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Suzanne's piece on L, "Teachers in PALC"
Hongxin's piece "My Teacher Louise"
NEW: Ben's Piece "A Wonderful Teacher: Cheryl"
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A place for Writing 12 students to read each other's writing, to critique, to suggest, to improve.
About Me
- Brad
- Former adult teacher who loves island beaches. Happy homebody and family man; once devoted dog owner, now without Tashi, my Tibetan Terrier. I prefer the absurdity of the imagination to the absurdity of imagining nothing.
8 comments:
Teachers in PALC
I have met many good teachers in PALC since I started my lessons in 2002. They not only are diligent but also are patient with students. Their kindness has motivated me to continue my study, especially teacher L whose help I have appreciated very much.
As I was doing my grade 11 self pace in lab room, L asked, “Do you need help?” I was surprised because I had never encountered a teacher who was as kind as he. This consideration made me feel grateful, and I have remembered his understanding since.
Teacher L, Cheng Lok, was born in the Year of Rooster in Chinese Lunar Calendar. His ancestors were from Fu Chien province which is located in the south east of China, but he was born and grew up in Malaysia.
When he was twelve years old, his father passed away and his mother suffered from depression for many years. The suffering didn’t defeat him but rather made him stronger. He has achieved respect in various subjects. I admire his fortitude.
L studied Economics at Dundee University in Scotland and graduated from the University of Malaya majoring in English literature. Now he takes education psychology at UBC. He joined in many sports teams when he was a student, such as, squash, running, and table tennis. What a talented and energetic teacher he is! The excellent accomplishment is a great example for everyone.
He has taught for twenty-one years. His courses include Introduction to Math 11, English Grammar, Literature and Composition 9, and Social studies 8. Last semester, he instructed Entrepreneurship 12. Next semester, he will teach Data Management 12. I studied grammar from him when I was in grade 10. I still remember that he answered the students’ questions clearly.
Here are more of his profiles:
Favorites: Literature Composition
Food: see (not sea) food that means he is not picky about food. Whatever the food he sees, he likes it.
Activities: hiking, camping, traveling, and squash
Religion: tending to Buddhism
Quote: Stay in the moment
Book: Books with a historical or cultural background, for example, Kite Runner, a book that talks about Afghanistan
Hobbies: reading, spending quality time with his three children
My Teacher Louise
"Merry Christmas,Hong!" Santa Claus came to me and gave me me a candy cane.
I stunned and stared at this tall Santa with white beard and wore the scarlet coat.I suddenly realized that's Louise, my first teacher at PALC.
she is tall, thin and full of energy, speaking fast and walking briskly. Before speaking, she smiles first. Teaching English, Science, Mathematics and Accounting, she is really gifted in many ways.
Louise teaches us Communication 12 and teaches the Adult "pupils" like me is not an easy thing. I have made so many mistakes in grammar, usage and syntax here and there that I annoy myself very much. But Louise always corrects every error patiently and often shows me how to write is better.
According to her suggestion, I built my "Error Book". Every time reviewing this book, I can't help scorning such stupid mistakes I made. However I have never find a wisp of annoyance from her. I feel her smiling is from the bottom of her heart. Once I asked about her reflections, she said:"I like teaching adult. I like it."
A girl came from Calgary, graduated from UBC and got the degree of Bachelor. The young girl bravely devotes to the cause of the adult education. At the beginning of the school, the classrooms weren't finished. She must teach in the cafeteria. Since then, twenty four years passed, she is a senior teacher now.
One cold snowy winter day, I met her going to school by bicycle. I felt surprised and she told me, also with smile, cycling twice a week not only for doing some exercise but also for protecting the environment-to reduce the gas emission. Oh! the " green rush" is on her feet!
I remember that the colour she most like is green--It's the colour of tree and grass and it's the colour of lives. She loves green and she is devoting to another kind of green causes--teaching and cultivating.
I respect my teacher Louise. And I extremely appreciate her motto: "Be her now!" --It is the true meaning of the life. I've told her:"you are one of the best teacher I met at ALC." The words are not flattering.
