Unusual Ideas

A Brand New Idea to help the blind street performers

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:45:02 +0000

When you see a visually handicapped busker playing a guitar in the MRT station, would you fork some $$$ out and make that contribution? Yes and No, perhaps, depending on your mood on that particular day. Because they didn’t really add value to your life. Whether you donate or not, you can get to hear the music anyway.

What if they can add value to your life? In other words, you can be a better person after meeting the street performers. Sounds incredible? Watch the video. Being blind doesn’t mean they cannot do incredible things.

A chance for my students to mingle with the poor.

admin — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:44:42 +0000

My students playing with the less privileged.

My students and the less privileged children knew how to play these games already. However, my students knew the intricacies of the games a lot better. They have been playing with me for quite some time already. For these children, I only showed them once.

I am very glad to note that some of my students actually share with them on the ‘secrets’ that the other player should take note. There was even a student who asked me for an easier game. Those were too difficult for some very young children. There were quite a number of students who would like to c0me back again for more sessions to help the poor.

Of course, there were students who were cynical, thinking that this is an absolute waste of time. I think it takes time.

They had their masterpieces in their hands

I am very glad to tell the world that most of my students actually made a super effort to teach the skill of paper plane folding to the children. They had a lot of fun and at the same time learnt that the world is not made up with people with iPhone, iPad and lots of $$$ to spend.

If we can conduct these activities more often, I can’t imagine the impact it would have on my students. If I can have 1 wish for this Christmas, it would be my students keep giving their love and warmth to those kids who need them most.

Paper planes that led my students to do voluntary work.

admin — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 09:56:50 +0000

Well, to an average adult, there is no intrinsic value in folding paper plane. It is not going to make me a millionaire. However, most young boys like tossing paper planes very much. I used this as a bait to entice them to study a little harder.

Moreover, after mastering the skill, they can start teaching the less fortunate. This was exactly what happened on 9th of Dec.

Let’s take a look at my preparation work.

Donating some games to Pertapis Home

Teaching the children the rules and objectives of different games. So why did I give so much of my time, effort and even money to do that. What do I want to achieve? How did my students benefit? Read my next blog!!!

I am a good student.

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:42:16 +0000

Why do I claim myself as a good student? Very simple, I put in a lot of effort to learn how to fold different types of paper planes. It may not be as easy as it looks. One thing the learner has to bear in mind is neatness. The plane has to be symmetrical.

Why don’t you give me your comments about how much I have learn from my master?

(See video below)

Wouldn’t you want to see these paper planes in action?

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:34:21 +0000

Who wants to just take a close look at paper planes? Everyone wants a piece of the action. Trust me, it is spectacular.

(See video below.)

Encounter with paper plane expert

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:03:39 +0000

I had the pleasure to witness with my own eyes the wide variety of paper planes. John Collins, the paper plane expert, was invited to teach and entertain the art and science of folding paper plane in the Singapore Science Centre.

He was featured in the newspaper. I bought 2 of his books and had the privilege to take a picture with him.

John Collins & I

Children admiring various paper planes.

Stretching your tuition dollar to the Max (Case 3)

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:27:56 +0000

Why should you call us earlier?

If you get us as tutor but find us a little too expensive, what can you do? Simple, talk to someone else. Word of mouth advertising. We will knock $5 to $10 off ($60 will down to $55 & it will keep going down) you can get us new customers. If your child can get his fellow classmates to learn under the same roof at the same time, your financial burden will be halved. (You pay slightly more than half for the fact that in most cases, we would have to spend more time for 2 students.) It should be great savings.

However, the reality is that parents would tell me it is very difficult for them because they are not thick-skinned enough. They don’t know that many people. They are not salesman. The reality that I choosed to interpret is parents want to do NOTHING but they want discount. What they don’t realise is that the children follow their example. They want to do NOTHING but they want toys, money and all the good things in life.

Parents, consider taking your children to do voluntary work as mentioned in my earlier blog. Our society has become ridiculously comfortable. Bear this in mind.

Most humans in comfort seek more comfort. Humans in hardship put in hard work to seek comfort.

The real savings in tuition dollar is not having tuition at all or needing it only when the child doesn’t understand a concept. Experience tells me that it happens to those children who belong to the 2nd category.

Stretching tuition dollar to the Max (Case 2)

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:40 +0000

Games that arouse logical interest or interesting logic

Is a FREE lesson expensive?

I gave a free trial lesson to a pri. 3 girl. (This is only 1 out of many examples.) Typical young girl who is shy and very unwilling to learn math. Is tuition the solution? No.

In the subsequent lesson, I brought along a game which requires 2 players. I taught the mother the rules and the objective of the game. The mother, in turn, played with the daughter. Were they having fun? Was the girl participating? Did the girl learn something that she could have done better or some steps she should have avoided? You bet!

How much does that cost? $10 for renting 1 toy and my time of explanation. (Sometimes it varies.) They can keep the game for about 1 month, they will get a new game next month. Let me give you the rationale. The reason why I want to keep cost low is because I understand that this is preliminary work. No pupil will ever achieve good results by playing logical games. Due to its low cost, I wouldn’t be making special trips to your house. Time to do some planning is necessary.

Such preparation is possible because parents called me early enough. Read the next blog for more cost effective way of receiving tuition services.

Stretching tuition dollar to the Max(Case 1)

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:31:42 +0000

My banner in front of a stationery shop

Boss cum my ex-student's father

Let me explain what is going on.

Last year, I used to teach his (man in the photo) son math to prepare him for O level. Every lesson costs him $90. Not cheap!!! (It is cheaper if he had called me earlier.)I started teaching the boy in … around early July. I only had about 12 lessons before his prelim exams. Long story short, he got an A for both E & A math. I couldn’t remember A1 or 2. Not too bad for a student who barely passed for his mid year exam.

Next, I did something very STUPID. I reminded the parents that prelim papers were generally harder than O level. Since he has done well for prelim, he doesn’t need me on a regular basis anymore. I had only 2, max 3 lessons before O level. That’s it. I could have made more $$$. If you were to do a bit of math, I cost the family slightly less than $1500.

Months passed, he got his results. Well, it was so good that the mother would give me a call to invite me to Swenson (Thomson) for a sumptuous dinner. We were chit-chatting and I got to know he owns a shop at Bishan. Immediately, I gave him this idea of putting up a banner for publicity. Since he was on clould 9, he agreed. I understand nobody would do anything for nothing long term. I promised to offer him a commission. He just smiled, maybe thinking that I was joking.

Till today, I paid him about less than $300. (BTW, I used this example to teach win/win to all my students.)

You maybe thinking ‘I don’t have a shop.’ Well, you don’t have to have a shop. You need a child who is determined to do well for exam. Good results, distinctions wouldn’t be possible if the son hadn’t been trying before I appeared. I merely provided the understanding, nothing more. $1500 bought 2 distinctions without the son wasting time on transport. Is that expensive? Why don’t you be the judge?

Some of you may be thinking, ‘Why don’t I look for you last minute, at the 11th hour, I can save more?’ Wrong!!! I will reveal to you how you can even stretch your tuition more if you call me earlier. Watch out for the next 2 blog.

Is tuition too expensive? Yes, if you’re just buying a false sense of security.

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:32:37 +0000

Let’s take a look at these 2 newspaper articles.

Students who can't afford tuition won't lose out.

Tuition too expensive, let's ban it at pri level?

Is tuition too expensive? Why don’t you think about it? One thing is for sure. If you paying tuition for a (false) sense of security, you are as good as throwing $$$ into the sea. In my next blog, I will be sharing with you how to stretch your tuition dollar to the MAX!