Trek in Singapore - Kusu Island
expatbrian
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The pics are up at World Gone Mad. Again, I apologize for the quality as I had only my cell phone camera that day. But you'll get the idea. Enjoy.
.jpg)
The pics are up at World Gone Mad. Again, I apologize for the quality as I had only my cell phone camera that day. But you'll get the idea. Enjoy.
Labels: Just for fun, Singapore
posted by Libby Spencer at 12:57 AM
8 Comments:
Nice shots, especially considering they were from a cell phone. Looks like a fun day.
Camera shots notwithstanding, that was a great trip, thanks for taking us along!
I didn't know you were a teacher. What do you teach and where?
After 35 years in business I have just recently become a teacher. I started by teaching English enrichment classes in the government secondary(high)schools and just a month ago had an offer to teach full time English to foreign students in a private school here in Singapore.
Wow, that is so cool. I imagine you speak the local dialect, but how about with the forgeign students? I see from your trek you had students from Viet Nam and other parts of China. That must be a lot of languages to contend with. Sorry if I'm being nosy, I just find living abroad fascinating - sort of a secret desire, really. So I always want to know how people doing it manage.
I don't speak any foreign languages at all! I do know the names of all the Mahjong tiles though.
Foreign students who come to Singapore to study english do so mostly to prepare for the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service)exam which, if passed, gives them the English certification they need to enter most foreign universities.
And most of them have at least one year of English from their high school in their home country.
In the classroom, we use only English in the lessons and if there are students from more than one country, they are forced to use English to communicate with each other which helps them to learn it faster. Most of the students are from China but having a few from Vietnam or Indonesia helps in that way.
I do remember a smattering of Vietnamese from the war years but other than that, I have to depend on English.
In private schools here like mine, the only requirements for teaching is a degree and English as your native language. Being an American helps as most parents prefer their children to learn American English instead of British English.
Brian, that is amazing! You actually don't speak an Asian language? How do you communicate with Pearl's relatives, or do they also all speak English? Do you enjoy teaching there? It sounds like you have a pretty good gig going.
Pearl's mother, who has no formal education past elementary school, speaks no English. That's true of many of the elderly here. But 12 years of English in school is compulsory here and has been for decades, so it's not a problem at all. Among the middle aged and younger, it's much more common to hear them speaking English than Mandarin.
English is recognized as the international language of business throughout the world. Thus, it is taught in schools in many countries. I had no problem communicating in Thailand or Malaysia either.
The gig is good and as long as I keep it I can keep my employment pass. That's the big issue. Without authorized employment, I can't stay here. But so far so good.
You mainlanders really need to get out more often...:)The world really is not like you see on TV.
Tell me about it! I feel like one of the unwashed masses! I really need to work more so I have more travel money.
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