In Step Vol 35 Issue 1

In Step TEACHERS’ CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MALAYSIA CONNECTING HEARTS AND MINDS 2023 VOLUME 35 ISSUE 1 Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Editorial: Contents ChatGPT Ecclesiastes 3:11 Daniel Gan Agnes Nesa Malar Retiring as a Principal back in my Alma Mater 5 3 John Seeni 4 Loud and Noisy God and My School Break From the Rising of the Sun Daniel Gan Kevin Chua Andrew Wong 13 11 6 Tidak Salah In Partnership: Saya Pilih Jadi Guru The Impact of the Christian Chris Tawi Faith on Teachers Cheli Nadarajah 14 16

Ecclesiastes 3:11 EDITORIAL He has made everything beautiful in its time. The theme takes on a more literal meaning in experience of staying back to take care of his He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet this issue as we bring you a story “Retiring as a mom turns out to be a blessing. Finally, read no one can fathom what God has done from Principal Back in my Alma Mater” from a newly the thoughts of a young teacher in “Tidak Salah beginning to end. retired teacher who ended his teaching career Saya Pilih Jadi Guru.” as a Principal in his own alma mater and how The first issue of In Step for the year 2023 God led him through it all. Then, in “ChatGPT,” Dear readers, the seasons may change, made the editorial team ponder a little bit discover how ChatGPT impacts the current technologies can be more advanced now and harder on the theme and as the articles came education system and how Christian teachers everything we knew may not be the same again in, the theme popped out and the team could can be vigilant. As we continue, we take a or even exist anymore. However, the God who not be happier. Through the seasons, it is the sneak peak of life in Japan through the eyes of controls time is still alive and rocking. Let's most used statement when one talks about a young teacher who is attending a teacher's cling to Him and let Him take the wheel as we God's faithfulness and goodness. Yet, it is the training in Japan in the article, “From the Rising cruise through our seasons. May you find the most meaningful statement as well. We believe of the Sun.” Then, in “Loud and Noisy,” read a stories in this issue inspiring and encouraging. that this issue will bring you through a journey genuine sharing from a teacher who struggles He who makes everything beautiful in His time where you will read stories on how seasons to reach out to his difficult students and how have changed but the God who created heaven God helps him through it. In “God and My will not forsake us. T and earth still remains the God of today. School Break,” the writer talks about the joy of having school holidays and shares how his SOLI DEO GLORIA, Agnes Nesa Malar In Step Editors Agnes Nesa Malar TCF Office IN STEP is a non-profit Christian Unit C10-00-05, Blk C10, newsletter published four times a year 2023 VOLUME 35 ISSUE 1 GraceYang Apt Subang Perdana Goodyear Court 3, by the Teachers’ Christian Fellowship Jln Kewajipan, USJ 7, Malaysia (TCF). It is dedicated to 47630 Subang Jaya, Christian educators and issued FREE to Selangor Darul Ehsan TCF members. 03-5888 5626 Views expressed are the writers’ and do https://wa.me/60358885626 not necessarily represent those of TCF. tcfoffi[email protected] www.tcfmalaysia.org All rights reserved. For reprinting TCFMalaysia purposes, please contact TCF. tcfmalaysia IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 3