From Ben:
A Wonderful Teacher-Cheryl
Some breeze puffed over the endless grain fields in the Saskatchewan. Few bungalows and farm houses were scattered in the middle of the prairie. One of the farm owner was busy for his crops, but some times he also enjoyed doing some sales business with Good Years Tire Company for his side business. He got some lovely kids, and one of the little angel he loved most was Cheryl. The time goes by with all happiness until the worldwide economic depression came. The crops out lets were restrained by international quota for the selling. Under such unfavorable market situations, Cheryl's father brought all his family to B.C. for a new life. At that time, Cheryl was only three. Few years later she entered in Prince George school from k to twelve.
Cheryl always inclines in culture and beautiful landscape; therefore she took her major in History and geography in the SFU. During that period of time, she fully devoted hereself in the books or works but no time for romance. Until one day an unexpected surprise has happened to her; her friend introduced her a very nice young man, and knocked her hearty door. Few months later, the young man asked Cheryle to marry him. Surprisingly, Cheryl replied;' I am not good at cook, or you will regret to marry me.' The young man expressed confidently; 'Don't worry, sweet heart, I will cook for you rest of my life if you are willing to marry me.' He caught her heart eventually.
after their happy marriage, Cheryl has two very active boys, and they are almost teenage. Hockey and Soccer games seem to be a part of their life already, especially during the holidays; therefore, Cheryl have to turn herself as a full time chauffer for sending boys to the games. On the way back home, in the car, Cheryl said,'Guys, although I am not a super cook mam, but definitiely I am an excellent chauffer for you boys.'The boys noded with a satisfactory smile. Occasionally, She likes golfing, it is her only hobby. May be the beauty of golf course reminice her the prairie in Saskatchewan.
Cheryle has taught in PALC for more than 18 years. She has a wise and pleasant character. When students ask her any questions, she always replies instantly with a brief and clear answer, also with a smiling face. She teaches many courses: English, Social, Civics in different levels. Her eloquent tongue lookes like a powerful machinegun, shooting right on the target; therefore, it is extremely clear for all students to understand. Especially, every complicated contents in the text book, through her systematic elaboration which will be easlier for us to study. More importantly, In her class, students enjoyed a fully democratic system to express our questions and opions at any times. She always listens very carefully about students' opions, and there is no barrier at all between her and all students in the class.
Before the exam., she used to give students a thorough review, and the questions on the paper are vivid, or even sometimes needs us to express our viewpoints to illuminate our brainstorming. That is why I do enjoy studying in Cheryl's class. She provides us all the knowledge far beyong on the text books. I also admire her sophisticated teaching experience ,and the way she approaches to the students in the class; therefore, Cheryl is one of my favorite teacher in PALC.
A Young Teacher Renuka
It was a registration day. When I entered the first classroom, Renuka greeted to me: “Hello Ruth, how are you?” I also greeted to her. After she looked my record, she said: “Oh, you have finished English twelve. Good! You have done the work only in a year and half!”
“I’m lucky.” I answered.
“No, it’s nothing to do with luck. I think you are very hardworking.” I felt confident for her encouragement. I met Renuka in different English classes before, because she was the substitute teacher of the class I attended. Every time,
she encouraged me. The reason she gave me some impression was that she was my English level nine teacher of summer program in the PALC the year before last year.
A Youngest and Left- handed Teacher
When Renuka said, “good morning,” with a smile and stood at the front of the class of summer program, I was surprised that she was very young. She was the youngest teacher in the PALC. I guess she was around twenty five and admired her courage to be a teacher of adults. After all, most of the students were much older than her. Another interesting thing was that she was left-handed. I liked to look at her writing beautiful handwriting on the board with her left hand.
A Responsible and Patient Teacher
Summer program was very intensive, and we had class every day. Renuka never let students to wait for her. She came to school early and waited for the class every morning. She corrected students’ writing one by one and face to face until the class was over, and even more time. When she met the off-topic writing, she would ask the student some questions patiently such as, “Why did you write this sentence?” or “What is the title about?” After that, she would give some suggestions and helped to make sense of the meaning. She not only corrected grammar mistakes, she also provided some words to substitute improper words.
