感恩的心

一杯豆花水、一包炒米粉、一份热乎乎的嘟嘟糕，是很普通的食物。可是，对一个来自普通家庭、每天向爸爸妈妈领零用钱的学生来说，这是昂贵的。他大可以把买点心的钱省下来，为自己的午餐加料，或去买一杯泡泡茶解暑。可是，他却记挂着他的老师，买一份点心请老师吃。

每次收到学生买的食物，我都特别、特别、特别感动。收到他们写的字条，我内心满满、满满、满满的都是温暖。

学习成绩很重要，但对于品德的教育我更加重视。这些字条与食物，都是学生表现“感恩”的方式。这些字条与食物，在我精疲力尽的时候，重新给了我能量。我总是细细品尝食物、把字条好好珍藏。我品味的是学生给我的爱，我收藏的是学生给我的心。

这一颗心，是园丁花了多少的心血细心照顾的？！但愿你们日后不仅在顺境时感恩，在逆境时也要学习感恩；不仅在接受的时候感恩，在给予的时候，也学会感恩！

感恩！感恩学生有一颗感恩的心！

《赛德克 巴莱》与我的学生教会我的事

两年前到清境农场去，上合欢山时，民宿老板充满热情并自豪地介绍“雾社”这个地方，并告诉我拍《海角七号》的导演要拍一部关于高山族抗日的电影。我是《海角七号》的拥护者，听到魏德圣要开拍电影，自然是很期待。但是，电影在新加坡上映的时候，我错过了。在机缘巧合下，我最近看了《赛德克巴莱》，内心满满的都是感动和震撼，却苦于无人与我分享对这部电影的喜爱。

于是，我打学生的主意。

我看遍网上所有关于《赛德克巴莱》及任何与赛德克族、雾社事件有关的视频，买电影改编的小说阅读，吸取了所有我能找到的讯息。之后，我思考能如何让学生了解这段历史、明白高山族的文化、理解人物的内心，最后结合电影与写作。这是针对高级华文的学生设计的课。对于快捷华文班，我去掉了写作的部分，让他们口述。基本上我让学生看年轻莫那的部分，然后鼓励他们自己继续看完《太阳旗》和《彩虹桥》。

中四普通华文的学生在九月假期的时候考完了N水准的华文考试。他们还有2周才继续考其他的科目，但我们照样上华文课。对我来说，这是一段“黄金时间” ，因为我可以利用这两周进行正规课程额以外的教学。我在思索，要给他们讲通俗一点的《射雕英雄传》，还是给他们还有我自己一个挑战，讲《赛德克巴莱》？普通学术班的同学，有这个耐性和程度去接受和思考这部沉重的电影吗？况且，整部影片没有讲一句华语，都是赛德克语和日语，他们的阅读速度和认字能力有办法应付字幕阅读吗？考虑到这些，我重新思考我要怎么切入，让中四普通学术班的同学明白：马关条约、中日战争、高山族文化、文明与野蛮、“以藩治藩”......还有故事内容。

我准备了一套ppt，从现代的台湾开始讲起，让学生先说出自己对台湾的认识，也分享我的台湾旅游经验。然后，我把太鲁阁、阿里山、清境农场、阿美族等照片让学生看，渐渐把学生带到原住民，然后深入浅出地从马关条约讲到国共战争，最后再回到台湾日据时代，带出电影的内容与高山族文化。最后，我简介莫那鲁道。介绍完毕，我心里认为学生可能已经负荷过重了，但学生第一次让我感到惊喜：他们高喊“老师快点快点给我们看电影！我们已经很想看了！”但是投影机这时出现技术故障，学生失望地叹气，有几个学生立刻冲上前来协助解决，最后我们顺利地看了前面35分钟，也就是我预计中的莫那鲁道年轻的部分。中间我暂停播映，问问学生还看得懂历史背景吗，学生都点点头。嗯，这证明我为他们做的准备和切入点还是正确的。

随着莫那鲁道被一群日本警察压倒在埋头颅的坑里，时间从1902年往前推移至1930年，我问学生要不要继续看48岁的莫那鲁道。学生问：年轻那个没有演啦？我答：是的，没有帅哥看了。你们还要继续吗？“要！”之后交待莫那鲁道与赛德克人被欺压、改变生活习惯、忍辱负重的部分可说是相当沉重。而且没有帅哥和动作戏，学生可能会看不下去。我让学生边看边随时按下“暂停”稍微做讲解，或问问他们的感想，学生的回答都让我受到很大的鼓励，他们是很认真的看，而且是有在思考的看！这是第二个惊喜。但我仍做了“随时停播”的心理。下课时间到了，我问：明天还要继续吗？“要！”我太高兴啦！！第三个惊喜！

