I Studied Venice For O levels 2009 but never come out for O levels 2009!

Soon, we will say goodbye to Ms. Nicole Teo, the best teacher that I ever have in 17 years :’(

Actually, when the holiday before O level started, we can send essays through the school e-learning portal so she can mark them and send them back to us. Yesterday was the last day (she said weekend is a family time, and she doesn’t want to use that to work), and it seemed a girl sent her an e-mail

I let it to be the last lesson from Ms. Nicole Teo.

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Blue is Ms. Teo’s response.

Firstly, I apologize for taking your time since I know you are busy marking the students’ essays, but I really want to talk about this to an English teacher. [It is precisely because I am busy that I like students who take the initiative to approach me with their problems. It is good that you are proactive.]

My English is not very good, [true] but surprisingly [‘surprising’ because you lack confidence and don’t give yourself enough credit], I got more than I deserved for my Mid-year and End-of-year English papers [you may not be good in your proficiency, but you are certainly not ‘poor’ The ultimate score you get is the result of a combination of factors, the key being your overall performance of the respective sections. Note that O lvl is very basic and not as difficult as you presume. Hence your impression that ‘you get more than you deserve’ is not entirely accurate. It is true that you will not do as well if the paper is difficult, but you are, in my opinion, a task-oriented student who is very capable of achieving a very good score. Have some faith in yourself!]. These were because somehow I got quite good marks for the comprehension [so, you know your strength, good], which lifted my English marks. I think I was just very lucky [I must confess that I am just as puzzled, but luck does not strike so often], since I never did very well in my comprehension practices. [you may want to consider why this is so]

After the End-of-year English result was released, many scholars’ marks fell down on the comprehension, and most of them felt lousy. [I know] Our tuition teacher consoled us by saying that the paper was hard [very true] and we definitely can do better than that on our ‘O’ level [even truer]. However, I fell down on the composition, and since I think I might not be lucky in ‘O’ level comprehension paper, I started to feel lousy [a very human reaction]. I think right now I’m having a confidence crisis. [I think it is more accurate to say that you are having a ‘worse confidence crisis’. Some of us are blessed with a happy disposition and A positive attitude; you are not one of those people. You are one of the most pessimistic capable students I have known through the years, due to perhaps, your rather grave personality + high expectations + sensitive soul]

Do you have anything to say to make me feel better or worse? [I am not sure if I manage to make you feel better or worse above. My main aim is not to ‘make you feel better’, but to make you ‘more objective and grounded’. I trust that you have the resilience to will yourself out of this desert. In fact, I find this little message of yours heartening; I know you have the tendency to encounter such emotional distress and psychological attacks, but I believe you have what it takes to overcome them. Your reactions may be a tack too depressing in my view, but I find the way you go about exorcising them very healthy. It is very ‘you’. Don’t worry too much; you must have faith in yourself and your ability. I am not referring to your O lvl, but your future. I cannot guarantee your performance in this O lvl, but I know that this willpower you possess will take you very far. Don’t be myopic by focusing too much on the grade itself. Just do your best and take things at your stride. Worry less and work more instead, then be satisfied with your effort. This is not the same as being satisfied with your results. Pls note the difference. Failures are part of life and being unduly worried over their possibility is the most wasteful way to live. Many people are pro-life; I am pro-living. I hope your live that spirit] I’m not looking for suggestion or words of consolation [good, for in principle, I don’t like to give them] since the paper will start in 4 days and nothing can change much [okay, you are very mentally sound]. I just want to hear what an English teacher (or you, specifically) has to say, so feel free to say anything [how’s my two-cents’ worth above?]=D

I’m really sorry if this is too long or if this disturbs you [not at all; you must exorcise your inner demon. There is a Dr Jekyll and a Mr Hyde in each of us. You must be master of yourself and your emotions. It’s okay to falter, but not all right to wallow too much. Give yourself a grace period to get over negative feelings; they are not only an obvious detriment, they are an utter waste of time if dwelt for too long] but we might never meet again, right? [right, but you’ll be surprised how small the world is. I feel the best approach is to make the best out of every situation, a mantra that can be applied to all people and circumstances, whether relationships, our talents, our happy or not-so-happy encounters. Just adopt a ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ attitude] So please let me do a selfish thing [don’t ever feel that it is ‘selfish’ to care for yourself. Another maxim I like to give others is this: only a person who can take care of herself is in the best position to take care of others. This is actually a principle first-aiders adopt: protect yourself first before rendering assistance to people requiring it. Caring for oneself is not selfish; caring for oneself at the expense of others’ misery is. You are not contributing to my problems. You must not see using others’ time as a big problem. I am the master of my own time and I can exercise my own judgment in dispensing it. Don’t you have enough to worry for yourself already?] for the last time =D

Thank you very much for your attention. It’s very nice to have an opportunity to be your student. [this is a mutual feeling]

PS : Ms. Teo, since you went to JC, do you have any suggestion for us to prepare for General Paper? Maybe you can recommend some books for us to read? [My best recommendation is for you to brush up on your current affairs. Writing is discursive in nature, where you are expected to be clear, logical and intelligent when framing your response. Heighten your awareness of social issues by reading up on current affairs and people’s views on them. Knowing more is your best safeguard against ignorance]

ALL THE BEST TO ALL OF YOU!