Happy Teachers' Day :)

It's teachers(') day! So, let me ask you.

When you were young, were you ever keen on the idea of becoming one some day? I bet you weren't! That's because I never was in spite of my mother being a biology teacher years before I was born. Worst, maybe it never even crossed my mind at all!

In my primary years, when asked of what I wanted to be when I grow up <not the literal 'grow' ;) > I thought of becoming someone else.. someone whom I thought was much better than a teacher, an accountant perhaps? Or an engineer. Yes, maybe. A lawyer.. or doctor? I've heard of these professions as the 'great' ones. You are and will be 'someone' when you're one of them. That's undoubtedly a very common notion.

However, as years pass, my perspective continue to change. I, now more than ever, begin to realize that teaching should in fact be hailed as one of the greatest professions. Teaching is difficult for it deals directly with individuals who will, in time, play major roles in our society. Oh! How often we've been taught that?! But do believe it in its very sense!

Anyways, too much convincing, let me share with you my experience with one of my students (tutorials).

A year and a half ago, I began English tuition with an adorable five year old Korean boy, Min, who only knows how to say the ABCs but could hardly identify the letters and, all the more, its sounds. Min was so young then. He was just starting to learn their native language when his family had to move here in Dubai. He was never exposed to English and it wasn't spoken at home too.

Mini books which we used only briefly. The boy didn't like it so much. 

Nonetheless, he was sent to school without any idea of the challenge he had to face. For quite a time, his mum was very worried as to how he would get by. And, as you would've guessed, I came in. Pressured. I have not got the slightest idea of how to teach kids to read and write! But, I needed the job and some diversion as well. So, I solicited advice from my teacher friends and began the work! I started with phonics, and since I love music, I sang the video above a hundred times with him! :D He loved it as he was interested with hand signs while unconsciously learning the very foundation of English.

The boy, young as he was - still learning muscle coordination, had a bit of difficulty in writing. And, being barely exposed to the English alphabet didn't help since it was way different from Hangeul (Korean).  He didn't understand the use of writing guide lines too that I would encourage him to color straight lines between which he would write the letters and copy some words.

I would write simple* (don't laugh!) sentences for him using the lines correctly and ask him to follow. Of course at the beginning, he found it rather difficult. Some times, I just let him scribble... and scribble! Eventually, I taught him reading and spelling which was easier since he's already learned the phonics by heart.

At this time, he still wasn't aware of my name's spelling.

The first words he learnt? S-T-A-R and S-P-I-D-E-R from the songs Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Incy Wincy Spider :) That's way before he could spell the words below. The method? Reward system? Smileys, stars and stickers.

18 months of : Patience. Love. Dedication. Commitment. Glowers. Innocent tears. Fights. Cuddles. Hide and Seek. Tic tac toes. Stars. Points. Stickers. Balloons etc. It took a lot of these to be able to get him where he is right now! :) And so, here's how far he's gone: