Guiding You to the Next Step
Helping clients continue on a path of learning.
Guiding You to the Next Step
Helping clients continue on a path of learning.
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An Author's Journey
Having gone through an unsuccessful self-publishing attempt early this year which had resulted in a far from satisfactory product, I decided to make amends. Finally, after incurring a baseline cost of $1,373.60 together with another 3 months of effort in designing the covers and proofreading the scripts under a supported self-publishing scheme, here is the book looking like how it should be that I could sigh in relief. Do drop me a line if you'd like to get a copy at author's price. Your kind support towards defraying part of the above costs would be most appreciated. Thank you.
About the Book
Telling it like what it is through the lens of a Singaporean on the ground. Famed for her Merlion, “Crazy Rich Asians”, “Money No Enough”, here is a lowdown on living in Singapore beyond the tinsel. Having lived through the carefree childhood of the late 1960s, the nation building of the 1970s, the economic miracle of the 1980s, the saturated successes of the 1990s, the remaking attempts of the 2000s and the spiralling costs in the last decade, this collection of a personal recount, an essay story and his mini-biography, depict the writer’s journey into awareness of self and society. It is a trinity of conflict, control and clarity.
There are many levels of reading the book. Besides the light humour, the more insightful reader will recognise the satire woven into the stories. Greed is often disguised under false modesty. Rules are unquestionably followed even the reason for their being, has long disappeared. The book ends with “Budding into Being” where conflict and control fade into clarity. A new level of understanding and a rallying call for the Aspergers rise above the horizon. The three stories are knitted into a continuum round where the end justifies the beginning.
Testimonials
The three books within the book were written over a span of 20 years in different seasons.
“My Life Story” was written as a resume when I was asked to write an introduction and background on myself explaining why I thought I would be the right person for the writer position I had applied for. The magazine editor called me for an interview, and I was duly hired as a contract writer in 2007. “The Last Line of Defence” was recorded after my 1993 overseas military training as a journal entry in my diary, which had been my constant confidant for a good 15 years during those “muted” years of my life. “Come, Play Monopoly With Me” was crafted in 2008 to bring awareness to a phenomenon in society that might echo an Orwellian ring.
Together with the above two stories, “My Life Story”, a prelude to “Budding into Being”, formed the trio that I put together while on a working holiday in Haiphong, Vietnam, in December 2023.
This stream of consciousness, from an army recount, an essay story to a mini-biography, is a collection of experiences. Finally, in the many sleepless winter nights of 2023 and early 2024, the three seemingly discordant stories of the same DNA were stitched into a tapestry, where a bold narrative emerged to order the inner chaos.
Having to put up with my foibles, I am greatly indebted to family members, including my lovely wife and daughter, Huyen Tran and Ge Ru, who are the inspiration for this book. My gratitude also goes to Ha Tran and Phuong Tran for consenting to the use of their pictures on the covers. The apple orchard in the backdrop captures the pair in a moment of carefree abandonment and a restraining pullback that gives budding its optimal chance of coming into being.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the many wonderful friends in my alumni cohort of Raffles Institution (1979/1981) for their kind support and understanding in my sputtering attempt at self-publishing, which, sad to say, did not turn out well.
Hence, my redeeming effort here.
Thank you.
Roland
April 2024
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A familiarisation visit to Genta Saraswati Secondary and Primary Schools (Bali) in Oct 2024. Teacher
Promoting the use and learning of standard English among our ASEAN neighbours across Asia through goodwill collaboration in education.
We can provide guidance on admission matters, scholarship application, language immersion classes if you or or child aspires to come over to Singapore for your primary, secondary or tertiary education.
