What a hectic day for me today!! I went to work early today just to be able to go home earlier to prepare for my tuition later in the evening.
I was late for tuition during the first session and the China mum called me to check if I manage to find my way there. But on the 2nd session, she called me again when it was only 7.27pm. Not even 7.30pm yet. I thought she was kind of over-reacting. But when I went to her house, I realise the clock on the wall showed 7.40pm. I suppose the clock is 10 min faster as it is not possible that it would take me 10 min to get up to her house.
Then came the teaching part. The China kid is arrogant. He keeps thinking he is very fantastic in his work. His weakness is that he doesn't know English. Therefore, no matter how good he is in Mathematics, he is unable to solve those problem sums as he doesn't understand what the question is asking!! When I explained to him, he then realised it was so simple and then blamed that the question is tricking him. I even have to translate certain terms such as LCM and HCF in Mandarin, which I've no idea what they are in Chinese. He then would give me a look which seems to say "Are you sure you are up to it?"
At around 9pm, he started to complain that he is tired as he played basketball in the afternoon. I told him since he knew he was having tuition in the evening, he should not be playing basketball. He started giving all the excuses that he was being forced into having the game.
At 9.30pm, he went off straight to bed!! Leaving me at the dining table. His mum managed to get him out of bed again but he was already in very bad mood. I was only trying to go through the answers for him but he did not even bother to listen. Then his mum started to nag at him, telling him must pay attention and learn. He raised his voice at his mum instead, saying that she is over-concern for him. I really could not stand the sight of it and reprimand him for being rude to his mum. He then claimed that his mum followed him in school, making him embarrassed. It's natural that parents behave this way. Parents are worried for their children. But this boy doesn't understand. And thinks that Singapore's teaching system is weird and no good, unlike in China. I told him "You are in Singapore now, not China."
Probably he has yet to get used to staying here in Singapore. This is in fact the first week that he and his mum came over. But I just cannot tolerate his learning behaviour. If he were my brother, I probably would have slam the table over. I'm just so pissed off with his stupid behaviour. I already sensed something not right when I stepped into his house. He shaked his head when he saw me. This boy, aged 14, is already at a height of 1.72m, as compared to me, only at a height of 1.55m. Even his mum is bigger built than me. Haiz.. It isn't my fault to be so short, right?
Anyway, he better improve on his behaviour. Else, I don't think I'd be tutoring for him for long. Makes my blood boil only during every lesson. Really feel like telling him to go back to China. Having such a strong character, I also don't know how I am going to handle him for the rest of the lessons. I shall take a step at a time.
Dated 13/07/05