Attending School in Singapore | Jhara the Student

As a person who would like to grow professionally, it has always been an exciting thing for me to be given the chance to study and have a refresher course on my degree. Never have I imagined that studying would be so much fun and enthralling because it has been a while since I was the one sitting and listening to lectures and enjoying such an ecstatic ride knowing that those proponents I had met when I was in college were being interjected on my current study.

"classmates"

It has always been my dream to study internationally thus, to have an internationally-known certificate is a bonus. It was a whole week of a 9 hour studying with good food served to us and a lecture that made our minds full and aching (hehe). The requirements, though a lot to take care of, made us challenge ourselves to do good and improve on our craft.

One of the highlights of my 2018 was to be given the chance to explore new knowledge and apply it in the field where I am now. Actually, I have been waiting for this course the entire time. The Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) is one way of the company to exceed an employee's fullest potential thus, I am very grateful that my company sponsored such short course for my colleagues and I. The short course was held at Ngee Ann Polytechnic ranging from 3rd to 8th September. It was about Early Childhood Care and Education for Student Care Teachers.

Reporting done!

How could I even say no to something which will help me embark onto a higher level of being a professional? With Piaget, Brunner, Erikson, etc. as the leading characters and psychologists divulging our course, it felt like home. It was really nostalgic that the people I met from nth years were here again lurking to my inner self. I was channeling the college student Jhara because my heart was filled with so much joy that it came to a point whereby I was the one given the lectures and listening and not the other way around. It brought a lot of memoirs on my part knowing that the principles, techniques and methodologies I had learnt in college were still empowered on the short course I did. It was a lot of difference; the way the lecturer established our rapport with her to sharing of our "schema" to asking to go to the loo because it was mind-freezing (literally and figuratively) to asking for an extension on submitting our assignments. The way we had our lecture with Ms. Sue was a lot different when it comes to my time in college with my professors. This is more of an outcomes-based education, more of reporting and sharing ideas, collaborative work. I'm not saying that my former professors didn't do an excellent job when I was in college ah, they did make an excellent job forming what I am now, maybe it's more of the basic education curriculum during my time (if I'm not wrong it's Essentialism). They did expose us to a progressivist classroom, the one where John Dewey pertained as "learning by doing", maybe I just got renewed to the teaching-learning process here in Singapore whereby we are the one discovering for truths, unlocking what made Pre-operational stage by Piaget a big deal for the children and how crucial the role of a teacher is on the growing up stage of his or her student.

Friends who eat together, pass together!

Another good thing about studying is that I got to meet people from other centres and built friendship with them and shared the same makan place with them. Foods were just an arm away since all of us welcomed each other to get finger foods on our table. It was tiring because it felt new but it was filled with astounding ideas at the same time. The cold classroom that made us go back and forth to the loo, the cool artworks made by some of the students enrolled on the same poly and the teabreak that we had. We surpassed the tough times and we're hopeful that we will pass together.

The three sets of assignments were about child study, behaviour and guidance and centre review. These were all challenging but the most tedious  one was the child study where all of us observed our chosen one and dealt with the changes that aroused the milestones we have concluded. It was fun and brain-whacking at the same time. And to feel like a student again learning new stuff, highlighting notes, feeling anxious with the assignments and successfully finishing the course was a totally astounding experience. I am praying to have more!

With our lecturer from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Ms. Sue Ratnam

Always,

Jhara

xoxo

Let's stay connected!

Follow me on my social media platforms.

Instagram - @yourjhara

Twitter - @kissesfromjhara