KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi,

I would like to enquire if there are any GP teachers or ex-GP teachers in this forum?

If so, please advise on the daily routine of a typical GP teacher teaching in local JCs, including both lesson planning as well as administrative responsibilities.

In addition, are only job candidates with a good pass in their honours degree eligible to be a GP teacher in local junior colleges?

Thanks much!

I'm a JC student and during GP lessons our teacher will usually just bring up some recent news and the class will discuss it or we might watch video then discuss. But it's usually based on a topic eg. if the theme we are studying is like family then the video we watched was on eg. role of the family in society etc. Sometimes we have written work in class too such as essays/compre.

Hi, I've been teaching GP for more than a decade. Consider the subject which requires critical thinking, writing and General knowledge of world affairs. In short, besides having knowledge in the social sciences and history and politics, you need to inculcate sound reasoning skills and is therefore a fairly big jump from O Level English.

Your difficult task is to help students bridge the gap where O level English has for a long time (until recently) been focussed on narrative prose.
The essay questions are discursive/expository in nature while the comprehension passage(s) are also the same AND involves a last question involving your examination and evaluation of the writer's ideas (called an Application Question).

A committed GP teacher does a lot of reading for new ideas and to make sure they are up to speed with current affairs.
Above the usual CCA/marking and admin duties, you write testimonials AND vet the testimonials of other teachers AND in my college write letters of Recommendation for students who intend to study overseas(because they assume GP teachers have the wherewithal to write good ones)
The normal perception is that a GP teacher does nothing but just talk their heads off. A good one does much more. For one, you can't fake a passion for understanding the evolution of ideas and socio-political events.

FYI, the deadlines for marking are really tight. It can be overwhelming in addition to the other admin duties and dept meetings.

Do I like what I'm doing? With a passion, especially if you spend time cultivating a good relationship with your students.

I'm curious - why the enquiry?

And yes, GP teachers need an honors degree in general.

Thanks much to Skyed and Han Seo for letting me see the perspectives of GP teaching from both the student's and teacher's perspectives, respectively.

I have enquired as I have a flair for research and an intense interest in current affairs. And GP seems to be a profession that is able to blend the two.

It would be great if someone is able to enlighten me on the specifics of the admin work required for a GP teacher.

Cheers!

Warmest Regards,
Patrick