Mathslover says
I believe every child is talented in their own way.
As the saying goes 'Slow and steady wins the race', I do not attempt to accelerate progress incessantly while disregarding the negative effects on the student. A test's objective is to find out how much the student already knows at a certain stage of the learning process. If a student revises for a test, he may appear bright on paper, but continue to be confused over certain aspects of the subject. This confusion will not be picked up by the teacher, as it is not apparent from the test results. As a result of that, no further help is rendered to the student, causing him to remain confused. On the other hand, if the student appears for a test unprepared, he'll be able to give the teacher a true idea of what he already knows (knowledge stored in long term memory) and the teacher will be in a better position to render any assistance where necessary.
Mathematics is a subject where understanding and application presides over pure memory work. It is intertwined in everyday life, from counting out change to determining the best way to share a cake, we use mathematics daily. I seek to help students understand that the learning time is not restricted to school hours or the hours spent with me. Neither are the learning tools restricted to books and worksheets. I teach using games, tricks, role play, and plenty of day-to-day examples. With the parent's permission, I sometimes plan age appropriate outings for my students, for them to see mathematics at work in the world we live in.
My ultimate aim for any student is to ignite their passion for mathematics, in order that they can help themselves in the long run. I do not believe that a tutor is for life, rather I hope all my students can emerge from under my wings as independent learners, with sufficient interest in the subject matter to pursue their own readings.
Having had over 100 students spanning the last 10 years (2002 - 2012), my students themselves are the best testimony to my teaching method.
I have a student whom I remembered clearly because the tuition setting was very informal. The student was an ardent player of the game MapleStory, and I knew him through the game. We would go on virtual adventures together. He approached me one day complaining about the lack of time to his O levels, and his 'dismal grade' for prelims. I then agreed to help where math is concerned. Speaking through virtual chat can be challenging when it comes to topics like geometry and calculus, then we will have plenty of fun drawing symbols on MSN handwriting chat. I never met up with the student in real life until after his O levels, when he proudly declared his success in the game world MapleStory, and dedicated some virtual items to me. Today, he has a diploma in maritime engineering and works for the Navy.
In 2012, I had a student who is more preoccupied with the number of marks she scores than whether she understands a concept. As a result, she insisted on memorising problem solving steps, and those don't get her very far. In order to help her overcome the fear of obtaining poor grades, I make absolutely no mention of grades during lessons and none to her parents either, and praise her for her efforts instead of her results. To achieve that, I get her to work out problems during tuition so I can observe her at it, and encourage her every step of the way. I also assign no homework, to give her the idea that I'm more interested in how she does her work and not what work she can present (possibly with other help). Over the course of the year, she has changed from insisting that I tell her every step, to suggesting possible options herself. She just did her PSLE and I hope she will eventually become an independent learner.
StarTutor's Review
A tremendously experienced tutor, Teo Lian Choon has accumulated more then 8 years of teaching experience and has a history of tutoring over a hundred students. She is a graduate from NTU with a Bachelor of Accountancy and is currently living her passion for teaching by working as a full-time tuition teacher.
Her expertise lies in the field of Mathematics, specifically focusing on Upper Primary and Secondary level Math. Being a very good motivator, Teo Lian Choon is able to galvanize and instill confidence in weaker pupils to grant them the innate belief and assurance that they can succeed in solving difficult questions as well as not to feel discouraged when they commit errors but instead to learn from these mistakes.
Teo Lian Choon also employs several innovative teaching methods. She uses custom made worksheets with questions extracted and amended from past examination papers. These worksheets are designed in a unique way to simulate a series of "games" to arouse student's interest in the subject. This serves to enliven the lesson and also gradually quicken the student's pace in learning.
Utilizing her vast amount of experience, and creative teaching style, Teo Lian Choon is capable of arousing student's interest in Mathematics and spur them on to actively self-study and attain better results. She believes that with enough effort, patience and guidance, achieving A grades is not impossible, hence her astute track record in improving all of her student's results. For students particularly weak in Mathematics, she would be a splendid choice as a tutor.
- Interviewed by StarTutor (Jerry and Arthur), 19 March 2011
2000 GCE O (
Nanyang Girls' High School)
English Language (B3), Mathematics (A1), Additional Mathematics (A2), Physics (B3), Chemistry (A2), Higher Chinese Language (B4), Chinese Literature (B3)
Commitment Level
I will be away from Singapore from DEC 2013 to DEC 2014 (a total of 13 months). To prepare for this upcoming absence, I will not be accepting any students who will take their national exams in 2014, this means students at P5/S3E/S4N in 2013. S4N students will still be considered, but they have to be clearly told that I will not be continuing with them should they want to do their O levels in 2014.
With the exception of CNY eve and the first 3 days of CNY, all lessons on public holidays as well as school holidays proceed as per normal, unless cancelled or rescheduled by the student.
I can start as soon as I have accepted an assignment.
Students may choose to start next year's syllabus during the Dec holidays. However, there will be no lessons on the first week of Jan. This is to allow all existing students to sort out their new timetables and rearrange tuition schedule as needed.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Should there be a need to cancel or reschedule a lesson, a 24-hour notice must be given. The student will have to pay for a lesson if notice of cancellation is either not given, or given less than 24 hours before its scheduled commencement time. Rescheduling of lessons is subject to available time slots, and not always guaranteed. On my part, if I have to cancel a lesson for any reason, I will also give advance notice and endeavour to reschedule it at another suitable time.
