Sometimes All We Need is Someone to Believe in Us.
“Today my student texted me her N level result, I screamed!
Just June this year she came in with U grade for Science.
For 4 months we slogged together. I self-studied, taught, she practised & reinforced!
From this, I learned that you don’t have to be a subject expert to be the right teacher, but to believe that each child deserves an equal opportunity to excel…”
In June last year a parent approached DAS International to seek support for KG – a secondary 4 student who was about to sit for her N-level examination in a few months. KG was referred to me as her parent’s preferred centre was Bishan Learning Centre, the location being closest to their home. Though she was never formally diagnosed, KG has been struggling with language-related problems since primary school. Due to her language processing ability and trouble with both verbal and written expressions has resulted in KG doing poorly in her studies especially Science. No matter how hard she tried to study and memorise her textbook, she continued to fail as she was not able to grasp the science concepts nor make sense out of them.
Her parents were at their wits’ end as they could not find the right help for their child. Naturally, when I learnt of her difficulties, I told them I was not the right help too as I am not a science teacher. How do I help a child in a subject that I am not an expert in? But what deeply moved me was that her parents believed that I was the right help for her and told me that they wanted to start her off with me anyway. In a blink of an eye, before I knew it, we have completed 30 sessions together which stretched till the day of her science paper.
Starting from the June holidays KG and I spend at least once a week – an hour each session on science. Started by uncovering what she did not understand then reteaching her, using real life examples from the endless hours of searching through the internet and recounting experiences in my life to make learning real for her. At the end of each week, I will spend my weekends combing through school textbooks and past year papers. To help me understand the difficulties that she faced and understand how her mind worked, I spend hours completing test papers in a timed environment just like how any N Level candidate will.
Literally, I became a student so that I can help her become better learner.
At times, she will feel demotivated as the amount of work we do was just so intense! We will listen to Thai music and discussed Thai dramas to shake off the stress! The months that she persevered paid off when she passed her science paper during prelims for the first time and went on to score a C for her N Level Examination!
I believe it is crucial that our children have someone that believes in them and willing to journey through difficult times with them. Sometimes we forget to realise that their journey of being different can get very lonely and hopeless.
Written By:
Ms Nicole Chua,
MA(SpLD), BA(Comms)
Senior Specialist Tutor, DAS International
Manager, (Talent & Development & Partnerships), Dyslexia Association of Singapore