Tan Chin Chia

I was trained in NIE/ NTU between 1991 and 1996. I was among the first batch to receive my degree, specialising in Physical Education, English, and English Literature. In 1995, I was among the top five students in the cohort selected for the first batch of Honours (Physical Education). During that year, I took a module in Physical Education for students with special needs. For that course, we did volunteer work, guiding young children with autism in swimming. My dissertation under Sports Studies was an essay about sports betting.

As I have been training for table-tennis since my secondary school days, I have competed in schools, zones, varsity, national games tournaments and was selected for National Youth programme. While teaching in secondary schools, I had to aid in organising events like Sports Day, camping trips, school carnivals etc. As CCA teacher-in-charge, I was also coaching the school teams for badminton and table-tennis.

After I left the teaching force, I operated my own tuition centres specialising in the teaching of English. My centre was nominated for ‘Top SME award’ and ‘Top 25 Service award’. My role as curriculum writer and teacher’s trainer enabled me to train other teachers in my teaching methodology. In the spirit of further education, I undertook a Master of Education. One of the modules I chose was atypical disorders behaviours which I did a reflective task case study on a child with ADHD. I was able to apply the knowledge to help students with atypical behaviours in my centres.

I have planned to further my studies, specialising in Sports and special needs. I am a volunteer with Paralympics Table-tennis association. As I have retired recently from teaching, I planned to help in disability sports. Understanding the physical, socio-emotional, and psychological needs of children/adults with special needs is my motivation of pursuing my studies presently.