, but my stubborn self will not listen. I am a huge believer of trying new things – Don’t try, you will never know, especially in seeking your career or hobbies. I job hopped basically, only to find myself contented in the education sector. I have never regretted trying different jobs as each job has taught me something that I can confidently apply in the education sector. Everything happens for a reason.
Q: I suppose it’s true when they say you can delay but can’t escape destiny! Would you say being a teacher was what you were destined to do?
Yes, I do feel that I can be a teacher for a long time. At Think Teach, I was given the opportunity to take ownership of the Science Team. That includes creating the curriculum, to teaching, to managing a team of colleagues. Overall, I enjoy the daily interactions I have with my fellow teammates, and I am so grateful for them! I am proud to be a teacher because I get the chance to not just empower my students, but I get to innovate, be creative and be an influence to them. I truly feel so blessed and supported in this workplace.
Q: Obviously, Think Teach has an education philosophy of teaching and thinking smart. But what about yours? What is your personal teaching philosophy? You don’t have to say it’s the same as the academy!
My personal teaching philosophy is to develop a learning environment in which students can learn together, learn from one another, and communicate with one another. I believe in a holistic approach when it comes to developing a child. At this age, I strongly feel that it is important that as teachers, we pay attention to our students’ social, emotional, and cognitive development. I aim to create a safe space so that students can feel comfortable and happy and be able to focus on learning, develop self-confidence and independence.
Q: So how do you see your philosophy or a Think Teach philosophy being manifested in the Science programmes you are in charge of leading and designing?
My philosophy is manifested mostly in the Science curriculum, the way it’s structured and designed. We have activities and experiments to engage all our students. Think Teach Science is known for our signature writing techniques to tackle open-ended questions.
By equipping students with these techniques, they can independently identify what to look out for in the questions before crafting their answers. In one of our programmes, we task our students to create their own open-ended questions and answers. This allows them to think critically and plan beforehand. They will be given time to discuss with their peers and present their work.
Moving forward, to further gain our upper primary students’ interests and involvement, we will be kickstarting each topic with an article that talks about events/issues/actions currently happening around the world in relevance to the topic and the examination questions. They will be given the chance to discuss and present their thoughts.
Q: You accomplished a lot this year. You initiated the introduction of Think Teach’s Primary 1 and 2 programmes. You also spearheaded a revamp of the academy’s Primary 3 and 4 programmes. What is the reason for this? And how do you envision the changes will benefit students and parents even more in 2023?
We are a PSLE powerhouse, so I see a huge importance in actively engaging students at a young age, unlock their potential and helping them excel exponentially. There is always a constant need for changes to be made in our programmes to further enhance students’ learning. It is important to be up to date with the syllabus and the mindset of parents. At the Primary 1 and 2 level, our students will be taken on an adventure where their 5 senses will come to life, and they will be able to discover their skills and talents. This journey will be magical! At the Primary 3 and 4 level, our students will still be engaged with hands-on activities, interactive games etc. and we will begin to equip them with the right techniques and concepts that will gear them up for Primary 5, which is way more challenging. Their learning will be fun and effective! All these preparations will ready our student for the PSLE and both parents and students will not have to panic at the very last minute. Our students’ confidence will grow year-on-year and the preparation for the PSLE will be less stressful.
Q: So if I understand correctly, you believe the 6 years of primary school are rightfully split into 3 stages. The focus of Primary 1 and 2 should be on helping students to acquire the love for learning. Primary 3 and 4 should be on helping students build the right foundation and prepare them for the steep transition into Primary 5. And the final 2 years should of course be unabashedly exam-focussed – PSLE preparation. Why do you see it this way? Do you think this would resonate more with Singapore parents who are largely about grades?
At the lower levels, children benefit greatly from play-based learning. This approach makes learning fun and supports the way they are wired to learn. The savvy modern parent has caught on to this and are advocates of this approach. Hence, an innovative and creative academic approach has almost become a pre-requisite in a parents’ quest for a suitable enrichment centre for their child. I believe that parents are not solely concerned about grades, but also with the importance of instilling an interest to learn.
Q: I asked Fiona this when I interviewed her and I’m going to do the same with you. Where do you see yourself and/or Think Teach in 5–10 years’ time?
Personally, I hope to be a good mentor to others, not just at work but in all aspects of my life. Of course, I must still be fit and look young! I too hope to be an influence in education by partnering with external companies and creating a platform to improve students’ learning experience.
Q: Finally, I would like to find out more about your hobbies and life outside of teaching. If you could do something for a living where you do not have to worry about how high or low the job pays, what would that be? Oh yes, please do not say teaching.
I’ve always enjoyed being in a community where people come together to keep fit. Currently, I am very into HIIT workout and bouldering. My to-do list in the next few years is to visit the climbing gyms around the world and hopefully rock climb outdoors like in Yosemite National Park, USA. Believe it or not, I want to be a fitness trainer and inspire others to have a healthy lifestyle and help them achieve their physical goals.