The Most Memorable Thing
She taught us eight type transitional words. That was most memorable thing to me. My writing was beautified by those transitional words. Instead of first, second, and third, some new transitional words appeared in my writing such as, primarily, in addition, and furthermore. They have been very helpful in my writing since then.
Family and Education
Renuka was born in New Westminster. She lived in Surrey since she was two years old. She was the second daughter of two in the family. Her parents emigrated from India thirty two years ago. After graduating from high school, she entered U. B. C. Her major was biology, and her minor was psychology. After she got B.Ed, she also got B.Sc.
Becoming a Teacher
Renuka liked children, and she also liked to help people. It’s the reason why she became a teacher. She has been a TOC for three years. As a substitute teacher, she is unusual because she need to teach every subject (from English to math) and every grade (from kinder garden to grade twelve). Now, she is a full time teacher in the PALC in place of Trudi for one year.
An Interesting Teaching Experience
When Renuka taught Communication twelve in night school, a new adult student come to her class one evening. She sat at a desk and asked the student next to her, “where is the teacher?” Renuka had been standing at the front of the class while she waited for class to begin. However, the new student upon seeing Renuka, must have decided in her mind that it was not possible that Renuka was the teacher. When Renuka answered her and explained that she was the teacher, she replied, “Oh, I didn’t think you can be a teacher because you’re so young!”
Food: Chocolate, Lasagna, Butter chicken;
Language: English, Hindi;
Movie: Hindi movies;
Book: The Firm by John Grisham;
Pastime: Sudoku, Reading, Enter Contests;
Author: Jonathan Kellerman;
Quote: You can’t learn if you don’t try!
The second draft:
A Young Teacher Renuka
It was a registration day. When I entered the first classroom, Renuka greeted to me: “Hello Ruth, how are you?” I also greeted to her. After she looked my record, she said: “Oh, you have finished English twelve. Good! You have done the work in only a year and a half!” “I’m lucky,” I answered. “No, it’s nothing to do with luck. I think you are very hardworking.” I felt confident for her encouragement. I met Renuka in different English classes before because she was the substitute teacher of the class I attended. Every time, she encouraged me. The reason she gave me some impression was that she was my English level nine teacher of summer program in the PALC the year before last year.
The Youngest and Left-handed Teacher
When Renuka said, “Good morning,” with a smile and stood in the front of the class of summer program, I was surprised that she was very young. She was the youngest teacher in the PALC. I guess she was around twenty five, and I admired her courage to be a teacher of adults. After all, most of the students were much older than her. Another interesting thing was that she was left-handed. I liked to look at her beautiful handwriting on the board with her left hand.
A Responsible and Patient Teacher
Summer program was very intensive, and we had class every day. Renuka never let students wait for her. She came to school early and waited for the class every morning. She corrected students’ writing one by one and face to face until the class was over, and even more time. When she met the off-topic writing, she would ask the student some questions patiently such as, “Why did you write this sentence?” or “What is the title about?” After that, she would give some suggestions and help to make sense of the meaning of the writing. She not only corrected grammar mistakes, but she also provided some words to substitute improper words.
The Most Memorable Thing about Her
She taught us eight types of transitional words. That was most memorable thing to me. My writing was beautified by those transitional words. Instead of first, second, and third, some new transitional words appeared in my writing such as, primarily, in addition, and furthermore. They are very useful till now.
Family and Education
Renuka was born in New Westminster. She lived in Surrey since she was two years old. She is the second daughter of two in the family. Her parents emigrated from India thirty two years ago. After Renuka graduated from high school, she entered U. B. C. Her major was biology, and her minor was psychology. After she got her B.Sc., she also got a B.Ed.
Becoming a Teacher
Renuka likes children, and she also likes to help people. It’s the reason why she became a teacher. She has been a teacher on call for three years. As a substitute teacher, she is unusual because she needs to teach every subject (from English to Math) and every grade (from kindergarten to grade twelve). Now, she is a full time teacher in the PALC in place of Trudi for one year.
