MY FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE

After finishing my SPM and relaxing with my friends for about three weeks,I was wondering what else I should do.Then,out of the blue,my cousin,Stella,who runs a small private school,rang me and offered me a job. Melly,Im desperate now because left us suddenly to tie a knot with her Facebook friend from Korea.Youve got to help me,she pleaded.Besides,I know you love playing with your young nieces and nephews,so please say youll come and hold the fort as a temporary teacher.I want you to teach them till I find a permanent teacher. That was how I landed my first job as a temporary teacher ina primary school.Stella gave me a few textbooks and other teaching aids to prepare for my class over the weekend. When the school re-opened,she introduced me to the other teachers.They were all very kind and helpful but in the end,I had to face Year Anggerik alone.As a new broom in this job,it was strange to be back inside the primary classroom because the desks were so small and the kids looks so innocent.At the same time,all ears were so eager to learn. Of course,appearances were deceptive!While most of the pupils were wellbehaved,there are a few naughty boys and girls who tried to disrupt my lessons.At first,I talked things over with them but they turn a deaf ear when I talked nicely.Eventually,I found through experience that the best method of controlling them is to show them ones true colurs who is boss. In addition,I felt like Jill-of-all trades as I had to teach Mandarin,English and Physical Education to my Year Three class.My Mandarin was rusty,to say the least,since my family speaks English and it had been a long time since I had taken my evening classes in Mandarin.Some of my Anggerik angels would then become little devils and laugh at my accent and all my mispronounciations. During my four weeks there,I found out that teaching job actually is a tall order to do despite made me pressed the time.People who who thinks that teaching is easy have obviously never taught before.As saying said,easier said than done..I learnt,for instance,that if you are really concerned about your effectivess as a teacher and about whether your student is learning or not,you will work very hard at preparing your lessons. Moreover,playing with younger relatives is completely different from handling 38 irrepressible children with varying learning abilities and interests.There were lots of great times discovering things together but there were other times when I wanted to give up and out of

someones mind.It happened especially when some children would start fighting or refused to complete their homework. Still,I found my teaching stint sped by far too quickly.I learnt that teaching job,despite its many frustrations,can be an enjoyable occupation.Overall,it was the most memorable experience in my life. FATIN IZZATI BT JAIDIL 5 Science 1