I was a Physics major when I was in university. When I was teaching in secondary schools, I taught a gamut of subjects – Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Social Studies, Literature and English Language.

Some people might think, ‘What is a Science/Physics person teaching so many other subjects?’ I wondered the same myself too. However, I took my job really seriously. Whatever I had to teach, I would read up and consult the HODs and senior teachers, to ensure that I did not teach the wrong things. I ended up in the last 3 years of my teaching career as an English Language teacher, teaching graduating classes.

I must agree that students’ communication abilities are spiralling downwards. The one thing that I felt I needed to do when I took over any English class was the amount of unlearning I had to go through with my students. Usually, I had to take at least one semester to knock the things they learned at the lower levels before I could teach them who to read for understanding and write to communicate. It was always an uphill battle. Yet in the end, my students always did well – much better than expected.

Here are some things I feel that a lot of people are unaware:
1. Many teachers are not familiar with the syllabus – they do not read the syllabus documents and examiners’ reports.
2. Many teachers are still stuck with the old syllabus – even though the new syllabus is to be implemented, a lot are still teaching according the syllabus prior to the current syllabus.
3. Some teachers are not good speakers, readers and writers themselves.
4. Most teachers have poor understanding of language pedagogy and assessment – I’ve seen a lot of attempts to set new syllabus English exam papers but most, if not all, had missed the point.

There are a lot more things I can go on about, but I have made enough ‘noise’. No one is listening… At least no who is in position to do something is willing to listen…

*waves*

Me too. An adult beginner to learn violin in late 30s. Been learning almost 2 months. Problems = my eccentric rhythm and put too much on pressure on bow while drawing on strings. Of course, other bad habits, like holding the bow etc.

Good luck on learning who knows, one day you can play beautifully as your teacher

Sir Ken Robinson was adviser to the Singapore Government for its strategy to become the creative hub of South East Asia.
And here he talks about education and creativity.

—> It is completely opposite what Singapore doing to children….???

Also Chris Thompson was worked for a number of academic/government boards and advisory committees including the Singapore Media Development Authority, Nanyang Poly (SG), Temasek Poly (SG) and the Institute of Technical Education (SG).
And he now made GREEN SCHOOL in BALI which encourage children to interact nature more so children can learn to make sustainable future and planet.
http://www.greenschool.org/staff/chris-thompson/
—-> Mr.Thompson left Singapore and moved whole family to Bali. His children are studying at this school …???

Government had great advisors from all around the world but I feel they are somehow not really listening and more likely ignoring.
Homeshoolers are also given hard time and there is no one Free school in Singapore.

Here is good example of REAL Free school graduate from Summerhill England and he was not pushed to taught read and write…

I truly feel the trust and patient of adult made him into a professor and a person who are willing to do more community based work now.
I wonder how many Singapore children will become like him and willing to do community work and use his skill or think about sustainability of this planet.

This is ALL DECREASING and DESTROYING the ability to THINK and LEARN for FUN.
STUDY is a life long tool to improve own skill and should not be FORCED.
Our study never end until we die.

All children born with special skills and abilities but they NEED own different time to UNDERSTAND and EXPRESS OWN IDEA especially at the beginning of their life.
All parents, educators and society are suppose to give them a TIME until they DISCOVER OWN THEORY and LOGIC.

PATIENT and OBSERVE is the KEY for the best brain development for human.
If human cannot obtain such a skill by 12 years old, they are only able to FOLLOW the ORDER and NOT able to THINK and cannot make a DECISION by themselves.

Proper brain development only works when children are given COMFORTABLE and SAFE environment and allow to explore and learn with/from NATURE.
NATURE teach the most important things for HUMAN.

If you watch nature, we are able to see nothing can be rushed.
NATURE heal the Human since Human cannot live without NATURE.
NO water, soil, air, sun, tree, insects, animals and etc., will kill human life but current education do not teach the importance of this relationship.

Elite based education is collapsing and end result is collapsing as well.
Just recently many banking employees started talk about how banking industries are stealing people’s money, ID and wealth.
http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/banking-giant-hsbc-a-criminal-enterprise/
And here is what really happening in Singapore which local Media would not publish…
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/crime-singapore-prostitution-idUSL2E8FI23920120418

You really have to ask what is the purpose of human life…

If anyone has willingness to learn, there are many free materials available all over the world.
Example: 450 FREE Online courses from TOP UNIVERSITIES
http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

Learning is not matter of how much money you have or get marks in school.
Happiness is also not how much money you have but how to enjoy own life with own skills.

“NORM” group of people just FEAR to accept those FACTS.
But I am sure they all know from bottom of their heart that it is something wrong with their life since they just cannot satisfy or feel emptiness in their heart even they become so rich and correct all the junk around them to satisfy them.
Materialistic life will never satisfy human.

Living with HARMONY with others and nature with RESPECT, WORK HARD, SHARE, COMPASSION and LOVE do satisfy human.

I just hope adults stop DESTROYING the children’s ability.
All of humans are born with talent.
No one should be labelled or categorized based on the system which were made by CORPORATION and GOVERNMENT and told that is the “NORM”.
And they are truly nothing to do with our talent….