It is part of the Fulbright Program, which promotes mutual understanding among people of the U.S. and other ?countries.
The Global Teacher Programs Division of the Institute of International Education awarded $224,036 to the Center for International Education, Development and Research at the IU School of Education for its first time running the program. The Fulbright grant awarded to IU was the only one given in the U.S. this year.
Christine Sim is a science teacher at Tanjong Katong Girls’ School in Bedok Walk, Singapore. She has been teaching for 14 years.
IDS What has your experience been like as a Fulbright Distinguished Teacher?
Sim My experience has been extremely fulfilling and enriching both professionally and personally. There are many people who have worked tirelessly to make this program so positive, and I wish to acknowledge the Singapore Ministry of Education, U.S. Embassy in Singapore, U.S. Department of State, Institute of International Education, IU, Center for International Education, Development and Research, Bloomington High School North, Bloomington Worldwide Friendship Inc. and various organizations who opened not just their doors but their expertise, experiences and warmth to us.
I also treasure having the time and space during these four months to discover and learn more about the places and faces in Bloomington.
Hoosiers are one of the most gregarious and generous bunch of people I have ever met. We have been invited to many homes, picnics, dinners and drinks. I enjoy and appreciate interacting with the locals because that is the best way to understand perspectives of Americans and their culture.
Through the planned and unexpected encounters with locals, I take delight in knowing the name and stories behind the people I meet.
I appreciate my experience because this program wholeheartedly supports and provides teachers with an amazing professional and personal development opportunity in an American setting, inspiring us to pay it forward and make a difference to our students.
IDS How does living in the United States differ from Singapore? What is one part you miss from Singapore? Why?
Sim Before coming to the U.S., I was very sure I would miss the food from back home. Having been here for over two months, I am actually delighted with Bloomington’s food scene — you can for an entire semester go to a different restaurant every night without repeating a visit. You do get spoiled for choices in terms of the number of restaurants and variety here.
I do miss my family, my spouse and two daughters, who are back in Singapore, most. However, thanks to the Internet, I am able to connect with them daily. My family loves seeing the photographs of Bloomington and IU.
They agree with me that Bloomington looks especially amazing this time of the year when the leaves are changing colors, and on sunny days the entire place looks absolutely bright and brilliant.
IDS How do American students differ from the ones you are accustomed to teaching?
Sim My local school attachment in Bloomington High School North and classes I attend in IU provide me with opportunities to interact and learn from American students. We also go on additional school visits to Columbus, Ind., and Chicago.
On my own, I have also visited a high school in New York. I feel that American students are rather similar to students in Singapore. Most students, motivated or otherwise, value education or understand the importance of education.
When engaged, American and Singaporean students alike are keen and active learners. At the same time, they can get distracted by their mobile phones.
Students in my opinion are precious and important. They can be wonderful at times, yet can be challenges during others. I have been an educator for coming to 15 years, and I continue to enjoy being with the youths and learning from them about their perspectives about life and the world. While the setting in America may be different, being with the students makes me feel at home and inspires me to be both a teacher and learner at the same time.
IDS What is the focus of your research project?
Sim It started off from the various observations of science classrooms, lectures and laboratories made back in Singapore that when there are deliberate and productive learning sequence, we can optimize students’ learning experience from science activities and help them acquire deeper understanding, ability to apply learning and develop the disciplinary skills of science.
Therefore, I wish to be able to strength the dots between the doing and the learning. I hope to share with fellow science teachers some pedagogical strategies to make science learning activities purposeful and through enhanced instructions, increase our students’ appreciation, learning and understanding of science.
