But it was Jeanine's last lesson with me before she transfers to Saturday class with another teacher.
It's amazing how I witnessed this little girl grow up since she was eight. In a blink of an eye, she's already 10. Two years went by just like that? I don't feel like I've been working for 2 years.
The first time I saw Jeanine when I sat in her last class with the previous teacher. She was so shy and didn't speak much. Was forced to greet me and took a few glimpse of me.
I was amazed by her aural skills. Who would expect an eight year old to be playing grade 3 exam pieces like a piece of cake? She made everything seemed so easy.
When I finally took over, I realised that she's crazy. Mad active in class! Always going against me by hiding under the table when we were in the small studio and after I moved to the big group studio, she ran around the room, refused to play the piano during practical class. She's also the one who questioned my ability as a teacher. I was really hurt when I heard the lines, but ohwell, it's the hard fact I had to accept. She's also the first and the last (I hope) student to count the number of moles I have on my face, insult my sense of dressing openly and forcing me to give her sweets ALL THE TIME.
She passed her grade 4 with the relief teacher when I was serving internship in Shanghai. But I was so proud of her achieving merit and secretly claiming credits as I covered majority of the syllabus. Recently in July, she got a distinction for grade 5 and she is my first advance grade distinction student. I almost cried.
This girl can go very far. I was only picking new pieces for her to try out. The next week she came to class and played the piece for me. Wow! I didn't have to do anything. Just sit there, give her sweets, listen to her playing and collect money. Hahaha...
She no longer laughs at my face full of moles and insults my lousy demonstration.
"HAHA! YOU PLAY THE WRONG NOTE!" is all that she commented on my demonstration. I will also laugh at her when she hits the wrong keys. We are always catching each other's mistakes.
At times when we were dying to hear a piece (but can't due to my lousy sight reading skills), she will play the left hand part for me while I play the right hand part.
Out of goodwill, I have been to her place once for extra lesson nearing examination. Her mom invited me over earlier to have lunch with Jeanine and her younger sister.
They didn't want the lesson to end and Jeanine kept asking me to stay at their place to accompany them. Super sweet! But I didn't have a choice because I was so drained from clubbing the night before and was surviving the lesson with less than an hour's nap. Felt like a cheater sigh.
It came to an end today. I will miss this crazy girl who never fail to make me feel that I really enjoyed working.
She (actually her mother) bought me a farewell gift.
Her parents are very supportive as well. Her mom will bring in some snacks for me and Jeanine once in a while.
I'm so thankful for this student.
5 comments:
I guess this is where the contentment of teaching come from ;)
Awww such a sweet post :) The satisfaction that comes from students who performs well and appreciates you for your hardwork is priceless. Keep going my dear :)
Wah my grammar sucked in the previous comment hahahaha
@Mandy yea. but that's once in a while. most of the time wanna vomit blood. hahaha.
@JY yea that's for you! you are gonna be a great teacher in the future. and hahaha your grammar sucks, but I didn't realise until you mentioned it. hahahahah. my grammer is damn good also lah.
LOL, seriously yj, you just typed grammar, then grammer AHAHAHAHA
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