From fashion design to teaching - Epin Chee finds her goal
Kuala Lumpur immediately brings images of the Petronas Twin Towers to mind. This colourful garden city, is home to Epin Chee, one of the Institute's Graduate English Tutors. Although Epin is a Malaysian-born Chinese, she does not come from a business family like many of the overseas Chinese there. The fact that Epin's father is a professor of Chemistry at the University of Malaya might perhaps help to explain the roots of her enthusiasm for teaching.

We found Epin to be a very friendly, communicative and energetic young lady. Talking to her was a pleasant and interesting experience. Epin's association with education goes all the way back to1995 when she enrolled for a two year fashion design diploma course, jointly offered by the LaSalle International Fashion School (Singapore) and the LaSalle College (Canada), in Kuala Lumpur. In the three years following the completion of this course, Epin gained both her bachelor's degree and a job in a Hong Kong-based fashion chain store. Later on, she was also involved in marketing and promotion work. However, the experience only served to convince Epin that her career aspirations were not in fashion design. Trying other kinds of work, she found a job in the Extension Education Centre at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahmaro (UTAR), where she began to accumulate some experience in education.

Life is always filled with opportunities and challenges for diligent young people like Epin. In January 2006, HKIEd's Centre for International Education joined an education expo and student recruitment drive in Malaysia. Epin, intending to enrol in HKIEd's Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) Programme, held back in view of the tuition fees. Fortunately, Dr Peter Bodycott, Director of the Centre for International Education, made her an offer - Epin could first come to Hong Kong as a Graduate English Tutor, subsequently pursuing her academic objectives when she had saved enough money to do so. With her outgoing character, it did not take long for Epin to settle down in Hong Kong. She loves the beautiful environment at HKIEd. To her, the twenty hours or so that she spends weekly on English tutorials, four hours on hostel activities and three hours on individual coaching do not constitute "work" but "enjoyment". At a fund-raising bazaar organised by HKIEd, Epin even volunteered to give a public demonstration on how to make “pulled tea”, a great Malaysian favourite. Her enthusiastic participation in HKIEd projects is a vivid reflection of her commitment to the Institute and life on campus.

Crazy Mondays From cooking to skin care to herbal tea, these special nights create a relaxed and jolly atmosphere, enabling students to learn English while also enjoying themselves.

When asked what she thinks of HKIEd students, Epin told us that she was amazed at their exceptional ability to squeeze so many activities in such a limited time frame. Apart from their studies, students still manage to find time for community service and charity work, in addition to also exploring foreign cultures and customs. Epin believes that with constant practice, students will be able to improve their levels of English. She is also impressed by the liveliness and the variety of activities associated with "Crazy Mondays". From cooking to skin care to herbal tea, these special nights create a relaxed and jolly atmosphere, enabling students to learn English while also enjoying themselves. It doesn't take long too for tutors and students to become friends. One of her students even volunteered to organise a guided tour for Epin on a visit to Yuen Long.

Epin is grateful to HKIEd for the opportunity to realise her career goals in education. Through her participation in the Graduate English Tutor Scheme, she will be able to explore the keys to effective teaching. Her determination and commitment to education were evident throughout the course of this interview. As for her future plans, Epin said, "I'll be staying behind for my Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) Programme after completing this Scheme. I hope to teach in Korea one day, both to experience the different culture and to enrich myself."

Epin is young and passionate, but certainly not lacking in life's experiences. While wishing her all the best for the future, we also hope that she will grow in stature and self-understanding with every endeavour that she makes.

A Passion for Teaching - In Canada and in Hong Kong
Jennifer Shaw from Canada is another HKIEd tutor under the Graduate English Tutor Scheme. She learned about the Institute when she was at York University, also meeting HKIEd students who were there on exchange programmes. Upon completing her Bachelor of Education (Honours) Programme in June 2006, Jennifer submitted her application to become a Graduate English Tutor at HKIEd. This became her first step towards a career in education.

Influenced by her many committed teachers, Jennifer decided that education would become her contribution to the community from an early age. Her four years in education at York University has helped her to acquire an excellent foundation in her academic studies. Even in her spare time, Jennifer spared no effort, constantly accumulating teaching experiences for herself. She acted as a voluntary English teaching assistant in a primary school during the summer holidays, learning how to be patient and understanding with the young children. During her practicum period, she also tried to teach at many different types of schools. She taught oral English at community centres for new migrants also helping them with their job interview techniques. While picking up new skills in teaching, Jennifer also learned how to be a considerate and caring person, dealing with people from every walk of life. This continued exposure has provided her with invaluable experience, a tremendous asset when she commenced her new role at the HKIEd.

Though five months have elapsed since her arrival, Jennifer is still homesick. Never having been separated from her parents before, she particularly misses her casual chats with her family. Fortunately, the frequent encouragement she receives from her four fellow scheme tutors, makes her new life easier and greatly helps her to adapt. Mutual support has given rise to strong friendships among the five tutors, as they work together at the Centre for Language in Education on a daily basis. Though it has taken time, Jennifer has come to enjoy the harmonious relationships and the close contacts established with her students. Mutual trust, respect and friendship on both sides have created relationships beyond that of a tutor and her students. Due to the closeness in their ages, tutor and students share topics of common interest and enjoy the same trends, in addition to the more serious subjects studied in class. The scope for mutual exchange is therefore boundless. The more lively the topic, the more enthusiastic the students as they bring up endless questions. These in-depth discussions provide the ideal opportunity for students to practise and hone their English communication skills.

To sustain her students' ongoing interest, Jennifer constantly ransacks her brain for new ideas when doing her class preparation. Her discussion topics range from "what makes a good tutor" to "anti-smoking laws" and "recent trends in slimming and plastic surgery". When asked how young Canadians compare with the young people of Hong Kong, Jennifer points out that they come from two very different education models. She however feels that Canadians more proactively ask questions, think more independently and are keener to learn. She therefore prefers a livelier and more outgoing teaching style in class.

Jennifer's advice to the HKIEd students is that they should not shy away from any chance to express themselves in English. The more they practise speaking with teachers or foreigners for whom English is their first language, the more they will be able to build up their confidence and ability to communicate in English. Jennifer herself is planning to enroll for the HKIEd's Master of Education programme this July. After that, she will consider staying on with the HKIEd or teaching at an international school.

Jennifer is both grateful for and delighted to have the opportunity to join the HKIEd at the start of her career path. She considers the Graduate English Tutor Scheme to be a highly successful programme. In turn, we hope Jennifer will benefit from this process of nurturing her students; acquiring further nourishment for her own professional development. Lastly, we wish Jennifer a bright and successful future for her career in education.