Nerine's Reflection 3

In secondary school and JC, the learning journeys I attended always focused on one specific location. We were required to look at the exhibits present and complete worksheets at the end of the learning journey. These worksheets were never marked or returned to us so many of my classmates did not take them seriously. Unlike those I have attended in the past, this learning journey with the Literature class provided me with a different perspective on learning journeys both as a student and as a teacher.

After my A Levels, I would embark on personal escapades to the Ann Siang Hill and Chinatown area with my camera and take photos of strangers who intrigue me. I have always had a penchant for old things and going on this learning journey brought back a lot of memories for me. It allowed me to compare the Ann Siang Hill of 5 years ago and the Ann Siang Hill of today. Nothing much has changed but the place definitely has more shops selling ‘vintage’ items. It seems like while Singapore is progressing, Singaporeans are still retaining the old. Taking a walk through the URA Gallery also provided me with new insights about Singapore and how far we have come. In just mere 40+ years, Singapore has progressed at a seemingly exponential rate.

I like how the entire learning journey focused on one major theme “Old Places”. It was also interesting to see how each poem is significant to the place we visited and how all the places contributed to the overall understanding of the entire learning journey. I feel that the entire lesson was very well-planned and definitely met the lesson objectives. In addition, I also like how each student was responsible for a station. When I plan a learning journey for my own students in the future, I will definitely take note of this point because it provides a sense of ownership for the students. Talking about important places in Singapore like the Singapore River and learning about its history also can help students to be more interested in subjects like History and Social Studies. I think the creative task is very good in helping us to consolidate what we have learnt throughout the entire learning journey, and what better way to consolidate than write a poem or reflection about it, with us being Literature students and all. The Singapore River is a very good place to do that because we are able to take a look at how far Singapore has come, amidst the brown waters. Another good place I would bring my students to is definitely the esplanade. If it is possible, I hope to bring them there to watch a play or musical. Sitting by the steps outside the esplanade facing the Singapore River can also give some inspiration for the creative task.