My life as a PE Teacher

In 1993, I was fresh out of the army and contemplating my future career plans. Having attended courses on Methods of Instruction and Instructional Strategies, I realised that training recruits and soldiers had a lot of similarities with teaching students in school. Like a teacher, I had to assess the recruits’ readiness for learning, check for prior knowledge and differentiate my instruction for the recruits of various abilities; but at the heart of it all was ‘Care for Soldiers’ because just like our students in school, the soldiers do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. I decided that teaching would be my calling in life, and in 1997, I started the PGDE (PE) programme at the School of Physical Education.

But why PE of all subjects? That was the question that many family members and relatives asked when I shared that I wanted to be a PE teacher. Their impressions of PE were shaped by their personal PE experiences in school, but I felt that I could make a difference to the next generation of students in Singapore by creating a positive learning experience in PE. I wanted my students to learn that PE is not only about the NAPFA test and 2.4km runs, I wanted them to learn about the science behind human movement, understand the ‘WHY’ behind the skills and concepts of the games they play; but most of all, I wanted them to enjoy participating in physical activities for life.

I have been fortunate to have had two teachers during my school days who influenced me to be a PE teacher. They were Mr J E Menon, my PE teacher in The Chinese High School, who introduced me to cross-country running and rugby; and Mr Eugene Chew, my PE teacher and football CCA teacher-coach in National Junior College, who influenced me to be a teacher-coach for my own sports CCA teams. For all that they have done for me, I am now paying it forward.It is greatly satisfying to see my former students become colleagues and fellow PE teachers because they enjoyed the learning experiences I provided them.

There have been many highlights and memorable moments in my journey as a PE teacher. During my early years as a Beginning Teacher in Dunearn Secondary School, I obtained my Challenge Ropes Course Advanced Trainer certification and would organise camps as part of the school holiday training for my Track and Field Team at the Punggol 24th Avenue MOE Outdoor Adventure Centre. Besides the high ropes course, I took the students on short sea expeditions and rounded off every camp with a 12-hour Solo Night experience. Many of my students were inspired to pursue careers in Outdoor Education, and I still meet them during my annual CCI recertification course. As HOD (PE) in Pioneer Junior College, I conceptualised a holistic assessment for PE in alignment with the 2004 Revised PE Syllabus. The assessment included a peer-teaching component where students would work in groups to teach a game-skill to their classmates. This first taste of teaching encouraged some of my students to embark on their own journeys as PE teachers. During my 15-year stint as the Rugby teacher-coach at Pioneer Junior College, the most memorable moment was the Plate Finals against Anglo-Chinese Junior College in 2014. It was my last match as teacher-coach of the team and while the CCAB Stadium was filled end-to-end with supporters from ACJC, what warmed my heart was the sight of more than 50 former PJC rugby players cheering us on. Many of them had taken time off from work to support the team and although we lost the match, I was overwhelmed by the team spirit of my rugby players past and present.  

My wish for PE in Singapore is that the PE fraternity continues to strive towards the ideals of Physical Education for Life (Lifelong Involvement in Fitness and Exercise).

My wish for SPEA100 is to continue to grow, nurture and develop the next generation of PE teachers.