Choy with Sheila in Petaling Jaya. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Dedicated teachers are always remembered by their students.
For this journalist, one such teacher is Choy Sook Ling, 81, better known as Mrs Goh.
She taught English in Form 2 at SMK Infant Jesus Convent in Melaka.
Her students loved her because her lessons were fun.
Choy said that after Form 5, she was asked by the school principal to serve as a temporary teacher at her secondary school, now known as SMK (P) Methodist (formerly Methodist Girls’ Secondary School Melaka).
“I loved teaching and I found a passion for it when I was a temporary teacher,” said the grandmother of five, who is an ardent reader of The Star.
She later trained for a year at the Malayan Teachers College in Johor in 1965 and 1966.
“I was a home science and English teacher.
“I found teaching English to be most rewarding as I saw the children grow with better vocabulary and could speak confidently after a year of lessons,” she said.
She would ask students to create words from another word given.
“For example, I would ask them to create words from the word ‘congratulations’ – it could be ‘ant.’
“I liked giving them activities and throwing challenges at them as this kept learning fun,” she explained.
Even those who were familiar with English sometimes ended up mixing up words, said Choy.
“The problem I had with the students from more English-speaking backgrounds was that they would sometimes mistake the meaning of words.
“For example, it should be ‘the survival of the fittest,’ but they would assume it was ‘the survival of the foetus’,” she said.
Choy emphasised that teachers must build a good reputation with their students to keep them focused in class.
“Many of my former students still keep in touch with me,” said Choy.
She declared, “In my next life, I want to be a teacher again.”
Describing this journalist in her student days, Choy said, “Sheila was attentive and receptive towards learning and improving herself. She was a joy to teach.”
I am thankful that even though my English notebooks were often displayed in class with many spelling mistakes, high marks were always given for content. – By SHEILA SRI PRIYA
