Yesterday, I went back to my class at TAFE to say goodbye. I didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to them nor to my cooperating teacher last week. This is the first of many goodbyes to be said in the next 1 1/2 months before I return to Singapore on 16 Dec.
I arrived at the class at 2:40pm, just a little before their break at 3pm. When I entered the classroom, my teacher asked me if I passed my test, and when I answered in the affirmative, everyone in the class clapped for me and were very happy for me. It was so sweet of them. I had brought some snacks with me too as a treat for everyone.
As a farewell gift, I gave my teacher a box of chocolates and a thank you card. For the students, I reprinted some photos we took during the excursion at Bronte Beach. I put them in individual envelopes and included a personal letter to each one… just to say it’s been great knowing them, and wishing them all the best in the future.
I brought my camera along and we had a photo-taking session. At the end of the class, I thanked all of them for being so nice & friendly, and being so forgiving even when I taught so badly! I told them that everyone of them has taught me a lot; that I’ve learnt a lot from them, and that they were my teachers too. I really meant that from the bottom of my heart and I think they were very touched when I said that. To me, they have been more of a teacher to me than I have of them.
Teaching at TAFE has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience. I am glad I chose to do this and not take the easy option of doing micro-teaching. As an international student, I was offered that option, but I decided against it as I felt I could learn more by teaching an actual class.
I really enjoyed working with migrants as they are almost always such friendly and lovely people. They are very “real” and sincere. All my classmates who have worked with migrants only have good things to say about working with this group of people. Unlike overseas students, migrant learners are usually of a lower economic status and they have many everyday concerns which many overseas students don’t have.
Most of these migrants don’t come from privileged backgrounds and hearing their stories during my time there has taught me a lot about life. I also began to understand the everyday concerns and difficulties of many migrants. I also learnt more about their countries of origin through the stories they told, albeit in rather broken English. Many of them were also very interested in knowing more about Singapore and I gladly obliged.
Later that night, I received an sms from my Turkish student. Here are the exact words from that sms:
“Hi Joan i wish only the best for you that good people are let into your life that you fun laughter and happy times. You don’t forget me i write to you. Stay strong healthy and keep smiling. i hope you understan my English. From Zubeyde…”
That was so sweet of her and it is little things like this which reaffirms my decision to have chosen this path in life.