Retiring as a Principal Back in my Alma Mater byJOHNSEENI 1 December 2022 marked teacher. Ten months later, I was promoted to wisdom, understanding and knowledge, and both the end of 35 years 8 caretaker to start a new school, SMK Buntong, made an opening to proclaim His gospel months and 9 days of my Ipoh, and as a Senior Assistant (Administration) through action and activity. All glory to Him teaching career and my 60th and acting Principal for ten months. Then, I was alone. birthday. After serving in transferred to SMK Tanjung Rambutan and SMK eight schools, including my Seri Ipoh as Senior Assistant (Administration). My sincere hope and prayer is that more time as Senior Assistant Finally, on 1 August 2013, I was promoted to Christians will take up teaching as their (Administration) in three Principal of SMK Sungai Pari, Ipoh. After serving vocation and serve the nation in the capacity of schools and Principal in for more than 4 years, the Board of Governors of a teacher. This will grant opportunities for two schools, my retirement my alma mater SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh future Headship in mission schools to revive the felt very fulfilling. During requested for me to take over the school's missing legacy in our mission schools. my retirement speech, I leadership. I took office on 19 September 2017 borrowed from Apostle as the Principal of my alma mater SMK My retirement plans are to spend time with my Paul's statement by saying Methodist (ACS) Ipoh. family, be active in my mother church ministries “I fought a good fight, I (Tamil Methodist Church, Tamil Settlement, finished my race, I have In my five years and two months in SMK kept my faith. I have Methodist (ACS) Ipoh, I felt that God Almighty Buntong, Ipoh), travel and read. T finished my duties, praise God.” had granted me an opening to start Chapel Service. Furthermore, I started SPM Bible John Seeni I thank God Almighty for granting me the Knowledge classes and taught them on Fridays Humble servant of Jesus Christ opportunity to serve as Principal in my alma after school. I also introduced Christmas mater, SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh, the one Celebrations during the school assembly which school where my whole school life was nurtured involved all the teachers and students, and and built. Special Service at the Wesley Church for SPM and STPM students. I believe the Lord had used On 21 April 1987, I was posted as a trained me as an instrument to fulfill many missing teacher in SMJK Hua Lian, Taiping, where I elements in the mission school. To my surprise, served for seven years. I requested to be my administration team and teachers granted transferred back to Ipoh and served in SMJK full cooperation as I always kept reminding Sam Tet Ipoh for 9 years. After completing my them that this was a mission school and that it Master's Degree in Management and National was my duty to uphold certain ethos in our Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) school. Those five plus years were very in 2001, I was placed back in my alma mater fulfilling. God granted me the opportunity to SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh as an academic serve, and He guided me with His boldness, IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 4

ChatGPT by DANIEL GAN The editor implored me, “Please write an article for In question multiple times., This means, therefore, that to fear. History has shown that mankind has gone Step.” But I was having writer's block. Sitting in front every student can have his/her own individual through a few Industrial Revolutions and survived. of the laptop, clicking here and there, hoping for the answer for the teacher. And the teacher would be Now we are in IR 4.0, the age of 'smart'; smart muse to bring me inspiration, but it was a blank. I none the wiser. machines, that is, not smart students, alas. could write about my class of loud and noisy Technology advances, we adapt to it. students, but how do I use it to inspire others to do Will the teacher be able to 'catch' the student using better? ChatGPT? There are tools that are supposedly able to Perhaps ChatGPT can be useful to teachers and detect AI generated content at the moment. We may students. It can help teachers draw up lesson plans, Then, the word 'ChatGPT' popped up in my head. I be able to know if a student is 'cheating' but there is suggest creative activities, check students' work and had heard quite a bit about this powerful chatbot no full guarantee yet. Does ChatGPT plagiarise? It's much more. It can help students improve their using artificial intelligence (AI) to answer any answer: No, ChatGPT does not plagiarize. Any essays, solve difficult math problems, understand questions one might have. Could I ask it to write a similarity with other texts is coincidental. So a difficult concepts and much more. ChatGPT can be 500-word fictional story about a teacher who student can hand in a work and claim it as his own! used as a tool for good or bad – it just depends on successfully teaches a class of loud and noisy the user. students? I ran ChatGPT, and it wrote me a story in We had Google Search (and other search engines like seconds. I asked it to give me a different story and it it) before this, and we loved it. Google Search didn't Be reminded however, that ChatGPT is not a know- did in seconds again. threaten us teachers. Google Search was a handy all. It produces answers based on its large dataset of and helpful tool for both teachers and students. It text. This dataset has to be constantly updated Hurray, now the problem for In Step is solved! We'll didn't make us lazier, it just helped us find answers (which it is not) if it is to provide relevant and have no dearth of articles and stories to print – all easier and quicker. We still had to do the 'hard' work informed information. Another thing, ChatGPT can't courtesy of ChatGPT. But it doesn't seem right. What of compiling and preparing the final product. Google differentiate fact from fiction. If the dataset is fed happens to human diligence and creativity if the Search didn't make us dumber, in fact it made us lies, it will give you untruths. computer is going to do everything for us? ChatGPT more inquisitive to know new things and more. also can't write the real-life lessons of our teachers Back to my request to ChatGPT to write stories for in their teaching journey. But ChatGPT seems threatening. It looks as if it me on loud and noisy students as mentioned at the would turn the school system as we know it upside beginning of this piece. ChatGPT did give me good What are the implications of ChatGPT in education? down. Personally, I don't think we can run from the stories indeed, and they could have been published Would students need teachers anymore? influence of AI in our future. Maybe there's not much here. But I refrain. I believe In Step should be Assignments and tests would be redundant. Try personal – written from the heart of living beings. My giving your student an assignment or test and he can article 'Loud and Noisy' was written and completed just get ChatGPT to do them. The computer is the before I sneaked a look at ChatGPT's. teacher, the answer-provider. Yes, ChatGPT doesn't give correct or satisfactory 'answers' all the time, but AI is just intelligence, not consciousness. It is man- it will improve itself over time. What then? made, not God-made. It is made in the image of a robot (not man), we are made in the image of God. It If two students ask the exact same question, would has limitations as to what it can do because it has to ChatGPT give identical answers? Yes, ChatGPT be programmed first. It only appears to be superior to admits. However, it also says that it may not give the humans because it does what it was programmed to same response if the same person asks the same do faster. AI shouldn't weaken our belief in God. T IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 5

