Page 12 - KCN 2020

Delving Deep: On The Path Unwinding:

A Conversation with Mr Chan
Delving Deep: A Conversation with Mr Chan An Interview with Ms Vasanthi
Grace Anoushka Lee Grace Anoushka Lee
Grace Anoushka Lee
Bright, charming and kind— Mr Chan is one of the many new English teachers employed As hundreds of students milled Despite all the difficulties she I was even challenged by
in Kuen Cheng High School. I was rather surprised when he started teaching us instead of Ms Vino towards the main hall for their routine faced in primary school, she contin- a student of mine to become a
Bright, charming and
— I had become accustomed to her hosting the usual Zoom classes — but he proved to be a bril-
kind— Mr Chan is one of the many objected to my dream of “Every student struggles temperature checks, I sat outside the ued her Chinese education in SMJK teacher in Kuen Cheng — it was just
becoming an English teacher.” with what they want to do in life,
library waiting for Ms Vasanthi. I was Chong Hwa. She was in Form 5 when that highly acclaimed of a school.”
liant, intriguing character, well-versed in the art of teaching English. I had never met him before our
new English teachers employed in and they shouldn’t be afraid of asking nervous — I was severely underprepared she became interested in teaching.
interview, so the task of interviewing him seemed rather daunting. However, I had a pleasant con-
Kuen Cheng High School. I was Mr Chan primarily taught their teachers for guidance. The — but thankfully my anxiety didn’t last “I got full marks on my Additional Ms Vasanthi never backed
rather surprised when he started in government schools and English English teachers helped me through very long. Ms Vasanthi dissipated my Mathematics trial exam, so my teacher down from a challenge. Soon
versation with him outside the library..
teaching us instead of Ms Vino — language centres before securing a my first day here as well — they uneasiness with her grace and poise; selected me to teach my entire grade! enough, she quit her job and
Mr Chan was fresh out of high school when he decided to pursue a degree in teaching

I had become accustomed to her job in Kuen Cheng. “My wife is a gave me a bunch of pointers she was eloquently spoken, and proved It was through their encouragement applied to teach English in Kuen
English. His passion stemmed from his SPM days — he claimed that English was the only thing he and
hosting the usual Zoom classes teacher in Tsun Jin, so the idea of advice! I don’t think I would’ve m to be a charming and intriguing char- and help that my newfound passion Cheng. By the end of February, she
excelled at, and thus he strived to perfect this ancient language. Through hard work and dedication, ade
— but he proved to be a brilliant, teaching in an independent school it through the week without them.” acter. A morning of classes had left me for teaching was born,” she said. After was officially a part of our school.
he graduated with a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), before finally landing
intriguing character, well-versed was enticing.” After conducting mul- fatigued — but she managed to fix that. a decade of discrimination — there
a job as an English teacher. Although the occupation as a teacher was, and still is looked down upon
in the art of teaching English. I tiple surveys, receiving advice from The interview took no more With the commotion of busy students were hardly any Indians in Chong Ms Vasanthi didn’t suffer
by the general public, he received overwhelming support from his friends and family.
had never met him before our his teacher friends, and obtaining than half an hour. His words were ringing in the air, I started my interview. Hwa — she finally felt empowered. from culture shock when she started

work here. “Everything I had heard

“All of my friends understood the path I was going to take,” stated Mr Chan. “Nobody
interview, so the task of interview- first-hand information from his profound and concise — his vast Her story started from her After taking her SPM about Kuen Cheng was true — the
objected to my dream of becoming an English teacher.”
ing him seemed rather daunting. wife, he finally decided on Kuen knowledge of the English language days as a primary school student. “It and her STPM, she graduated standard of English was very high.