An Interesting Teaching Experience
When Renuka taught Communications twelve in night school, a new adult student came to her class one evening. She sat at a desk and asked the student next to her, “where is the teacher?” Renuka had been standing at the front of the class while she waited for class to begin. However, the new student upon seeing Renuka, must have decided in her mind that it was not possible that Renuka was the teacher. When Renuka answered her and explained that she was the teacher, she replied, “Oh, I didn’t think you can be a teacher because you’re so young!”
Food: Chocolate, Lasagne, Butter chicken;
Language: English, Hindi;
Movie: Hindi movies;
Book: The Firm by John Grisham;
Pastime: Sudoku, Reading, Entering Contests;
Author: Jonathan Kellerman;
Quote: You can’t learn if you don’t try!
A full-grown Prairie soul boy, Brad
“I have a very strange education back ground.” My Writing 12 English teacher, Brad, had a long talk about his past life with laugh and earnestness and I was enthralled.
He was born in Alberta in 1956, move to Manitoba where he had great childhood, and then came to Burnaby in 1963 (Brief history is posted on P.A.L.C. web site). Skipping grade four, he graduated high school at the age of 16, went to U.B.C. for two years. Not because he couldn’t afford (he made a big money in Northwest Territories as a kitchen helper!), but because to seek his view of life, he left school for bike ride to cross country. After that, he worked for B.C.Tel. as a sheet metal, brook layer worker.
“I decided to see outside of this country, so I and a friend traveled around Europe for six months sleeping in a train or on a beach. That was a fun.” Brad made a big smile with nostalgia for good old day.
After the trip, he took two years college which offered him a day care center’s teaching job. In 1979 he went Quebec to learn French. On the way to Montreal, Brad met his wife and they stay together in Quebec till 1980. While he was learning French, he taught English at Quebec High School as a substitution teacher which he though teaching might be an ideal job. In 1981, fascinated by teaching elementary kids, he went Simon Frazer University to acquire teaching certificate. Having a difficulty of finding a job as a teacher at that time, he survived by doing various kind of work. In 1987, he met Louise at Adult Learning Center and he started his career since then. Between the classes, he went back to U.B.C. to get degree and 1996 he graduated university.
“My mom and my kid came to the graduation and he still remembers that day!” He had a big laugh.
“That was a very strange way to become a teacher.” Yes it is, Brad, and you have an extraordinary, wonderful experience along with it.
“Teaching at P.A.L.C. is fabulous thing; I have all kind of students in here. I work only three days but I have a business; Website organization which pays me almost the same amount as a full time teacher. Besides, I have freedom and can devote more time to my teaching class. My life style suits me very well. I am happy now the way I spent my time”
“I am a sensitive guy, so I don’t like the way going around world. The world is terrible situation right now. Housing price, starving people in Africa and China, tornado at Colorado, people never wake up or do they? I don’t know. I used to be an optimistic but now I became pessimistic about our future.” Brad talked in an undertone voice and his eyes were roaming around the wall.
“After I retired, I would like to teach in overseas. France is a nice choice, I like there. I will stay in small town and renting a house in a suburb, doing small gardening too, which is my dream.” In a decade or so, his dream surely will come true.
Almost one and a half hours’ interview with Brad (thank you so much for your time), his mind connected with so many good memories that his topics jumped into one to another, like a wild house running around Prairie. His grandfather homestead Canada in 1905 and met grandmother at Nelson who also immigrated by herself. Brad is the third generation in Canada. Despite of his Vancouverite, his soul is filled with Prairie’s swift wind and his ancestors pioneer sprits blood are still running in Brad’s vain.
About Brad
Have a son and a daughter, better shopper than his wife, cook 5-days out of 7, devoted dog owner, all year round barbecue fonder, cyclist and weight lifter, 52yeras old and zodiac year is monkey.
First draft 666 words
Hongxin Guo said...
My Teacher Louise
"Merry Christmas,Hong!" Santa Claus came to me and gave me me a candy cane.
I was astonished and stared at this tall Santa with white beard and wore the scarlet coat. I suddenly realized that's Louise, my first teacher at PALC.
she is tall, slim and full of energy, speaking fast and walking briskly. Before speaking, she smiles first. Teaching English, Science, Mathematics and Accounting, she is really gifted in many ways.