From the Rising of the Sun by ANDREW WONG Never did I think that my first visit to Japan would be programme would last for 18 months until March Anyway, natto is a common dish in Japan, which is as a student. I mean, Japan has always been in my 2024. fermented soy beans. The South East Asian bucket list. I had always wanted to visit Japan as a equivalent is tempeh, except that tempeh is fried, tourist. Aomori is immediately south of Hokkaido. Being the natto is just stirred with some condiments and then northernmost prefecture of Honshu island, Aomori is eaten with rice. It is disgusting to some as it is slimy, In 2018, when I stayed in a backpacker in Kota said to have the heaviest snowfall in the world. I but I have come to love it after a few tries. It is Kinabalu, I met a Japanese-Taiwanese traveller. We have not travelled that much to compare snow in packed with nutrients, too. Maybe it will be one of became friends and I even hosted him in Kudat for a different places, but the snow in Hirosaki city was the foods I'll look for when I return to Malaysia. few days. After dropping him off at Kundasang, I left crazy. At the time of writing this article, winter has for KK to catch a flight back home. We were still in passed. The remaining snow is melting. Cherry What about church? Being in a country where only contact via LINE, which is the main chatting app in blossoms have bloomed in many cities but not yet in 1% of the population are Christians, I was surprised Japan. They don't seem to use WhatsApp like us in Hirosaki. that finding a church wasn't that difficult. Hirosaki Malaysia. itself has quite a long history of Christian mission So what have I done so far? Besides attending work. My senior from Kenya introduced me to a Come 2020, I started making plans to visit him in Japanese language classes, the main objective of church near the university which has an English Japan as he told me that the Japanese government this programme is to do a research related to service at night. It is run by a missionary couple from was slashing accommodation and transport prices education. I am placed under a Professor whom we Canada and the US and who have been staying in to welcome tourists for the Olympic Games. I even address as Satou sensei. There will also be school Hirosaki for more than 30 years. Even their children found flight tickets cheaper than our local airlines. visits and presentations throughout my time here in have married locals and their grandchildren attend Then, the pandemic happened. After a few months of Japan. Japanese public schools. chatting, we lost contact. Not sure if he succumbed to the virus. I hope not. I have also visited other cities like Tokyo and Osaka It's a small group that sings a lot of hymns and when my friends came over. Those were the times I Psalms. Sometimes we would sing some Japanese At the end of 2021, I came across an advertisement put whatever Japanese I have learnt in class and on hymns, which will really test my Hiragana-Katakana- on Facebook about MEXT Teacher Training Duolingo app into practice. I became a translator for Kanji reading skills. scholarship. MEXT stands for Ministry of Education, my friends despite not being fluent in the language. Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The basic It was difficult but it was fun. So what is the programme requirements for applicants were that they must be about? For young teachers below 35 years old or below and they have at least I also enjoy taking the local trains to nearby towns who are interested, here is five years of teaching experience in school. As for sightseeing and food adventure. Basically food in some brief information about January 2022 marked my fifth anniversary of being Japan is quite healthy. In other words, they are not the programme. As mentioned posted to Sabah as a teacher, I thought the as flavourful as our beloved Malaysian delicacies. above, the scholarship programme was really for me. Karaage is fried chicken, and to me, it's no provider is MEXT. Every year competition to our ayam goreng berempah. And I am in January, the application will To cut a long story short, I applied and after a series missing Sabahan food as I write this. Sinalau bakas be open until mid-February. of stages, I got accepted into Hirosaki University in on warm linopot with tuhau and local vegetables. Oh The two basic requirements Aomori prefecture for the Fall 2022 intake. The man… I'm drooling right now. are also as mentioned above, IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 6