Mr Chan primarily taught in government schools and English language centres before
However, I had a pleasant conver- Cheng. He applied, and was accepted. no doubt commendable in many was difficult! My parents enrolled me high school to pursue a degree in Many students primarily spoke
securing a job in Kuen Cheng. “My wife is a teacher in Tsun Jin, so the idea of teaching in an inde-
sation with him outside the library. aspects. He isn’t new to his job as a into an SJKC, so all of my subjects were International Economics. While she English, which was rare in Chinese
pendent school was enticing.” After conducting multiple surveys, receiving advice from his teacher in Mandarin,” The language barrier, was studying at University Malaysia schools. Even the students who

His first day in Kuen Cheng teacher, but his hunger for knowl-
friends, and obtaining first-hand information from his wife, he finally decided on Kuen Cheng. He she said, posed the biggest obstacle she Sarawak when she received an weren’t as good at English could
Mr Chan was fresh out
shocked him. “Every student edge has not faltered. I hope that
of high school when he decided bowed when I walked his ability to he’ll be able to protect this passion had faced in her life: “I couldn’t under- offer to join the police force. Her speak confidently, albeit not fluently.”
applied, was accepted.
to pursue a degree in teaching teach past them. Some even smiled of his, and continue sharing what he stand a thing on my exam papers, so future path was split in two, but
His first day in Kuen Cheng shocked him. “Every student bowed when I walked past them. Some
English. His passion stemmed and greeted me,” said Mr Chan. knows with the students of the future. I was always placed in the last class. she wasn’t sure which to choose. Ms Vasanthi admires that
even smiled and greeted me,” said Mr Chan. He was also astounded by the sheer number of stu-
To top it all off, my brothers were
kind of mindset — being willing to try
from his SPM days — he claimed the star pupils of the school! Neither “I could either become a things even if you may not be amaz-
dents in each class in contrast to his previous classes — going from around twenty in a class to Kuen
that English was the only thing He was also astounded of them helped me much, though.” teacher or a police officer,” she told ing at them. “It’s alright if you aren’t
Cheng’s average of fifty. However, he didn’t let his new environment hinder his ability to teach.
he excelled at, and thus he strived by the sheer number of students me. “In the end, I opted to become talented in every way; God created
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to perfect this ancient language. in each class in contrast to his an English teacher. My main goal you for a good reason. However, it’s
“A message to my students? Oh, that’s a tough one. I would advise them to ask their teachers

Through hard work and dedica- previous classes — going from in life was to inspire everyone I important that you try everything you
for help whenever they need it,” Mr Chan said to me. “Every student struggles with what they want
tion, he graduated with a degree around twenty in a class to Kuen met — but I couldn’t really inspire can, regardless of if you do it well or
to do in life, and they shouldn’t be afraid of asking their teachers for guidance. The English teachers
in Teaching English as a Second Cheng’s average of fifty. However, people as a policewoman, could I?” not. You only live once, you know?”
Language (TESL), before finally he didn’t let his new environ-
helped me through my first day here as well — they gave me a bunch of pointers and advice! I don’t
landing a job as an English teacher. ment hinder his ability to teach. Ms Vasanthi completed My conversation with Ms
think I would’ve made it through the week without them.”
Although the occupation as a her tertiary education with a Masters Vasanthi was short and sweet. I was
The interview took no more than half an hour. His words were profound and concise — his

teacher was, and still is looked in Teaching & Learning — all the relatively new to interviewing people
vast knowledge of the English language no doubt commendable in many aspects. He isn’t new to his
while maintaining a full-time job as
down upon by the general public, ------------------- an English teacher in Chung Hwa — I had only done it once before
job as a teacher, but his hunger for knowledge has not faltered. I hope that he’ll be able to protect this
he received overwhelming sup- Klang High School. However, she — but her amusing, witty banter
passion of his, and continue sharing what he knows with the students of the future.
port from his friends and family. “A message to my stu- became interested in Kuen Cheng made me feel at home. Before the
dents? Oh, that’s a tough one, I after attending a few seminars. interview ended, she advised all of
“All of my friends under- would advise them to ask their her students to persevere through
their hardships, and to defy all odds
stood the path I was going to teachers for help whenever they “Kuen Cheng was thrown at them. With that, I end
take,” stated Mr Chan. “Nobody need it,” Mr Chan said to me. always referred to as one of the my interview with a quote from
best schools in Kuala Lumpur, Ms Vasanthi: “They always told
and I wanted to find out more me I couldn’t, so I said watch me.”
about it.
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