Miss Tan : The BEST English Guru Ever
No, I’m not getting the "Trump fever" of referring everything as the best though it’s really not.
Tan Choon Bin taught me English when I was in 6 Putih, as well as my sister when she was in 6 Kuning. My batch was the last before she retired. She made us memorize everything from Present, Past, Past Participle, to antonyms and synonyms to writing poems in cursive. That explains why I’m so freakingly particular with grammar but I think I rusted a bit these recent years my grammar’s not as perfect.
I haven’t had any problems speaking English for quite some time but when I was face to face with Miss Tan after ELEVEN years of leaving ZS, I was actually very careful in choosing my words as not to give her any hint that I’m now comfortable speaking rojak English most of time.. heheheh..
She declined to attend the reunion, as she declined ALL invitations to any school-related functions. She’s done with schools and now currently happy travelling around the world with her sisters, whom, if I’m not mistaken, are not married as well.
She was glowing when talking about her numerous trips to China, her adventure inside the pyramid in Egypt, the excitement of Europe tour and how boring New Zealand is. She looked healthy (we guessed she’s around 66) and actually said Tai Chi is stupid. "Tai Chi is nothing, people doing it feels they are a cut above others because they remember all the fancy moves but my brisk walking up and down the stairs in school was what kept me healthy and fit, not the stupid Tai Chi." That’s the closest I can quote her.
She said she’s happy to learn that her students are doing well (was delighted when I mentioned Kak We’s doing MESL) and said the magic words… "I’m glad you speak very good English", apart from telling me and Nolee we made her day by visiting her.
Even though I was quite frustrated she turned us down, I was (still am) actually happy, or rather, ecstatic to hear THE guru who gave me the strong fundamentals in English Language approved of my English. She’s the one who made my day. Miss Tan, I will never forget you as long as I speak English. Cheers to you!!!