35 years old and below, and 5 years teaching The entrance to the university Snowy atmosphere in the campus grounds experience. Teachers hired under the Ministry of The start of autumn in Hirosaki Education will have to download the forms on the Autumn leaves in the university Leaves changing colour in the city Ministry's website and apply through the Ministry, while private school teachers can request for the Having a meal with friends from church forms directly from the Embassy through an email IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 7 address provided. The closing date for teachers under KPM is a week before the closing date set by the Embassy, usually around mid-February. Shortlisted candidates will be notified via email to attend an interview and a written test in March. In 2022, it was only interview via Microsoft Teams due to the pandemic, but this year, I was told that the shortlisted candidates had to attend the written test and interview in the Embassy in KL. The successful candidates will then be nominated by the Embassy to MEXT by the end of March, and around the end of June, they will know if MEXT will grant them the scholarship. The last stage would be university acceptance in August or early September. If there is no university that wants to take them, then the scholarship is cancelled automatically. Even though this is a non-degree programme, i.e. not Master or PhD level kind of studies, it is nonetheless a great experience and exposure. There were things in the Japanese education practices that totally surprised both my Kenyan senior and I. I'll probably write another article in future about it. For more details, please visit the Japanese embassy website. As for now, let the pictures do the talking. T

This is the natto that not everyone can accept, Can you guess what this vending machine sells? but it's healthy. Warm sweet potatoes. Aomori prefecture is famous for its apples. The start of winter right in front of my unit. 100 yen (slightly more than RM3) for one big bag of apples on the roadside. IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 8

Middle of winter in front of my apartment unit. The garden outside my faculty was also covered in thick snow. One of the electric trains (densha) available in the city. The pile of snow blocking the door of my unit. This one goes to a neighbouring city, Kuroishi. Not an excuse to ponteng kelas. So far, payment is by cash only. IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 9

Escaped to Tokyo because it hardly snowed. A hymn in Japanese entitled Mary's Song Took a picture of the gate at Sensoji in Asakusa with the picture in my Japanese language textbook. In a small izakaya in Hirosaki. Andrew, born in KL, Sabahan at heart. He has a great andrew- These guys were only practising with the shamisen, siasm in dispensing puns. but it was already a feast to the ears. IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 10

God and My School Break by KEVIN CHUA This story is not about teacher-student fats under the dermatitis have disappeared. So, and there. relationships, but more about something we my plan each holiday is to stay home and be teachers can't wait for – holidays! You'll be watchful of my dear mother. Then, on Tuesday morning, 6 September 2022, disappointed if you'd expected me to flaunt my on the third day of the week-long holiday, I vacation in a picturesque location. I can't afford Friends and relatives, with the best of woke up at about 7:00 am, but mom was it. Neither am I going to complain about the intentions, have advised me to just be faithful to already in the kitchen. That's unusual as she meetings, courses or meetings that the school God and enjoy my holiday. Go somewhere. would be in her room daily till about 8:00 am on forces us to attend, in the name of “being more Enjoy yourself. Don't worry, she will be alright as non-school days. Mom said she was feeling efficient and boosting our professionalism.” she has friends. Your brother cannot keep an dizzy, an indication of a low blood pressure. She Nevertheless, we can't deny that we absolutely eye on her, meh? Of course, being human, I do struggled to stand, so I assisted her. She was adore even a day's break, and whenever there's have the urge to jump onto the bandwagon, walking feebly as I helped her to her room. She a public holiday, our darkest days would turn leave mom in the hands of a sibling and enjoy! laid there a while, then later hobbled to her bright instantly. This story is about the Hey, I deserve a break, you know. However, I felt commode. She didn't have time to go to the unexpected plan that God sometimes has for I just couldn't leave mom alone. Maybe because toilet. As she sat, she excreted blood - more teachers during the short and long-term school I'm the eldest among the three of us, and single, blood than stool into the plastic pan. Then holidays. but more likely it must have been the Holy Spirit when it happened the second time around, the guiding this lost soul to just be a “good boy” faeces was thicker, and more – so was blood What plans do teachers have behind their tired and stay home. “What if something happens that gushed out. She went to the bathroom to minds for the holidays? Plenty. For me, I think when you're away,” an inner voice keeps playing clean up but it happened the third time. The God does the planning. Most of the time, I'd be like a tape recorder. bathroom looked like an abattoir when she home with my aging 82-year-old mother, called me for help. keeping an eye on her every move. Not that I Honestly, I do wish I could follow the don't want to help around at home, but it's good suggestions that those unappointed advisors of Mom was immediately sent to the hospital, not to let mom be more mobile and do some mine have given. But no, I'm just not like that - in an ambulance but in my brother's car. I gardening, chat with her neighbours, call up her or maybe my faith in God is not strong enough. couldn't handle her alone in case she passed friends, checking on her each morning before I God has his own plans, for He knows all his out, so I quickly called him. It was scary as she go to school to see if she's alright. No, I'm not a children, doesn't He? had lost a lot of blood and could faint any time helicopter son by choice, but by compulsion but thank God, she didn't. It's evident that God due to her age and frailty. The mind of an This September 2022 break was a week long. I was in control at that point. elderly needs to be active, and so does the had the same plan. Stay home and watch over body. Mom has become much more gaunt in mom discreetly. Ignore what others say. Don't To cut the story short, we decided to send her recent years and you can feel her bones when compare, don't complain.Just do some school to a private hospital. Whether we had enough you touch her skin. It's like all the muscles and work, like preparing questions or help a bit here savings or not, we left it to God to provide. How IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 11