Louise teaches us Communication 12. We love her and like her class. The content is well-knitted; the explanation is so exquisite and full of imagination that attract everyone. In a pleasant and lively atmosphere, we are benefit a great deal and make rapid progress.
We all speak in praise of such a good teacher.
Teaching the Adult "pupils" is not an easy thing. I am the one of these adult "pupils". I have made so many mistakes in grammar, usage and syntax here and there,time and again that made me annoy myself very much. But Louise always corrects every error patiently and often shows me how to do is better.
She suggests me to build a n "Error Book", and I find it's very useful. Every time reviewing this book, I can't help scorning myself for such stupid mistakes I made. However, she never shows a sign of impatient. She still smiles genuinely. Once I asked her on the quiet about her reflections, she answered:"I like teaching adults. I like it."
A girl came from Calgary, graduated from UBC and got the degree of Bachelor. The young Louise willingly devotes to the cause of the adult education. At the beginning, the buildings haven't finished. She had to teach in the cafeteria. Since then, twenty four years have passed, she is a senior teacher now.
One cold winter day,heavy snowing, I met her going to school by bicycle. Being aware of my curiosity, she told me : "Cycling twice a week is not only for doing some exercise but also for protecting the environment-to reduce the gas emissions. Oh! the " green rush" is on her feet!
I remember that the colour she like most is green--the colour of trees and grasses and the colour of life. She loves green colour and she is devoting to the green causes--teaching and cultivating.
I respect my teacher Louise. And I extremely appreciate her motto: "Be here now!" --she really gets the true meaning of life. I've told her:"you are one of the best teacher I met at ALC." The words come from the bottom of my heart an aren't a flattery.
Thu Mar 13, 12:00:00 AM 2008
Delete
Hongxin Guo said...
Hongxin Guo said...
My Teacher Louise (draft 2)
"Merry Christmas,Hong!" Santa Claus came to me and gave me me a candy cane.
I was astonished and stared at this tall Santa with white beard and wore the scarlet coat. I suddenly realized that's Louise, my first teacher at PALC.
she is tall, slim and full of energy, speaking fast and walking briskly. Before speaking, she smiles first. Teaching English, Science, Mathematics and Accounting, she is really gifted in many ways.
Louise teaches us Communication 12. We love her and like her class. The content is well-knitted; the explanation is so exquisite and full of imagination that attract everyone. In a pleasant and lively atmosphere, we are benefit a great deal and make rapid progress.
We all speak in praise of such a good teacher.
Teaching the Adult "pupils" is not an easy thing. I am the one of these adult "pupils". I have made so many mistakes in grammar, usage and syntax here and there,time and again that made me annoy myself very much. But Louise always corrects every error patiently and often shows me how to do is better.
She suggests me to build a n "Error Book", and I find it's very useful. Every time reviewing this book, I can't help scorning myself for such stupid mistakes I made. However, she never shows a sign of impatient. She still smiles genuinely. Once I asked her on the quiet about her reflections, she answered:"I like teaching adults. I like it."
A girl came from Calgary, graduated from UBC and got the degree of Bachelor. The young Louise willingly devotes to the cause of the adult education. At the beginning, the buildings haven't finished. She had to teach in the cafeteria. Since then, twenty four years have passed, she is a senior teacher now.
One cold winter day,heavy snowing, I met her going to school by bicycle. Being aware of my curiosity, she told me : "Cycling twice a week is not only for doing some exercise but also for protecting the environment-to reduce the gas emissions. Oh! the " green rush" is on her feet!
I remember that the colour she like most is green--the colour of trees and grasses and the colour of life. She loves green colour and she is devoting to the green causes--teaching and cultivating.
I respect my teacher Louise. And I extremely appreciate her motto: "Be here now!" --she really gets the true meaning of life. I've told her:"you are one of the best teacher I met at ALC." The words come from the bottom of my heart and aren't a flattery.
Thu Mar 13, 12:00:00 AM 2008
Delete
Wed Apr 02, 10:06:00 AM 2008
Delete
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