tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post5710567532508985383..comments2024-03-29T15:43:16.837+08:00Comments on BULLy the BEAR: Tuition nationla papillionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372278083694506953noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-83810630723692260502008-07-08T09:41:00.000+08:002008-07-08T09:41:00.000+08:00Hi Mike,Haha, so you can't stand wearing office cl...Hi Mike,<BR/><BR/>Haha, so you can't stand wearing office clothes too? :) I guess engineers are the jeans + shirt kind of people :)<BR/><BR/>Wow, it's hard to be the top in arts fac :) So what's your bro gng to take in harvard?la papillionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01372278083694506953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-1508222007204468152008-07-08T08:45:00.000+08:002008-07-08T08:45:00.000+08:00you are the same as me. i cant stand wearing the u...you are the same as me. i cant stand wearing the uncomfortable office wear.<BR/><BR/>you are lucky you dont need to wear in future if you are in tuition line. as for me i need to wear them one day.<BR/><BR/>my bro has got no tuition but came out top in NUS arts facilty. im proud he is going to harvard this year. wow imagine all the tuition fees paid and still got income from studying!Mike Dirnthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04811948691612939470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-2166358179975939472008-07-06T23:41:00.000+08:002008-07-06T23:41:00.000+08:00Hi mw,Thks for your effort in such a long reply :)...Hi mw,<BR/><BR/>Thks for your effort in such a long reply :)<BR/><BR/>I agree with your observations. I do try to sneak in some 'outside' materials. There are only 2 response - one is that we're wasting time, the other is more interest is shown by the students. Parents also have 2 response - spend more time to help improve their grades or spend more time talking to them to motivate them.<BR/><BR/>You're a good tutor.la papillionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01372278083694506953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-11008060578388562252008-07-06T23:39:00.000+08:002008-07-06T23:39:00.000+08:00Hi durio,Most parents can teach their kids, but th...Hi durio,<BR/><BR/>Most parents can teach their kids, but the problem is always time. So, rather than staying home, they will go out to earn an income, and outsource the education to tutors. A lot of things can be outsourced these days. Maybe even their parental love.<BR/><BR/>Strange world we're living in.la papillionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01372278083694506953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-1957621289940715292008-07-06T12:48:00.000+08:002008-07-06T12:48:00.000+08:00Hi LP,To share my experiences, I have been both a ...Hi LP,<BR/><BR/>To share my experiences, I have been both a tutor and a tutee (student days) in my life.<BR/><BR/>All I can say is that I did not do badly during my schooll days, but I did have weak subjects such as Chinese and Physics. Thus, I had tuition for both these subjects. As for mathematics, I think I had tuition partly cause I needed the practice and the tutor could consolidate papers from various students/schools to let me practice. I recently did a check with Popular Book Store and it said they do NOT compile exam papers from various schools into one package to let students practice (probably cos of copyright issues ?). Thus, I feel tuition can help students to practise more of what they are weak at and give them a chance to clarify doubts which a classroom environment may not allow. Not many students are so "on" as to approach their school teacher after class or through email with queries (at least, I didn't and neither did the students I tutored).<BR/><BR/>That said, I do admit my parents may have been kiasu/kiasi when they gave me English tuition as I had no problems with my English. I guess even in our time, the tuition bug was already pretty widespread and I know my parents spent tons of money on me. I am grateful for the Chinese, physics and math tuition, but perhaps but the English.<BR/><BR/>For O Levels, I went through A/E Math tuition, English as well as Chinese. Only for A levels did I have physics, math and some Chinese (just to clear the AO paper in JC). Tuition in a way still helps me to direct focused questions to the tutor and there is individualized attention (though for math it was group tuition), so perhaps it can help students to absorb better.<BR/><BR/>As a tutor, I also try to earn respect rather than demand it. However, I do not like students doodling/swinging pencil or SMSing when I am teaching or explaining to them as it distracts me. I make it clear that they can do it, but at least ask for permission to return an urgent SMS as a matter of politeness. I also try to engage them on topics outside the syllabus in order to pique their interest. Some students respond by asking more and showing their inquisitive side; others are less responsive so I will dive back into the lesson proper. But I think the key thing to note is that students do need to learn outside their scope and it is good for a tutor to engage them on their interests and to encourage them.<BR/><BR/>For example, as you know, I teach Principles of Accounting. Some students are seriously numbers-deficient and cannot be bothered with accounts, they just want to get it over with. But I note that some of them aspire to be creative artists (yes, drawing stimulates them) or even car enthusiasts and are passionate about it. I thus engage them on such topics and encourage them to pursue their interests and passion. I never judge them according to Singapore's standards of "smart" or "mediocre"; but tell them that each person should find what they are good at and do it with a passion. They feel encouraged and motivated and in turn, want to get their O levels done right so that they can proceed to the next step.<BR/><BR/>Hope this sharing helps !<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>MusicwhizMusicwhizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10950754156386935254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-2665107572115059162008-07-06T00:56:00.000+08:002008-07-06T00:56:00.000+08:00Hmmm ... I find that the school work getting tough...Hmmm ... I find that the school work getting tougher for kids. <BR/><BR/>while it does help the kids to think, i'm feeling kids go back & rely on their parents to do the thinking instead.<BR/><BR/>when the parent can't manage (especially true since both couple have to work to support nowadays), here is where tuition comes in hehehe ... <BR/><BR/>not too mention of all distraction in this modern materialistic world that keep kids from focusing on schooling.<BR/><BR/>reality bites!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-69120689488103398492008-07-05T20:38:00.000+08:002008-07-05T20:38:00.000+08:00Hi cathy,From my experience, those who got 1st, 2n...Hi cathy,<BR/><BR/>From my experience, those who got 1st, 2nd and 3rd position already had tuition. It's those who cannot afford it that do not have it, or overseas scholars on tight budget.<BR/><BR/>It's like policemen, after doing such a splendid job clearing the streets of crime, are they putting themselves out of the job? No, because they are still needed to maintain the low crime rate. I guess for those top scorers, their job to maintain their ranking is even more pressurizing. Each strata of students, from the strongest to the weakest, have their own pressures to face.<BR/><BR/>Ironically, I never had tuition in my whole life.<BR/><BR/>You're right. Is it worth it?la papillionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01372278083694506953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37872616.post-24532747824981014072008-07-05T17:59:00.000+08:002008-07-05T17:59:00.000+08:00My son once asked me why he needs tuition. I showe...My son once asked me why he needs tuition. I showed him this article. After reading he asked me why 3 out of 100 did not have to go for tution. My answer is that they are the ones that scored the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position.:D<BR/><BR/>All parents wants their children to do well and have a good education and thereafter have a good life. I am also guilty of such motivations. This is what our parents have passed on to us and we in turns passed it on to our children without questioning. I wonder after all the sacrifies and hassles, is it really worth it at the end? Time will tell.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05990159680725155390noreply@blogger.com