About Me
My Background
My Background
My Background
Key Domain/ Areas of Practice
EDUCATIONAL COACH
19 years of educational experience in the formal educational institutions and as a private tutor-cum-educational adviser. My experience as an educator is backed up by 16 years of corporate and industry experience.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Public Speaking
Special Needs Education
Training & Consultanc
Key Domain/ Areas of Practice
EDUCATIONAL COACH
19 years of educational experience in the formal educational institutions and as a private tutor-cum-educational adviser. My experience as an educator is backed up by 16 years of corporate and industry experience.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Public Speaking
Special Needs Education
Training & Consultancy
Learning & Development
Deep Pedagogical Skills
Editorial and Journalism
Copywriting
Drama & Acting
My Experience
My Background
My Background
I am a member of several professional educational consultant organizations across the country. Each year, I attend a variety of webinars and conferences to better help my clients with the admission process.
A public presentation on Practical Economics (McDonalds' Experience).
Video: https://youtu.be/x6mfamhY9Ok
Script:
I am a member of several professional educational consultant organizations across the country. Each year, I attend a variety of webinars and conferences to better help my clients with the admission process.
A public presentation on Practical Economics (McDonalds' Experience).
Video: https://youtu.be/x6mfamhY9Ok
Script:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BgDWP7CzhEnghR1zI9YpXfsokAsC_S6f/view?usp=sharing
About Me
My Background
About Me
Professional Experience and Key Attributes
• Ex-MOE teacher with more than 16 years of teaching/ tutoring experience
• National University of Singapore graduate (BBA), NTU-NIE graduate PGDE (credit)
• Diploma in Professional & Creative Writing Course awarded by “The Writers Bureau UK” in Feb 2008
• A former top Raffles Institution top studen
Professional Experience and Key Attributes
• Ex-MOE teacher with more than 16 years of teaching/ tutoring experience
• National University of Singapore graduate (BBA), NTU-NIE graduate PGDE (credit)
• Diploma in Professional & Creative Writing Course awarded by “The Writers Bureau UK” in Feb 2008
• A former top Raffles Institution top student - GCE “O” and “A” levels, RI
• Published writer specialising in English from primary to secondary levels (including Integrated Programme, IB).
• PSLE marker for 2015/ 2016 English Paper 1 (Composition and Situational Writing) and Paper 2 (Language Use and Comprehension).
• A consummate educator exuding wit, drama, humour and passion.
• Results-oriented with process enjoyment!
Services
Intro Consultation
I offer a complimentary one-hour service to go over the needs of the students with their family. After this initial consultation, I follow up with the family to recommend an appropriate coaching service to best suit their needs.
Hourly Consultations
I am available on an hourly basis to give families advice about finding the right college, writing applications, standardized testing, and more.
Complete Placement Service
I offer a complete service into the Singapore schools that includes evaluating the students' academic records, establishing reachable goals, preparing students for the AEIS examinations and guiding you throughout the application process, and advocating for the students.
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Skills Future Accredited Trainer
Online ClassDo Tutors Platform
No time to attend classes? Busy schedule? Yet a burning desire to sharpen one's tools to improve your skills? Fret not! The 24 X 7 Online Learning Platform is designed for you to take advantage of our superb online video-conferencing and e-learning enablers. Check it out! educational consultant tuition
Video Learning Packages - UDEMY
Video Learning Packages - UDEMY
Learning on the go, at your time and own pace. Video learning packages are available on a wide array of the English Language learning components for your savoury. An approved and accredited Udemy instructor. https://www.udemy.com/user/roland-tan-3/
Holistic Learning
Teaching Philosophy - the Sosaku Kobayashi way
Video Learning Packages - UDEMY
More than just hard skills acquisition, it is about the correct motivation, Self & Emotional Learning (SEL) and overall holistic development.
The Results
Teaching Philosophy - the Sosaku Kobayashi way
Teaching Philosophy - the Sosaku Kobayashi way
Fun in the process, results as a pitstop, the fun never ends ......
My GP/ IB students in action -
Teaching Philosophy - the Sosaku Kobayashi way
Teaching Philosophy - the Sosaku Kobayashi way
Teaching Philosophy - the Sosaku Kobayashi way
Well qualified tutors from multiple disciplines to suit your learning needs.
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