The passion to make a positive impact on the young is what drives teachers. We talk to 29-year-old Liew Siim Wii, who is Subject Head of Music at Xishan Primary School, and 28-year-old Gladys Ong, a teacher at Jurong West Primary School about their roles as educators. They offer insights into the teaching profession and the joys of watching their young charges grow and embrace learning.

Why teaching?

Liew Siim Wii: After completing my Grade 8 in Piano, I started giving piano lessons to young children during the break after my ‘O’ Levels. I continued teaching piano through my polytechnic days and even after graduation. This sparked my interest in pursuing teaching as a career and I went on to pursue the four-year Bachelor of Arts (Education) degree programme at the National Institute of Education.

Gladys Ong Ying Wen: Internship stints during my polytechnic and university days made me realise that working in the corporate sector was not what I wanted. Instead, I found my part-time teaching stints at a neighbourhood learning centre extremely rewarding. From there, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted a career where I could look forward to seeing the students daily and that was dynamic to keep me on my toes – teaching fitted the bill perfectly.

How has MOE supported your professional development?

Siim Wii: As part of the music fraternity, I regularly attend music courses at the Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the aRts (STAR). This keeps me updated on music pedagogies. Also, as the music Star Champion in my cluster, I conduct sharing of good music teaching practices with my fellow music colleagues. Such exchanges provide learning opportunities for the professional development of music teachers.

Gladys: MOE has a well-rounded development programme which allows education officers to pursue their strengths and further develop their areas of interests. Developmental courses that target specific skills are widely available for us to attend. For example, I’ve attended courses on class management skills and handling relations with parents. These have all contributed to my growth as an education officer.

What are some of the challenges you face as a teacher and how do you overcome them?

Siim Wii: The challenges differ from year to year as each new cohort of students would bring along different demands. One of the challenges would be helping pupils who are in need or lack family support. As teachers, we are often concerned about their well-being. For instance, how can we help them beyond school hours and ensure that they have the space and time to do their homework as well as play in a safe environment? Colleagues play an important role in making the job enjoyable and fulfilling. We organise programmes and events as a team and go on learning journeys together. All these help to make the work place a positive one.

Gladys: The ability to multi-task was a challenge for me when I first started teaching. I was fortunate to have colleagues who were very supportive and helpful. They taught me how to cope and adapt which is important, as unhappy teachers would breed unhappy students. I also learnt how to manage relationships with parents. Some parents are cooperative and understanding while some can be quite demanding. The key is effective communication and being able to empathise with them.

Share with us some highlights of your job as a teacher.

Siim Wii: There are just so many memorable episodes in my teaching career. To share a more recent incident, I guided a class of Primary 5 pupils for their STOMP performance. The pupils were divided into groups to come up with a performance. One particular group simply couldn’t decide on their rhythm and get their act together, even up till the eve of their performance. After much pep talk and encouragement, they somehow managed to pull through. What was more surprising was that this particular class received the most votes and emerged as the overall champion!

Gladys: There was a year when I had a student with special needs. He suffered from dyslexia and autism, and had great difficulty in learning. I had to spend a lot of time and effort to teach him, correct his misconceptions, and help him cope with his condition. When he managed to graduate, my student and his mother came to thank me for helping him. It was a tearful but joyous goodbye.

What would you say is the most fulfilling part of your job?

Siim Wii: The most fulfilling part for me is seeing my pupils develop into confident performers and speakers, and having no qualms about going up on stage to perform. Only a handful of pupils are able to do this without much help. For the majority of pupils, it takes time to develop them into becoming confident performers. However, the time taken to instil musicality into my pupils and ultimately, cultivate a performing culture is definitely worth it.

Gladys: The simplest things really. Spending time with my students during recess, seeing my students waving goodbye to me from afar, hearing my students tell me how they aren’t afraid of Mathematics anymore, receiving updates from my ex-students about their lives - the list goes on. These instances remind me how I’ve made a difference in my students’ lives at one point in time.

What advice do you have for aspiring teachers?

Siim Wii: Do try out relief or contract teaching to see if teaching is the job for you. There are opportunities in NIE, such as practicum, for you to observe experienced teachers and have hands-on teaching experience. However, it will be good for you to embark on a teaching stint first before enrolling.

Gladys: As a teacher, you must have optimism, perseverance, and humility. Be prepared for hard work, and always put in your best efforts. The satisfaction that you get from this job will be priceless, and it will be more fulfilling than anything you can ever imagine.