It feels like only a week ago that I walked into the first Es2007S lesson. Time flies indeed. I remember clearly how nervous I was, since there was almost no Year 1 students in the class. But everyone was so friendly and nice.
Now we're like one big family.
This module has taught me so many life skills. For first time in all my years of schooling, I've been taught how to communicate effectively.
In particular, I learnt how to communicte with people from different cultural backgrounds, how to write with the 7Cs in mind, and how to ace an interview/presentation.
The peer teaching was a unique and extremely useful experience. It was not just about presenting content (which we have done many times in school), but teaching it effectively. Peer teaching, together with the oral presentation has definitely made me a better speaker. Also, all the interaction during class has left me with a vast amount of knowledge on how to 'make friends' with people from different places and cultures.
I would like to thank Group 10 for making this an unforgettable semester. Special thanks to Brad, of course.
He was more like a friend than a teacher. If I ever become a teacher in future, Brad, you're my role model.
ES2007S was a lesson I looked forward to every week and enjoyed learning.
And to all my classmates who are going back to their own country-
We only part to meet again.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Oral Presentation!
The project has finally come to an end.
With regards to both the proposal and the OP on Tuesday, I must say that my team Techno Edge did a great job. I'm not referring to grades, but to how we managed to work together as a team and come up with work that all of us were happy with, even though we had many differences in opinions.
The OP in particular was a really good experience.
On the day itself, I was quite nervous. But once Neil started to introduce my team and our project, I felt confident and knew we could do it. Thankfully, the entire presentation was smooth and had no major interruptions or anything. (Except for the extremely loud music from the video).
After watching myself on the video, I noticed a few things. I could have spoken a little slower. Maybe this would have helped hide the fact that I memorised a script. I could have had more gestures and as Brad would say, had a more 'open' stance. I also noticed that my dress was a bit short (Not so suitable for a presentation, I think).
What I liked though, was that I looked quite confident, and had a smile throughout the 4 minutes.
Dear classmates, please watch the video on Yong Feng's blog and give me your feedback on my presentation. All constructive critisism is welcome. Thank you!
With regards to both the proposal and the OP on Tuesday, I must say that my team Techno Edge did a great job. I'm not referring to grades, but to how we managed to work together as a team and come up with work that all of us were happy with, even though we had many differences in opinions.
The OP in particular was a really good experience.
On the day itself, I was quite nervous. But once Neil started to introduce my team and our project, I felt confident and knew we could do it. Thankfully, the entire presentation was smooth and had no major interruptions or anything. (Except for the extremely loud music from the video).
After watching myself on the video, I noticed a few things. I could have spoken a little slower. Maybe this would have helped hide the fact that I memorised a script. I could have had more gestures and as Brad would say, had a more 'open' stance. I also noticed that my dress was a bit short (Not so suitable for a presentation, I think).
What I liked though, was that I looked quite confident, and had a smile throughout the 4 minutes.
Dear classmates, please watch the video on Yong Feng's blog and give me your feedback on my presentation. All constructive critisism is welcome. Thank you!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Western girls and Asian girls.
Cultural differences are aplenty in NUS, where people from all over the world study together and interact with each other everyday. I have been in NUS for less then 3 months and I have already come across many situations which proved to me how much a person’s culture influences his/her behaviour and thinking.
One of these situations happened in the girls’ changing room one night. It was after my cca training and my friends and I went to the changing room to shower and freshen up before heading home. Many of the girls in the shower area were Caucasians. When we were waiting for our turn to shower, some of my Singaporean friends and I were shocked to see the Caucasian girls taking off their clothes in front of everyone. They were completely naked!
They did not seem to think anything of it at all. That made me curious to find out more.
So, I went on to ask one of those girls, also form my CCA, if it was normal in their country (Australia) for everyone to take off their clothes before going into the shower. She said yes and that it was common throughout the Western world. She also said that she was surprised that over here, the girls were all so shy and hesitated to take off their clothes in front of other girls.
I got used to it and eventually did not think much of it anymore. It is just their way of life.
Through this incident, I learnt to appreciate that people from different places, have quite different thinking and practices.
We do not have to follow them, but we most definitely have to respect them to co-exist peacefully.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Application Letter
Hello readers,
As I am only in year 1, I am only eligible to apply for a very small number of internships. Among this short list is the MOE teaching internship which is open to all undergrads regardless of the student’s year/course of study. So this is my application letter for the internship.
Block xxx, #02-118
xxx Road,
Singapore xxx
5 September 2010
Dear Sir/Mdm,
MOE TEACHING INTERNSHIP
My name is Pavithra. I am writing to apply for the MOE teaching internship for undergrads. I am a Year 1 Mechanical Engineering student at National University Of Singapore. I would like to take up this internship during my vacation (from xx-xx-2010 to xx-xx-2010).
As I have always been highly passionate about teaching, I have tried to gain as much exposure to the teaching industry as possible so far.
This is probably evident from my enclosed CV. I have worked as a relief teacher in 2 local primary schools over a period of 4 months. I have also worked in various tuition centres during my vacations. Besides working experience, over the period of 2 years in my JC, I was also an active member of my school peer-teaching group. Currently, I am also a part-time tutor teaching JC level economics and Upper Sec level mathematics.
Through the experiences mentioned above, I have gained valuable knowledge on how to interact and communicate effectively with students of different age groups and have developed many innovative teaching techniques.
I plan to pursue my interest in teaching after my degree. Thus this internship would be a great opportunity for me to put my skills into practice and learn more about the teaching system in schools as well.