I wish I had studied harder and earned a five- night? As the hospital had my number, they the time the traumatising episodes were over, figure salary, or had continued serving in the could call me at any time if needed. They did school was about to reopen. No regrets. It was government. Anyway, mom went through a full actually call at 10:00 pm but to ask for payment nonetheless a meaningful holiday at home with colectomy surgery successfully. I thank God when I was home. mom. I felt that God had wanted me to be here that He had planned it in such a way that the all along – at home, not out. entire episode occurred during my one-week When I woke up again, the clock read 4:45 am. I school break. What if I had ignored God's voice was relieved because it meant that mom didn't So, teachers are a fortunate lot as we have and gone somewhere, believing that faith is bleed, there would be no emergency surgery, holidays. Lots of it, envied by many, but they do good enough to ensure mom would be fine? and that was confirmed when I asked mom that not know the responsibilities that we have Mom would have bled to death in the bathroom, day. Don't you think God had something to do during the break. With such a privilege, I have and no one would likely know about it until I got with all that? Of course, He did! He stopped the come to a realisation that going on vacation is home! God indeed works in strange ways. His bleeding, He guided the hands of the surgeon an option which we can do without. Instead, it's ways are beyond our comprehension. and the anaesthetist. My siblings and I were more meaningful to spend more time with our overjoyed when the surgeon appeared and elderly parents or any aging family members at What's more miraculous is that despite the announced, “It's done! Everything is okay.” No home than to rush to the airport with your massive internal bleeding that horrified even the complications, no profuse bleeding, no blood luggage and your kids to go to Maldives head of the gastroenterologist department who pressure problem. Nothing. God is great. because you'll never know if that would be the administered the endoscopy, the 6-hour surgery last time you'd see your old mom or dad alive. by one of Malacca's best colon-rectal surgeon I'm sure the hands of Jesus were on my mom But if they're still able to move about, bring went well. It was a nerve-racking wait as two that afternoon to ensure she was well. I didn't them along with you. It's not a burden. nights before, she had bled profusely again in enjoy my holiday in any places of interest, as by the hospital ward. The cardiologist who came God loves us, so we must love others, too. By to the ward on the night of Day 2 prior to the way, I've never been abroad apart from a surgery to check on her heart said it was high mundane working visit to Manila just once in risk. The anaesthetist who was there also said my lifetime. My life is here in this historical city, the same thing. In short, an octogenarian with my mom. And about the hospital bill, God would have possibly died before, during or after the surgery, but by God's grace and mercy, He did provide, eventually. T allowed mom to live and see another day. Kevin is currently an IGCSE English teacher at The surgeon told us that in the event that she Planetarium International School Melaka. His bled that night, and if her blood pressure fell, an career spans over 3 decades of experience in emergency surgery would be done various public and private education immediately. Do you think we slept well that institutions. IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 12

