sTUpId mONk's heart-sutra... 盹。和尚的心经...zZzzZ: My 6-month Mandarin Class

Thursday, October 11, 2012

My 6-month Mandarin Class

It’s has been 7 months ago when I started my Mandarin Class in Asia Educational Academy (AEA) at Bukit Tinggi, Klang. Before that, I only remembered that I seemed to dropped a message in their vacancy on certain job website very long time ago. Until the last Feb around CNY, I’d received their call to ask me go for interview. After that, I accept the offer and challenge to teach the very first class of mine.

On 13th Mar, 2012, I entered the doorstep of my class which comprises of around 14 students. They are mostly Indians, and only few of Malays and Chinese. Basically, this is a conversation-focused class, which means speaking is vital & major part of evaluation while writing, comprehension, listening are only supplementary (but important as well lar, hahaha!).

Here they are, only some of their student's card are showed at picture above (of course included mine too, this picture was taken during the last day which one of the student wanted to take a photograph of these as the cards were needed to be returned back to the management).

Still remember, the first day I introduce myself as 王老师 and had announced my rules in the class:

1. This class would be conducted mainly in English at the beginning but will slowly turn into Mandarin at the end when everyone can master well.

2. This class should be interactive and interesting. So don’t be shy and go and deal with everyone!

3. I would assist all until the exam at the end, any extra question can bring it out after the class.

And that, created a warm atmosphere which allowed all of us staying together on each Friday to be in the class learning Mandarin. I would say I was really lucky to have this batch of students who all were so friendly and initiative along the class which making me feel so comfortable in teaching them without very much effort to draw their attention and enthusiasm on Mandarin.

So along the 6 months period, I’ve teach them from the dialogues such as, INTRODUCE MYSELF, FAMILY, ASK DIRECTION, SHOPPING, SEEK FOR DOCTOR, WEATHER, and etc. Also, vocabulary like nouns, verbs and adjectives. I’ve tried to recall how my lecturer teach me Japanese during university time and applied it here. Therefore, thanks to that experience which helps me a lot in conducting the class as the centre did not provide me with any resources or learning materials but only text book (am I complaining? Obviously yes! Hahaha! Because I have to search for video and sound clips, vocabulary list in pinyin and etc.)

Oh ya! during the 2nd class, I ‘d also given them their own Chinese name which translated from their own name. They are:

Juliana：朱莉安娜            Amilia：阿米丽亚

Joshua：乔舒亚                 Joshua Joseph：乔舒亚。约瑟夫

Vicittra：维斯提拉           Mary Ann：玛丽安

Anusha：阿努莎                Suriya：苏利亚

Avinnaya：阿维那亚       Kogilavani：瓦妮

Thiyagarajan：提亚卡     Shuhada：舒哈达

Amaran：阿玛岚                Amir：阿米尔

After 6 months, with a total of 2 mid-tests, I successfully chased out 4 students as some of them were not being able to attend due to their personal reason or work factor. So here comes the final exam which determine their grade in their certificate later. Everyone was concern about this as they paid the monthly fees for this reason – to obtain an endorsed certification on Mandarin. They did their best, after all =)

I was quite strict in marking their exam papers, as I said to them to comfort some of them who did not score well, but I really did (even the management also told me that). However, I told myself not to set a very difficult questions in the next batch again as they are not really able to reach that standard yet.

Yeah!!! All got their certificate on hand on the very last day after we discussed about the exam questions. This picture was taken and well, my pose was requested by them ya! Not my idea at all!!! They requested 老师 to be seated~ and my colleague over there commented me 好嚣张！Hohoho ~

This chocolate was given to me by one of the most hardworking student, Juliana which almost everyone in the class has considered her as some sort of monitor. She always prepared well before the class and would search for extra vocabularies on her own.

I can’t imagine how close they are from all were unknown to each other, but with some naughty guys in the class, plus some girls who very opened and criticize with friendly tone, we can even hold for a post-exam farewell party in one of the student’s place in Taman Sentosa. The last day, they asked me not to join the discussion as they have something surprise for me on the farewell. That time, I don’t know why but felt so nervous with what are they going to do on me then… Hahaha~ (think too much~)

And so on the next Thursday after the last day class, we all went to Suriya’s event/ karate centre to have our farewell party. Amazing huh, I never imagine that we could even close to this stage with only a 2-hour meeting per week along these 6 months period. And when I reach there, I saw a big table which occupied by Pizzas, drinks, kuih-muih (handmade), chicken wings and etc.

It’s quite funny and surprise for me that they actually planned a proper farewell instead of just eat-and-leave. First of all, they have their chairlady (which is the monitor) and emcee to lighten up the ceremony with opening speech on the red-carpet stage with mic. And then, they have invited me on stage to cut the cake as opening ceremony (I guess so~ hahaha~).

The next thing was even more surprising! They wanted to feed me pieces of cake one-by-one using their hands! That time, I was thinking in the heart, is this one of their culture to show friendliness? And I was just kept open my mouth when their hand with cake came to me and smile to the camera without figuring out the answer yet~ huhuhu~ (and yes, after that I knew this action was very common in Indian’s community as part of their culture. I was grateful to experience this and also to let me know more about my neighbour race).

After the eat-and-eat session, the emcee, Amilia called me up again to receive the token of appreciation from them represented by chairlady.

***Alright, below there would be some elements of prouds. Those who under age or cannot tahan of this please leave the site immediately. Hahahaha!***

“Grade A+ Teacher, My Everyday Hero” was given to me… Even though I knew the cert was bought in S&J, but I was still very happy for that.

ANDDDD not finish yet!!! Another OSCAR trophy~~ WOW!!!!

Truly speaking, I was so touch by their intention and regard and everything they have put in the class and the party. I always believe that, no matter what prizes or awards have been given to a teacher, all are not even a single drop of appreciation from the students.

I extracted some of their testimonials towards the centre and teacher and put it over here:

1. I first started off learning Mandarin in a language courses for 6 months. I knew almost nothing about Mandarin before, but in just 6 months, I am pretty confident that I can express myself in Mandarin. Thanks to my teacher Mr. Wang and also to AEA center. I enjoyed going to my Mandarin classes every Tuesday and also made great friends there. Mr. Wang lessons structure and progression is a perfect fit. Anyone serious about learning Mandarin needs to strongly consider AEA center & Mr. Wang. (Juliana)

2. The reason I choose to study AEA is:

· The lecturer is good in teaching

· The lecturer willing to teach us most of the time    (Joshua)

3. I enjoyed studying Mandarin from this center because everything taught by the teacher was clear and easy to understand. He was very friendly and good at explaining all the Chinese terms which made every lesson very interesting and fun.     (Anusha)

4. Our Mandarin teacher is a great tutor. He makes our lesson more interesting and enjoyable. He gave us good coaching in learning this beautiful language. Thank you AEA and Wang lao shi.    (Amilia)

5. From A to Z, I was taught by the very nice teacher with a comfortable environment.   (Syuhada)

6. The Mandarin course that I took up at AEA is fantastically superb as the tutor, Mr Heng was an excellent tutor who really took his responsibility a notch up to educate us well. He takes the initiative to really make us understand the vocabulary & words from Mandarin.   (Vicittra)

7. Sincerely, the teacher has changed our mind set from imagining Mandarin as a hardest language into one of the easiest language to conquer by mind. Thanks to the teacher.   (Thiyagarajan)