The world of Tzu Chi December 2024 (Vol.152)

10 2024 • 12 Sparking a passion for learning By Tan Kim Hion Translated by Lee You Zhuan Photo by Sam Pin Fook Amid the challenges of online teaching, Lim Fang Yee used ingenious methods to turn punctual attendance, attentive listening, and active questioning into what students love to do, which in turn, brings her immense joy. E very Monday evening before eight o’clock, Wong Jiahui, a Year 3 student, would eagerly set up a small study station, prop up her phone, and wait for her favourite “i·didik” Mathematics class to begin. According to her mother, Lou Sook Chen, Jiahui started language learning later than her peers, which affected her confidence and made her reluctant to speak. However, mathematics always piqued her interest. Three years ago, as a Year 1 student, Jiahui struggled academically, but financial constraints prevented her family from enrolling her in tuition classes. Fortunately, Tzu Chi’s “i·didik” online tutoring programme allowed her to receive lessons in Mathematics and English. Sook Chen is immensely grateful to Jiahui’s maths tutor who has been guiding her daughter for the past three years. “Thanks to Teacher Lim, Jiahui attends class punctually without fail. Even when she was unwell, she insisted on attending. She has also become much more confident,” shared the mother. Now, Jiahui would chat freely with her teacher and classmates, even asking for extra maths homework. Her mother was gratified to see her initiative in learning and believed that an engaging teacher can inspire and spark students’ interest. The maths tutor Sook Chen mentioned is Lim Fang Yee, a teacher with nearly five years of experience in special education. Since joining the “i·didik” teaching team in 2022, she has supported her students as they progressed through different grades. Speaking of her “i·didik” journey, Fang Yee shared with a smile that managing a virtual classroom was one of her biggest challenges in online teaching, and even typical students need help focusing in online classes. Drawing from her experience with special needs education, where she used pictures and colours to capture students’ attention, she applied similar techniques to her online lessons. This approach proved effective in helping her students stay focused. Cherished time for all Moreover, knowing that children are competitive, Fang Yee introduced a point-and- award system to motivate them. Academic achievements aside, students earn points for good behaviours, such as being on time, turning on their cameras, completing homework, and helping their peers in their studies. Upon reaching 100 points, students will receive a gift and continue accumulating another 100 points towards their next reward. When Jiahui earned her first 100 points, Fang Yee, who was aware that she loved drawing but lacked coloured pencils, thoughtfully ordered a set of coloured pencils as her reward, which delighted Jiahui. In return, the girl, prompted by her mother, sent her teacher a heartfelt thank-you message along with a heart emoji. Fang Yee also went the extra mile to