第三天走进课室，学生都在我还没到来之前把桌椅转都向课室角落的布幕，等着继续看《赛德克巴莱》。边看，边补充我书里看到，电影里不明显的部分。今天看到赛德克族血祭祖灵，在雾社的运动会上痛杀日本人。全班学生看到一个赛德克人高举敌人的首级，竟然鼓掌欢呼起来！这是第四个惊喜啊！《太阳旗》的部分大概还剩下20分钟的时间，下课的铃声响了。我说：“我们下星期继续吧！”学生立刻很期待地问：“老师，你下一节有课吗？”“没有。怎么了？”“我们的英文也考完N水准了。老师通常让我们自习其他科目。你向她借时间让我们继续看好不好？？？”惊喜！惊喜！惊喜！

看完了《太阳旗》，我以花冈一郎与莫那鲁道在小溪旁的那幕戏与学生讨论了“野蛮与文明”、“灵魂与外貌”、“生存与灭亡”、“忍辱与反抗”、“自由与奴隶”、“祖灵与神社”，抛出了一些问题给他们思考。再问：“下周还要看下半部吗？”“要要要！”

我满足、自豪、骄傲地走出中四普通学术班的课室。

他们教会了我，不要因为他们的学术科目学习能力而小看他们心灵的深度。

他们再度证明，老师的热情是可以传遍课室并点燃学生学习的欲望。

他们提醒了我，老师要自我充实才能教出不一样的课。

他们鼓励了我，没有教不会的学生，但我要找出适合他们的方法。

他们体验了一次立体的阅读，感受到思考的乐趣。

我很有自信，这次的电影教学会是他们中学生涯印象最深刻的华文课之一。

这次的电影教学对他们的作文、语文考试有直接的帮助吗？你能直接看到他们的成绩有进步吗？答案是否定的。但是，你要如何衡量这次的电影教学对德育方面的提升、对历史的认识、捍卫自己的母语文化的骄傲？

所以，当我听到部长在几天前的工作计划工作坊提出对教育方向的一些改变，我非常欣喜。

让我们的孩子在快乐中“野蛮”地学习，不要让他们在“文明”的考试中“卑躬屈膝”吧！

我热爱我的工作--写在2012年教师节

很多人，真的很多人，问过我：（1）为什么你选择教书？（2）教华文很辛苦hor？（3）不如你去教补习？可以赚更多的钱leh！

答案很简单：如果我想赚大钱，我就不会选择教书；如果怕辛苦，就不会选择当老师。

教书是一份劳心劳力劳神的一份工作。学生、家长、社会，甚至是老师自己，都要求教师不断的付出、付出、付出。不是每个人可以负荷这样的压力或取得身心的平衡。

2012年，我在身体上很累。2012年，我在精神上非常的满足。

2012年是我3年前转到中学教书后第一次当毕业班的级任老师。带毕业班的压力，不要说外人，或许连没带过毕业班的老师都不十分清楚。上天特别眷顾我。我们这几位毕业班的老师在原有的友情基础上，互相鼓励、互相扶持、互相帮忙，建立了更深的友谊，这暖暖的友情在冷冷的制度下显得更加难能可贵！在我们疲累的时候，我们知道至少有3个伙伴愿意借出耳朵和肩膀；在我们负荷不来的时候，我们知道只要一呼喊就有3个伙伴挺身而出；在我们生气的时候，有3个人可以一言一语地用幽默化解你的愤怒；在我们不知所措的时候，身边还有三个臭皮匠。真的很感恩！因为有对教育有相同理念的队友，我才可以继续坚持与倔强啊！SW，菁，Ad是我2012年特大的丰收！

2011年当3E4班的级任的时候，我不开心到极点。学生程度差不说，班上的男生更加是令人讨厌。无礼、爱讲话、给老师添麻烦。我还得用英文教学生道德教育课！天啊！

经过半年多紧绷的相处后，无论是我或者学生，都发现了彼此另外的一面。从恶性循环的紧张关系，我们开始彼此让步。然后我们开始再度互相认识。然后我们互相了解。然后我们互相喜欢。最后，原本是水火不容的我们，成了水乳交融。我从来没有把自己的身份降低到当学生是朋友。学生，永远是学生。“长幼有序”、“尊师重道”的精神不能被妥协。当华文老师，我不仅要带领他们参加语文考试，我觉得我还要让学生喜欢自己的文化、喜欢华文课。我要在新旧文化、新旧教学法、新旧思想、新旧科技之间取得平衡，还要继续充实和挑战自己。我喜欢这样的工作，喜欢这样觉得灵魂在活着！

一年多过去了。一个个、一个个的小朋友长大、成熟。他们的华文成绩一天天在进步，他们上华文课眼里都是光芒。曾经顽劣与不懂事的家伙，今天他成了你为他感到骄傲的青少年，这是多少父母般的心情溶在里头啊！

曾教学生做便当，他们在教师节亲自做一个爱的便当送给我。我真的、真的、真的好感动！在教师节的时候，学生能送给老师的最佳礼物，就是肺腑之言。昨晚，我把学生写的每字每句细细阅读，鼻子开始酸酸的。教书教了16年，与个别很好的同学不少，与整班同学有最深厚的感情与回忆的，只有4班。今年的4E3，就是其一。

真的舍不得他们。但是也最感谢他们，让我的人生中有一段重要与美好的回忆。

这些真挚的情感与满足，是金钱或权势能取代的吗？

这就是为什么我要继续在学校当华文老师。

School Graduation Performance 29th Oct 2011

We were all looking forward to 29th Oct 2011 because Jaimie would be performing at her school's annual graduation concert! Jaimie would be performing in 2 items plus a little solo time between 2 performances.

