The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.114).

TZU CHI 114 17 Volunteer tutor Nirmala Devi Kandasamy motivates her students and boosts their confidence by giving them due recognition for their efforts. assistant at a school, often appears stern and uncompromising, yet beneath the stoic facade lies an unyielding commitment to her students’ best interests. Her features are softened whenever she breaks into an affectionate smile. She believes that the tuition programme is an initiative that benefits the volunteers, tutors and students alike, professing that whenever the students see their answer script being marked with a tick indicating a successful attempt at the question, they would break into a smile brimming with confidence. A sense of satisfaction is palpable as they rejoice in the knowledge that their hard work has paid off. Nirmala had never foreseen a second tenure in teaching, but the encouragement from the volunteers and fellow tutors has compelled her to resume her teaching career, driven by her motto: There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. The tutors concurred that formative experiences constitute valuable learning opportunities that are an integral part of the students’ growth, shaping them into productive members of society by moulding their character and honing their social skills. In an effort to facilitate holistic development and forge closer bonds among the students, the tutors have incorporated efforts to inculcate an appreciation of Jing Si Aphorisms into their lessons by means of sharing sessions and interactive activities. Chong Vee Hong has been a part of the team of volunteers serving the Taman Sentosa community since the early days of its formation. Making handicraft from recyclable materials and leading interactive group sessions are among her strengths. She used to tutor students in Mathematics and conduct sessions on Jing Si Aphorisms for the tuition programme. “I initially thought I was capable of teaching a class. I’ve tried to communicate with them in simple Malay, but the gap in our fluency of the language deterred us from conveying our intentions accurately, ultimately causing distress to both parties. I was worried that the students would give up as their interest seemed to have waned, so I started seeking alternative teaching methods,” recalled Vee Hong. The age range of the students is as varied as their academic proficiency levels, hence the volunteer team was hard-pressed to devise a curriculum that caters to all. They went to great lengths to remedy the situation, including enlisting the help of external parties and conducting one-to-one tutoring to consolidate the students’ knowledge of the basics, before streaming them into different classes based on academic merit and further developing the curriculum. Our Classroom, Our Second Home, Our Sanctuary