Loud and Noisy by DANIEL GAN It's another day. I walk into class, ready to teach and teaching their children but it is not in the children's can let them watch video lessons. I can ask them to wary of the students. As expected, they are makeup to want to study. School sometimes feels search for information on their tablets. I can ask boisterous and talkative as usual. They can talk like just a place to keep these children off the streets. them to present in front of the class. I can carry out incessantly. And they talk loudly across the The Year 4 Science lessons are too simple for me. hands-on activities. I can take them outside of the classroom. I have to ask them to quiet down one too There is not much content to teach and I am not classroom's four walls. I can also just give them many times. I raise my voice but nobody's listening. used to teaching little kids. I am not used to teaching some downtime – there's no need to be teaching all It is just adding to the din. simple facts and repeating them ten times. I have the time. been teaching older teenagers. With the older I have heard of teachers who tell that their students students, there's so much to tell and do. It's more Yes, I can share my problem with colleagues. They are as quiet as mice. They try to get the students to interesting for me to teach them. may have good ideas that help. The school may participate in discussions but they are too timid. initiate some action to alleviate the problem. The Would I want to trade classes with these teachers? I Alas, the class period is also too long. I look at the internet is also a help. There is quite a lot of good think somewhere in-between would be very much clock to see the time crawl by. What? I've gone over advice out there. preferable. the concept like umpteen times, but it's only two minutes that have passed by? The students also look Lastly, I can pray. Sorry, I do not mean praying as a My students have short attention spans. They can at the clock to see if the boring class would be over. last resort. Prayer should be the first thing any ask a question but not wait for your answer. Their We are both relieved when time is up. Our bodies Christian teacher do. Do not be anxious about minds would have drifted away elsewhere. And then revived with newfound energy once the bell rings. anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, a moment later, they repeat their query. I may need to with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And repeat the answer a few times before it finally gets There are times when the noise makes me boil over. the peace of God, which transcends all across. If I refuse to do so, they think I am not nice. It's alright to get angry. It's alright to punish them. understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds I've threatened to throw my students out of class, in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6, 7) My students don't like the subject. They don't feel the even out of school, but that is not what I would really need to learn Science. For them, there is no need to want to happen or do. I've also threatened to quit – I realize I have not given any foolproof solution to this know how things work. There is no need to know why but that is something the teacher in me said should problem of loud and noisy students. I don't know if the world acts like it does. Things will still go on fine never be. Teachers can't quit on their students. Who there's any at all. One solution works for one class without knowing any Science. Yeah, the sun will still would the students depend on then? I remember that but not another. Whoever said that teaching was rise in the east for these people. How do I motivate Jesus never quits on us. going to be easy? them? I have tried time-outs to dissipate the classroom Lord Jesus, let me teach like the way You do: The energy. Everyone has to remain silent for five people were amazed at His teaching, because He In my students' world, minutes. They read their books during this time. If taught them as one who had authority, not as the studies are not held in high any student makes a noise, he/she would have to teachers of the law. (Mark 1:22). Let me teach as one regard. They would rather go stand up. This breather helped to quieten the class in command of the class, and let my students enjoy out and work and earn some down when the lesson resumed. money to buy a new the lesson. Thank you. T handphone. Their parents I will need to have varied activities in my lessons. I come from difficult cannot just use the books. I cannot just talk at the Daniel Gan has taught for many years but he still backgrounds. Their parents whiteboard. I can give them worksheets to answer. I appreciate that the school is IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 13