I have the patience, drive, and commitment to be a great teacher, making me an excellent candidate for this position and genuinely hope that you will consider my application.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Pavithra
As I am only in year 1, I am only eligible to apply for a very small number of internships. Among this short list is the MOE teaching internship which is open to all undergrads regardless of the student’s year/course of study. So this is my application letter for the internship.
Block xxx, #02-118
xxx Road,
Singapore xxx
5 September 2010
Dear Sir/Mdm,
MOE TEACHING INTERNSHIP
My name is Pavithra. I am writing to apply for the MOE teaching internship for undergrads. I am a Year 1 Mechanical Engineering student at National University Of Singapore. I would like to take up this internship during my vacation (from xx-xx-2010 to xx-xx-2010).
As I have always been highly passionate about teaching, I have tried to gain as much exposure to the teaching industry as possible so far.
This is probably evident from my enclosed CV. I have worked as a relief teacher in 2 local primary schools over a period of 4 months. I have also worked in various tuition centres during my vacations. Besides working experience, over the period of 2 years in my JC, I was also an active member of my school peer-teaching group. Currently, I am also a part-time tutor teaching JC level economics and Upper Sec level mathematics.
Through the experiences mentioned above, I have gained valuable knowledge on how to interact and communicate effectively with students of different age groups and have developed many innovative teaching techniques.
I plan to pursue my interest in teaching after my degree. Thus this internship would be a great opportunity for me to put my skills into practice and learn more about the teaching system in schools as well.
I have the patience, drive, and commitment to be a great teacher, making me an excellent candidate for this position and genuinely hope that you will consider my application.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Pavithra
Monday, August 30, 2010
Dealing with Interpersonal Conflict
A man’s actions and the way he perceives things around him make up his personality. People from different places, cultures, and upbringing tend to have very different personalities from each other . The same situation perceived differently by 2 individuals give way to misunderstanding and hence cause conflict between them.
In secondary 3, I had a conflict with my good friend, Lexy (not her real name).
Lexy was on leave for about 10 days. During this period of time, I was responsible for collecting all her worksheets, copying down any homework we were given, getting all the notes for the chapters that were taught throughout the week, and checking her exam papers for errors as we were getting back all our papers after marking.
Every 2 days I would go to her house to pass her all the notes and information. I did not think of this as a chore since she was a really good friend. I was more than willing to help.
The problem howver, was when Lexy returned to school. She complained to me that some of the notes were missing and that I had not checked her exam paper properly. I apparently caused her to lose ½ a mark.
I was extremely angry that she did not appreciate me taking time to help her!
I started to avoid her to prevent the conflict from escalating, and she did the same. Eventually we stopped talking completely.
Would you have dealt with this situation differently? Or do you think I did the right thing?
In secondary 3, I had a conflict with my good friend, Lexy (not her real name).
Lexy was on leave for about 10 days. During this period of time, I was responsible for collecting all her worksheets, copying down any homework we were given, getting all the notes for the chapters that were taught throughout the week, and checking her exam papers for errors as we were getting back all our papers after marking.
Every 2 days I would go to her house to pass her all the notes and information. I did not think of this as a chore since she was a really good friend. I was more than willing to help.
The problem howver, was when Lexy returned to school. She complained to me that some of the notes were missing and that I had not checked her exam paper properly. I apparently caused her to lose ½ a mark.
I was extremely angry that she did not appreciate me taking time to help her!
I started to avoid her to prevent the conflict from escalating, and she did the same. Eventually we stopped talking completely.
Would you have dealt with this situation differently? Or do you think I did the right thing?
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Importance of Effective Communication
Hey guys.
In today’s world, I think that communication skills play a crucial role in determining the level of success people achieve.
To me, dealing with a conflict, motivating a team to get things done, expressing your opinion and understanding others’ opinion are the most important parts of effective non-written communication. Of course, ability to write well is essential too. These parts of communication will contribute the growth of any individual in the working world, don’t you think? Maybe, getting others to understand what you want them to, rather than exactly what you're thinking of is even more important at work.
Other than that, effective communication has proven to be of utmost importance in my daily life. Every other day, my father and I have a ‘friendly argument’. From what I have observed over the years, the argument is usually caused by a difference in understanding of the same situation. For example, me coming back home late immediately means (to my dad) that I went out shopping, then roam the streets and hence am extremely irresponsible. While the actual reason is that I was doing homework with my friend in school and then went out to eat dinner. The sad truth is that I still have no idea how to deal with this as efforts taken to try to explain have failed.
Coomunicating effectively to a different generation of people is hard but I'm sure it can be learnt.
And this is why, effective communication is so important to me.
In today’s world, I think that communication skills play a crucial role in determining the level of success people achieve.
To me, dealing with a conflict, motivating a team to get things done, expressing your opinion and understanding others’ opinion are the most important parts of effective non-written communication. Of course, ability to write well is essential too. These parts of communication will contribute the growth of any individual in the working world, don’t you think? Maybe, getting others to understand what you want them to, rather than exactly what you're thinking of is even more important at work.
Other than that, effective communication has proven to be of utmost importance in my daily life. Every other day, my father and I have a ‘friendly argument’. From what I have observed over the years, the argument is usually caused by a difference in understanding of the same situation. For example, me coming back home late immediately means (to my dad) that I went out shopping, then roam the streets and hence am extremely irresponsible. While the actual reason is that I was doing homework with my friend in school and then went out to eat dinner. The sad truth is that I still have no idea how to deal with this as efforts taken to try to explain have failed.
Coomunicating effectively to a different generation of people is hard but I'm sure it can be learnt.
And this is why, effective communication is so important to me.
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