The concert venue was at ACJC. It looked like it was going to be a grand affair!


We were to send Jaimie to school by 1230pm for makeup and final preparation. Jaimie was so excited! She kept asking if it was time to go school yet as she was afraid that she would be late.

The teachers were very busy dolling up the little performers! This is Teacher Shirley, Jaimie's form teacher.

My little star!

My little star with her 2 friends, Shermaine and Seraphine. Seraphine had graduated from the same school last year.

The concert started at 3.15pm. I was almost in tears when I saw the little graduands going up on stage. Oh gosh, it would be Jaimie's turn next year! Will I cry buckets of tears???

The performances put up by the little children were highly entertaining! Each and every one of them was so charming on stage. The innocent faces, the happy dance steps which came from their heart... I really enjoyed myself very much!

Finally, it was Jaimie's turn to be on stage with her Waka Waka dance! We spotted her and quickly snapped pictures of her. Then, as the children moved around on the stage, both Clement and I lost sight of her as ALL THE GIRLS LOOKED ALIKE!

And we found her again during the ending....hahahaha!

This kung-fu performance impressed me most. Not only did the children danced in kung-fu moves, they wrote "Chinese Kung Fu" (中国功夫) with calligraphy pens on stage! As a Chinese teacher, I couldn't love this performance more.

Anyway, when we saw the lyrics of the song, Clement and I laughed until we teared. The lyrics were very meaningful, don't get me wrong. We laughed because we finally understood what Jaimie was trying to sing to us all these while. And we couldn't understand even one line when she was singing!

Jaimie and her classmates changed into another costume and performed the Beijing Opera Song 《唱脸谱》, another of my favourite performance of the concert! Cute dance steps, lyrics loaded with cultural knowledge and most importantly... Jaimie would be doing a solo 4-line after the dance! *BEAMING WITH PRIDE*

Jaimie's solo time!

Then, she recited a poetry 《咏鹅》with 3 other K2 students.

The concert ended at 5.30pm after the finale.

It must be a very emotional moment for the teachers and the graduands. This concert was a milestone and a testimonial of their growth. Congratulations, K2 students! One year later I would probably write a very emotional post about the graduating concert!

Bento #177, Bento #178 and Exchanging Bentos With Students

I shared with my students about bento making during class last week and it got them so excited. They kept bugging me to make bentos for them but it was just impossible to make so many! Hence, I told them we could do a exchange bento! Those of them who wanted to try their hands on bento-making can bring one to school and we would do an exchange.

This morning, I woke up at 5.15am to make 3 bentos. This oven-baked crispy chicken bun was for Clement. The chicken pieces were too chunky so I cut them into halves and they fit nicely.

This was for Jaimie.

I made this for the bento exchange.

After the lesson time, we put our bentos together and took some photos. The students were both shy and proud to show the very FIRST bento they made!
To decide who would take whose bento, we played the "choot hoh beh" game. :D

These bentos may not be the most beautifully ones but they were definitely filled with love. I hope this simple exchange would add some more fond memories to their secondary school life!

In-House Bento-making Workshop

After I conducted the bento making workshop organised by Health Promotion Board (HPB), I received quite a few invitations from several organisations, asking if I could do something similar. I would love to say YES to all of them but it was unfortunate that due to time contraints or logistics problems, I had to turn them down.

Hence,when my colleague, SW, approached me and asked me if I could do a in-house bento making workshop with her Girl Guides, I said yes immediately! :)

After some discussion with SW, we decided to keep it simpler by just doing bread bento. I listed down the stuff needed and SW settled that with the girls. We used the school's cookery room for the workshop. Quite simple logistic!

We began with workshop with a 45mins "theory" lesson. After that, the girls couldn't wait to start the hands-on.

They were more creative than I thought! They had very simple tools to play with compared to the participants at the HPB workshop but their creations were just as exciting!




Some colleagues came to attend the workshop too!

The girls had a lot of fun for 2 hours! They were so proud of their own creation and they were excited about presenting their bento to their parents. Awwww... this is why I like to conduct workshops!

As my morning routine has changed, I haven't been able to make "presentable" bentos which I can blog about but I still make simple ones for Jaimie and Clement. The happy faces on the students gave me a glimpse of how Jaimie looked when she brought her bento to school.

What is bento? Bento is LOVE. :)

Masquerade

The PHHHHHAAAANNNNTOOOOOMMMMMMMM of the oooooooppppeerraa is hereeeee.... inside my miinnnnnnnd.....

No, actually it's big bird in disguise.