Tidak Salah Saya Pilih Jadi Guru by CHRIS TAWI Tahun 2023 genap 8 tahun saya bergelar cikgu. Tuhan juga selalu mengingatkan sungguhpun comel, juga nakal, banyak kerenah Sepanjang 8 tahun ini, ada 3 perangsang yang saya supaya seboleh-bolehnya tidak dan tidak patuh. Namun demikian, apabila saya menyuntik jiwa raga saya untuk terus menyinggung sensitiviti apa-apa jua memandang air muka murid yang nampaknya menceburi kerjaya mulia ini. semasa mengajar, menasihati dan bingung dan sesat, saya akan teringat tentang bergaul dengan murid. diri saya seperti mereka dulu. Ingatlah saya Yang pertama ialah terjalinnya silaturahim akan Amsal 22:6(AVB): “Didiklah seorang anak bukan sahaja dengan anak murid, bahkan Yang ketiga, saya dapat memainkan di jalan yang patut dilaluinya, maka pada masa dengan ibu bapa mereka. Ibu bapa di sekolah peranan sebagai suara bicara tuanya pun dia tidak menyimpang dari laluan saya datang daripada pelbagai latar belakang apabila kena pada masa dan itu.” Saya pun insaf bahawa mereka tetapi yang berlatar belakangkan Kristian paling tempatnya. Selaku seorang yang memerlukan guru, terutama sekali seorang guru ramai. Betapa pentingnya sebagai guru Kristian lebih banyak memerhati, Tuhan Kristian yang boleh mengajar dan membimbing yang biarpun masih muda, saya bertekad makin hari makin mematangkan mereka dengan baik di bilik darjah dan dalam menjadi teladan dari segi tutur kata, kelakuan saya untuk berfikir semasak- Persaudaraan Kristian/CF. dan iman dalam pergaulan sehari-hari dengan masaknya dan membuat pertimbangan yang semua lapisan masyarakat. Yesaya 60:1(AVB) munasabah lagi bijak. Oleh hal yang demikian, merupakan pegangan saya. “Bangkitlah, beberapa kali saya telah bersuara mengenai bersinarlah, kerana terangmu sudah datang dan perkara yang tidak adil atau betul dalam kemuliaan TUHAN terbit atasmu.” Syukurlah, pengurusan dan pentadbiran demi kepentingan kehadiran saya selaku seorang pendidik sekolah. Atas perkenan Tuhan, saya gembira Kristian di sini diterima dan disenangi mereka. kerana suara saya diendahkan, cadangan saya dipertimbangkan dan tindakan susulan yang Yang kedua, salah satu kepuasan hati saya sewajarnya diambil oleh pihak atasan. ialah adanya petunjuk bahawa tahap pembelajaran dan disiplin murid saya Sudah tentulah bahawa guru tidak terlepas bertambah baik dari masa ke masa. Jelaslah daripada menghadapi banyak cabaran dalam kepada saya bahawa anak murid saya usaha menyempurnakan tugas memberikan tindak balas yang positif apabila seharian. Murid-muridlah yang saya sentiasa memastikan proses pengajaran memotivasikan saya. Setiap kali dan pembelajaran yang berpusatkan anak saya mengajar, saya memang murid dijalankan secara kreatif, inovatif dan akan ada rasa kecewa ataupun menarik. Selain itu, saya berikhtiar putus asa apabila murid-murid mengamalkan disiplin anak murid secara tidak dapat memahami apa yang saksama dan bersifat didikan dengan penuh diajarkan. Adakalanya, murid kasih sayang, keprihatinan dan kesabaran. prasekolah (5 & 6 tahun) yang IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 14

Setiap kali saya berputus asa dan hilang dan mengira sekarang.” Kata-kata dengan mengutamakan Tuhan dalam hidup semangat, saya akan menatap wajah anak penghargaan daripada murid bagai halwa mereka. Apabila ada pelajar di gereja murid dan teringat akan kehidupan keluarga telinga kepada saya. Saya hanya seorang guru menghadapi SPM atau sudah tamat SPM, saya mereka yang papa lagi susah. Pada masa itu, biasa dan cara saya mengajar pun lebih kurang akan cuba sedaya upaya membantu mereka putus asa akan perlahan-lahan mencair dan seperti guru prasekolah yang lain. Kata-kata agar tidak tercicir dan dapat melanjutkan semangat saya bangkit semula. Saya harus tersebut menjadikan saya sentiasa pelajaran demi masa hadapan yang lebih cerah. memberikan yang terbaik semasa saya bersemangat dan mengupayakan saya untuk Kejayaan mereka jugalah kejayaan saya. mengajar mereka agar hidup mereka kelak menempuh hari-hari sukar sebagai guru. dapat diubah sebagaimana Tuhan telah Saya akan membisikkan tahniah kepada diri membantu saya untuk mengubah hidup ketika Bagi saya, kejayaan sebenar dikecapi apabila sendiri apabila pelajar berjaya memahami dan saya masih pelajar lagi. kita sentiasa mengutamakan Tuhan dalam mengingati apa yang diajarkan di kelas. Saya hidup kita (Matius 6 :33-34). Jangan sesekali juga akan memanjatkan syukur apabila pelajar Saya pernah bergurau dengan anak murid, melupakan Tuhan dalam apa juga yang kita itu masih berpegang teguh pada iman dan “Cikgu nak berpindah dari sini. Cikgu sudah buat dan sentiasalah bersyukur. Kedua ialah ajaran Kristian yang disampaikan dalam bosan di sekolah ini.” Saya bergurau sahaja jangan sesekali melupakan ibu bapa dan Persaudaraan Kristian/CF walaupun mereka tetapi ada murid membalas, “Kalau Cikgu keluarga kerana tanpa mereka kita tidak akan sudah berada di sekolah menengah. Perkara ini berpindah, siapa akan mengajar kami pasal berjaya (Efesus 6 :1-4). Saya menaruh harapan sangat menyentuh hati dan membuat saya Yesus? Kalau Cikgu berpindah, siapa akan yang sangat besar terhadap murid-murid saya. terharu serta bersyukur kepada Tuhan kerana mengajar kami berdoa?” Sebagaimana yang saya katakan, saya ingin saya sedar bahawa saya tidak salah pilih melihat mereka berjaya seperti saya. Saya ingin kerjaya sebagai guru. Terima kasih kepada TCF Kata-kata pelajar ini amat terkesan dan mereka mengubah kehidupan keluarga mereka kerana banyak mengajar saya melalui pelbagai memberi saya dorongan serta semangat untuk terus kuat kem, seminar dan aktiviti TCF. melayan dalam Persaudaraan Semua ini sangat bermanfaat Kristian/CF sejak hari kepada saya sejak awal pertama penempatan sampai sehingga sekarang dan sekarang. Ada beberapa orang pelajar yang tidak saya sampai bila-bila pun. T ajar semasa prasekolah pernah berkata begini, Chris is currently teaching in “Kalaulah Cikgu yang SK Merambut Limbang, mengajar semasa saya Sarawak. He is a Preschool prasekolah dulu, tentulah Teacher and this will be his saya lebih pandai membaca 7th year of teaching. IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 15

