A memorable day - Teacher's Day in Bukit Kuda 1981 |
“YOU are posted to SMP (now called SM Sri Puteri), Jalan Kolam Air, Kuala Lumpur.” I stared at the
sentence, transfixed.
I was
reading a letter from the Ministry of Education in the 1970s. A fresh graduate
from University Malaya with a Diploma in Education, the prospect of starting my
teaching career in a Malay medium residential school gave me the shivers! As my
primary, secondary and tertiary education was in the English medium, I was
overwhelmed by anxiety and apprehension.
However,
I accepted the challenge and resolved to work doubly hard. Arriving early on
the first day of work, I was happy to see friendly faces of students and
teachers in a clean environment.
The headmistress, Pn
Hapsah, was reassuring when I reported for work. “This school is small with
only two Forms Four, Five and Six classes each. Initially you will find it
tough with the language, but with time, you will cope well and enjoy teaching
here,” she said.
Staff SM Seri Puteri, KL Headmistress Pn Hapsah (seated 6th from left) |
Camera Club |
determination.
New vocabulary filled my
mind: percubaan, pernafasan, pepeluhan; salunadi, serambi, rerambut
(meaning experiment, respiration, transpiration; artery, auricle and capillary
respectively). I was even dreaming in BM!
Many years later, when the
istilah changed to a direct translation of the English words like eksperimen,
respirasi, transpirasi; arteri, aurikel, kapilari, following the same
examples above, new teachers found it easier.
In the 1970s there were no
transparencies, power point presentations nor the World Wide Web. I tried to
spice up my lessons with practical experiments, charts, models and filmstrips
and even ventured to Filem Negara to borrow educational film reels to reinforce
my teaching. Although the audio visual aids were in English, the students got
the message.
In Seri Puteri, I was fortunate to have receptive, diligent and disciplined students who helped me with Malay pronunciation whenever I fumbled. We did have fun though. One day, on the topic “vectors of diseases”, I referred to the tse-tse fly as lalat sek si. The whole class burst into laughter because tse-tse is pronounced as “se-xy” in English. That was one lesson my students will never forget!
In Seri Puteri, I was fortunate to have receptive, diligent and disciplined students who helped me with Malay pronunciation whenever I fumbled. We did have fun though. One day, on the topic “vectors of diseases”, I referred to the tse-tse fly as lalat sek si. The whole class burst into laughter because tse-tse is pronounced as “se-xy” in English. That was one lesson my students will never forget!
1973 : Form Teacher |
1974: Form Teacher |
Science is a
progressive subject. During the 1970s, the Nuffield Science Teaching Project
was a programme to develop a better approach to teaching Science in Secondary
Schools, using discovery learning. I was happy to be sent to Cheras, Kuala
Lumpur for the one week-course in my first year of teaching. Meeting other
teachers and being trained together was fun and encouraging.
After two years, I adapted
well to teaching Science in BM, becoming proficient in reprimanding students as
well! When the Form Five SPM results were out, my students did exceptionally
well. I was ecstatic! When students perform well, teachers jump for joy too!
After
five years in that school, I was transferred to SMP Bukit Kuda (BK), a day school in
my hometown. There, all subjects were taught in the English medium. So it was
back to the midnight oil for my lesson plans.
Staff of Bukit Kuda School 1978, with multiracial teachers with Headmistress Miss Sundram (seated, 8th from left) |
Bukit Kuda school is a girls school where the teachers and students are multiracial. The students were cheerful, hard-working, cooperative and ever willing to learn. I had many happy and rewarding years teaching the enthusiastic girls there and I am pleased to know that many are successful in their career and life.
Form teacher with BK girls 1979 - Students are multiracial |
Teachers lining up to compete with BK girls in a fun game on Teacher's Day 1982 |
1984: Teacher's Day |
With some teachers in the school's landscaped garden |
1990: Green House Committee members and House Mistress |
Staff of BK singing Teacher's Day Song |
With Head Prefect (standing left) colleague, prefects and librarians |
With HM, SA, HEM and colleagues |
With some teachers in the School Assembly Ground |
With Pengetua Pn Fatimah at a Teascher's Day function |
Living in
Klang, I meet many ex-BK students in shopping malls, social functions,
Bukit Kuda reunions and even in line dancing classes or parties. I feel happy when they
remember me and we talk together like old friends. Learning of how
well they have progressed in their career and family life is most
fulfilling.
With some students at a BK Reunion
|
11 Dec 2014: XBK Reunion |
2015: Meet up with ex-BK students at a BK Reunion |
30_4_2016: 30th Anniversary BK Class 86 Reunion: |
28_10_17_ with exBK students (committee members) and ex_colleagues at a BK reunion |
Coming back to teaching Science in Bukit Kuda - a few years later, all subjects were changed to the Bahasa Malaysia medium throughout the country! But this time, I had no problems teaching Science in Bahasa Malaysia. Breathing easily again, I confidently taught all Science (Biology and General Science) subjects in Bahasa Malaysia until I retired in the 1990s.
Looking back, I realize that teaching and learning Science in any medium –
Bahasa Malaysia, English or Mandarin - depends a lot on
the teacher and student’s
attitude. If the teacher or student is motivated, conscientious and can adapt to
changing situations, teaching and learning in any medium are possible.
attitude. If the teacher or student is motivated, conscientious and can adapt to
changing situations, teaching and learning in any medium are possible.
In
2003, the Education Ministry reverted to the teaching of Science and
Mathematics in English, starting with Primary One and Lower Six.
The change to learning
Science and Mathematics in English for Malaysian students is a step in the
right direction as our country moves forward in this era of technology in a
globalised world.
To teachers and students
teaching and learning Science and Mathematics in English, have faith in
yourself and may you face the challenge with zest.
You can do it! Guru
boleh! Pelajar boleh!
..........................................................
This article was published in the New Sunday Times on 2nd November 2007. It is edited and photos are added.
Students and teachers : Hope this brings back sweet memories.
Students and teachers : Hope this brings back sweet memories.