What makes a teacher? The New Age Parents spoke to principals and teachers from various schools and enrichment centres, to find out more about their philosophy, passion and aspiration.

Teacher Profile
Name: Huang Ying (黄英)
Role/Class: K2 Mandarin Teacher at MindChamps PreSchool @ Toa Payoh
Years in the industry: 14 years

TNAP: Hi Huang Ying! Tell us more about yourself!

I have been with MindChamps PreSchool for 5 years now. I have developed from being a Chinese teacher to Head of Department (Chinese) with MindChamps PreSchool. In these 5 years, I have continuously gained new experiences, new insights to being an early childhood professional and developed my professional growth.

MindChamps’ unique integration of the scientific research of the Champion Mindset by our Chancellor, Emeritus Prof Allan Snyder (FRS) has been a key motivator for my teaching and personal development. The elements of the Champion Mindset have been internalised to become my personal beliefs and mantra. I am unique and I strive to do my best, becoming more aware of my own strengths and own areas of improvement; learning to judo my weakness into strengths.

TNAP: Looking back in your teaching career, were there any mistakes or decisions which you regretted? If yes, how did you learn from it?

Before I joined the MindChamps family, I embraced the concept of being a perfectionist – setting very high standards for myself, achieving perfection in everything I do and not able to accept setbacks and failures. Having gone through the experiences and growth these few years, I have learnt to accept that it’s okay to experience imperfection and find ways to solve the problems, while maintaining a high standard of performance.

For example, besides teaching my classes, I also co-manage the operation of my pre-school. With the dual responsibility, I have to commit more time and efforts to do well in both areas. I truly embrace the values we have in MindChamps to constantly look for the beauty of my fellow teachers, accepting feedback as seeds of growth and to strengthen my inter-personal skills of partnering and managing the teaching team.

TNAP: In your eyes, what makes an effective and good teacher?

To be a good teacher, I believe one must be a good role model and lead by example. To be a good leader, one needs to maintain a personal high standard of excellence for his or her team of teachers.

TNAP: Who do you look up to as a role model in terms of your teaching career and why?

Growth comes from commitment, time and effort. All these years, I am grateful for the love from my leaders, my fellow teachers and the young Champs under my tutelage. Parents’ appreciation and recognition have been a strong motivator for me too. I am blessed, deeply grateful for all the support given to nurture the success in my life, which words can’t express. I want to thank MindChamps for providing me with the opportunities for growth, the beliefs of my leaders in me to become a Champion Educator and for developing my teaching and management skills these 5 years. I truly feel the team’s love and support towards me.

TNAP: Complete this sentence. Teaching is…

To transfer knowledge and core values to our future generation of young champions. It is an attitude and a mindset.

Below is Huang Ying’s original reply in Mandarin:

时间过得真快呀！我在迈杰思幼稚园工作已经有5个年头了。从一位华文老师到一位华文部门主管，在这近5年的工作中不断总结经验，学到了很多，也成长了很多。

迈杰思的冠军理念对我的人生和教学有很大的启发和帮助，在迈杰思幼儿园我找到了自我价值，“冠军思维”已经逐步在我的脑海里生根发芽。我会尽自己的能力做到最好，发现自己的优点和弱点，面对弱点，并学习把弱点转化成优点。在加入迈杰思这个大家庭之前，我对自己要求很高，凡事都要做到尽善尽美，不能受到委屈，也不能面对挫折。经过这些年的磨练，我仍然对自己的要求很高，但是我学会了接受委屈和面对困难，能积极正面的处理问题。例如：我每天除了带班教学，还要帮助做一些管理学校的事物，要付出更多的精力和时间。由于抱着学习的态度，不断地总结教训，积累经验，忙得不亦可乎。

一分耕耘一分收获，有付出就会有收获，无论多少，在付出的过程中都会有所获益。在这几年里孩子们和老师们对我的爱，家长们的称赞和肯定，让我感到很欣慰，这种成就感是用言语无法表达的。

作为一位好的老师和一位好的领导，一定要以身作则，身教大于言教。一位好的领导要为老师们做一个好榜样，带领团队共同努力和进步。

在迈杰思幼儿园工作近5年的时间里，我不但丰富了教学经验，也学到了管理经验，体验到了团队精神的重要性。

教学是把好的品德和知识技能传授给学生，和学生共同进步；是一种态度，一种对知识的尊重和对学生的重视；是一门技术也是一门艺术。