40 Years On…  -  Miss Lum Yick Thim

I had mixed feelings when I first joined ACS; while excited, I was also anxious of the challenges facing me as a Chinese language teacher in a mission school. However, the support I received from the school leaders, colleagues and parents allayed my fears. This ACS camaraderie has kept my passion alive and inspired the best in me. Forty years on, I would never think of trading those laughter and tears with my pupils and colleagues for anything.

Becoming a Teacher was My Dream - Miss Kogilavani

I was inspired to be a teacher by a father who always had time to teach his children, despite a heavy schedule. His mantra was, “Be truthful and sincere in whatever you do. It should come from the heart”. My early teaching days in a neighbourhood school had given me the impression pupils spoke fluent Tamil; at ACS (Primary), none of my charges did! My father’s mantra became mine as I accepted this challenge. Over the years, I reworked the syllabus, pitching lessons at their ability, inventing games and teaching aids. While no English was allowed in class, pupils with difficulties in speaking Tamil picked it up slowly but surely, with encouragement, individual attention, and small rewards. A bond between teacher and pupil soon form, and an assurance that she would always be there for them.

Cultivate the Care - Mr Seow Kian Yong

'Pupils care little about how much you know till you show them how much you care.' I once caught a boy dozing in class. I pounded hard on his desk to wake him up. 'What kind of teacher are you?’ he reacted. Appalled by his attitude, I ordered him to stay back. He was still angry and oblivious of the reason for my action. I then said that I cared for him and had hoped to see a change in him. He broke into tears. For this boy, apparently, no one had ever paused to express a word of concern.

Pressing On - Miss Wong Way Lin

It is quite discouraging to give all you have to teach only to find pupils showing little interest in return. But yet it is not my goal to prove that my presence was worth their while by a show of impressive end-of-year results from pupils. As long as pupils show a willingness to learn, that is enough to keep me going. Interacting with pupils, parents and colleagues and listening to them have helped me realise that the relationships we build send important messages and leave lasting impressions. Collaboration then becomes the key to pressing on in the long run.

Leading by Example - Miss Vanessa Tan

During my childhood, I had a teacher who inspired me immensely. She taught in a way that had made such a difference in me, and it was to become my life goal to teach with the same love and devotion. Quoting Aristotle, “A true disciple shows his appreciation by reaching further than his teacher.” Since the day I started teaching, it has been my desire not only to ignite in my pupils an interest in the subject matter with the aim of life-long learning, but also to point the way in expressing care and concern.