The Impact of the Christian Faith on Teachers INPARTNERSHIP Many have asked me questions like... “how do times. Our faith is contagious and what Our worship to God grows in gratitude to God you keep going on like this with passion after happens to a child or colleague or just a for the seeker as we plead on their behalf and so many years?” “Your passion for God and concern affects us and draws us closer to the praise God for answered prayers, making us to serving Him has not waivered all these years!” Father. draw near to Him more and more. “How do you sustain your faith in Christ after so many years and still serve Him faithfully?” We all go through seasons in our lives when we Our personal purity begins to take shape again are spiritually dry and lethargic. We hold on to as we work towards maintaining a high As Mei and I were driving to the Klang Valley our faith but do not advance at all. Bible study standard of conduct which is heightened by the Christian Teachers Day Gathering in St Paul's becomes a chore, and our prayer life is dry. The awareness that we are God's representative to on the 20th of May, I was excited about meeting miracle of our own conversion, which was once the seeker. my good friend and buddy in Christ, the Vicar of recounted with such passion, is now distant the St Paul's church. We grew up as young and is lacklustre. Going to church is something THE TRUTH is this: Elevating our efforts to Christians and shared many years of rich and we just do, and it was very mechanical and reach others can be a catalyst for personal deep fellowship in Christ. Our children have half-heartedly. We trudge along through the spiritual growth. When we are dry and grown now, and we are still serving Him. Yes! drudgery of quarantined Christianity as they struggling and God brings to our midst some Serving Him is contagious! It keeps us on our say! students who have greater struggles than us, toes and makes us grow in Him. we suddenly find ourselves lost in His Love and Amid all the gloom and dread, God works in the Grace. God uses the students, our colleagues As Christian teachers, we go through high and undercurrents to restore us. He suddenly brings and situations in our schools to draw us back to low seasons all the time. The workload in along our paths a spiritual seeker amongst our Him all the time. Thank you God for the honour school drains most of us every day. The students or colleagues. Suddenly spiritual staffroom and school politics is constant for growth begins to happen again. Our inner and privilege of serving You in schools. T most of us. The year end appraisals makes renewal begins to take place and our bible many of us become mere robots – made to reading is revitalized. All these just to be Blessings perform! Then all of a sudden, we are put in a prepared to share with this new seeker. We seek Cheli Nadarajah situation where a child needs help or an issue God for a fresh glimpse into God's Character regarding a colleague is raised to us. We and truth which leads us on to a desire to suddenly see ourselves running back to God to personally be intimate with God again. pray for the child and the colleague. This then leads us to want to be more focused on Him Our prayer life finds new purpose where stale instead of the daily grinds in school. recitations get replaced by passionate pleas for the salvation of the seeker. Our enthusiasm for God uses our students to restore our passion, prayer escalates as we notice progress and commitment and devotion to Him most of the growth in the seeker or new believer. IN STEP VOL 35 ISSUE 1 PAGE 16