We begin our exploration in the coastal city of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Known for their beautiful beaches and bustling markets, Kota Kinabalu is also home to one of our centres, UEC Iramanis. Ran by Christina Math – a teacher by profession – Iramanis began in 2015 as a combined centre teaching English and Math. Offering a diverse range of courses such as Alphabet Authors to Kids Can Read, Iramanis is no doubt a UEC centre you should look out for. Read on as Christina tells us more about her journey with UEC!
Why did you choose UEC?
I chose UEC because I think it is a unique program. It focuses on writing which I feel our Malaysian students are not doing enough. It is also a program where it encourages students to express their own ideas and opinions freely. It teaches creativity and also students can apply their language skills in different activities during lessons.
How has UEC changed your perspective on education?
My perspective in education has always been quite in line with what UEC is trying to deliver. I value understanding and application in learning rather than trying to remember facts from textbooks. Listening to students is also an important part of the teaching and learning process, rather than telling what they are supposed to do all the time.
Tell us more about how the pandemic has affected you. How have you overcome the challenges faced?
The pandemic has affected me in so many ways, both in a positive and negative way. Due to the temporary closure of the centre, students were not able to attend lessons and business was down. However, I am grateful because all this while, I have been looking after and paying attention to other people’s children but my own. I have been very busy with teaching and also managing a business. I’m glad to be home with my kids.
Tell us a memorable experience you had while running the franchise.
I don’t really have a particular memorable experience while running the franchise, but I will always remember the students’ faces when they come out of their classroom when lesson finishes. They are always smiling. Seems like they had a good time. Some parents have been telling me how unique the program is and that their children always look forward to coming to lessons.
Why did you choose UEC?
I chose UEC because as it connotes, UNIQUE in learning English. I want to share the opportunity of exposing our students to an international arena so that they can be challenged more and improve on their writing and creativity. I have always believed that students should not be confined within the four walls of the classroom. They should explore and expand their horizons through their imagination. The more they practice, the more they will imbibe the knowledge and improve their skills.
How has UEC changed your perspective on education?
At a young age, students should have a mentor and a wide range of opportunity to grab on.
All the while I thought the teachers are enough to guide the kids in school but I learned that it pays to have a mentor to make the kids more focused in what they do. Unfortunately, it seemed that guiding mentors in English were not available to students. But thankfully with UEC, we’re trying to make it available even to young students with great passion in writing and creatives.
Tell us more about how the pandemic has affected you. How have you overcome the challenges faced?
Life doesn’t need to stop. Even if there’s the challenge of COVID-19, you have to remain strong and decisive amidst the pandemic. And a big part of going on with life is taking care of one’s health. Only when you protect yourself can you continue to fight with life.
And the challenge of being creative because things should be implemented differently in order to survive. It’s a big challenge for my teachers but I hope they gained additional knowledge and exposure on using technology. Technology is really powerful if you use. them correctly.
Tell us a memorable experience you had while running the franchise.
The experience when parents say thank you is very much fulfilling. It is even more memorable because their kids got something out of the program. Hearing from them that the handwriting of their kids improved, they colour better and write in a more organised and cohesive manner always make my day. Also when they take initiative to fix their things after playing. We don’t just focus on writing and comprehension but we also develop lifelong values.
UEC Iramanis, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Why did you choose to work with UEC?
I chose to work with UEC for my interest in the program introduced by UEC. I like the approach of the study. UEC has changed my perspective on education through the unique approach of the course and how it helps the students improve their English through enriching their skills of drama and help to free their wild imagination in writing.
Tell us how have your education methods changed after the pandemic.
Since all schools and tuitions were on hold for quite some time, I had to get into other online English classes, not UEC, during the pandemic.
What is your favourite thing about teaching in UEC?
My favorite thing about teaching in UEC is the approach of the study of English and drama to help improve their writing skills and help them achieve their dreams of becoming good authors. Giving the students the chance to express themselves and having the change to write freely is one more thing I love about UEC.
UEC Marikina, Marikina City, Philippines
Why did you choose to work with UEC?
When Joni, the owner discussed with me the program, I got very excited. The program is highly interactive and for me, that is the best way to teach language to learners. The program also provides fun activities for the children which undoubtedly provides holistic language learning. As a teacher, UEC made me realize that teaching is a two way process.
I facilitate the learning and the learner shows me how they can best learn the lesson. Each child is unique and learns differently. UEC provides the teacher enough “space” to create the best learning environment for the learners.
Tell us how have your education methods changed after the pandemic.
The pandemic made the physical interaction with and among the students impossible. This is what I and the learners miss the most. As a teacher, I make the most of what online teaching can offer.
What is your favourite thing about teaching in UEC?
What I love the most about UEC as a teacher is the freedom to be creative in addressing the needs of the learner and making the lesson fun. I also love the way it made the learners yearn for more learning. Every week, the students were excited to come to our class and were sad when the lesson would come to an end. For me, that is the BEST experience ever.
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