Last night i was sitting down with my wonderful Jovial, taking him through and teaching the subject that most of his friends despise including himself, that's none other than the subject of History.
I love teaching my sons especially my eldest, it is the time that we bond, it is the time that i teach him things beside study and it is also the time i see my own flaws as a father and as a man, the more i teach him, i reckon that the more i can control my temperament now and teaching him a night thus cutting down my drinking sessions hahahahahahah.
Back to the subject of History, i asked him why was History a subject that can be so boring,he reiterated it was simply because he had to memorize so many names and dates, i told him i agreed with him totally but then again i said to him, without these names of peoples of places and the dates, there would be no History to study, i asked him to think for a while and soon enough he nodded.
So there i was last night, teaching him the history about Parameswara and the founding of kingdom of Melaka, slowly and patiently i dissected the whole event ranging from the kingdom of Ajipaya, Majapahit foliowed by how Parameswara managed to build the kingdom of Melaka from scratch.
I explained to him chronologically,in history events must happen with reasons, timing and the characteristics of the historical figures, for example, i told him that Parameswara was a man of vision and good in diplomatical relationship, with these traits he knew that he needed China to be
stonger supporter to defend Melaka in the event if she were to be attacked by Siam and Majapahit, and then i told him that's why Cheng Ho was sent to Melaka, Ditto.
At the end of one hour of teaching, i turned around giving Joival a kiss on the forehead if he'd understood what i was teaching, he looked at me happily and nodded and said thank you and that to me was my greatest satisfaction.
P/S : Slowly i learn, patiently i teach and joyfully i recieve
Ever thought of opening a tuition center, Eugene? :)
ReplyDeleteOut of my three kids, i only taught the eldest till std 6.. that is all my knowledge can go.. and after that, I was just plain lazy..
really admire u la.. so patient!
The joys of having kids - you'll learn more from them about fatherhood than from any textbook, and get real satisfaction when your kid finally says "Yes, now I understand, dad and I love you."
ReplyDeleteBy the way, History is not merely memorizing facts and dates, it is understanding why we are where we are now and how not to repeat mistakes of the past :)
I don't have kids yet so I can't experience it...yet. :p
ReplyDeleteauww.. so sweet of u being a daddy! :) my dad too used to teach us last time when we are still small. then slowly growing up, we always look for him and he always giving the best of him! :D Well well, am not into history subject much and i score it just for the sake of result. lol! :p
ReplyDeletehistory is my 2nd fave subject back at school but don't know why i always failed it during exam =(
ReplyDeleteblame my dad, he never taught me like how you taught jovial, lol
My dad tutored me til I was Form 5. LOL...and he said he spoiled me! LOL...
ReplyDeletehow i wish you were my dad! :)
ReplyDeletewow, i think u r a better teacher than me..
ReplyDeleteu are a fantastic dad & hubby eugene!!!
ReplyDeletethank guys, but in fact when i teach my wonderful sons, i would always put myself in their shoes, would there be happily learn understress, or would they be happily learning in a jovial,funny and reciprocal manners? i learn,,, and i will keep learning
ReplyDeletebtw, was cheng ho an eunuch?
ReplyDeleteI have one book on the History of Malaya - lots of pictures one, like comic... Dunno where liao. See if I can find it.
ReplyDeleteI am from Malacca and yet I flunked my History.. so sad.. My "DAD" did not teach me then.. :P
ReplyDeleteEh i love history lesson wor though not one of my ace subject la. You know I love reading mah. So i treat history book like a story book lor.
ReplyDeleteLast time I had a great history teacher. The way she teach is like telling a story. Thus easy to remember
You're such a wonderful daddy who makes history funm time to open a tuition center la Eugene :p
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me how much I loved my history lessons in primary school. The important Melaka dates of 1511 and 1641 is still fresh in my mind after so many donkey years! ;)
ReplyDelete+Ant+
You reminded about my dad the way he thought me history when I was young.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you are making history lessons very interesting.
it's been a while since I visited your blog bro. Well, lately I was kinda lazy to teach my kid, especially after work and leave it to my wife. Perhaps I should start doing dat. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteu know which part i like best .... you ending quote n your "p/s"
ReplyDeleteAiyar~!! Most of your fellow bloggers already took my words, shall I repeat kar?! "You are such a WONDERFUL DAD!"
ReplyDeleteHistory used to be one of my best subject, it was like pages and pages of impressive stories... I was so hunger for it until I dug for more info from the national Library, which I found the text book was no longer satisfy my needs. Didn't memorize though, it just came handy to me when I found it's interesting! Cheers!
@manglish,
ReplyDeleteThe other day I watched History channel, they found Cheng Ho's descendants in Chiang Mai, Thailand leh~!! How come har?! Do you got any idea? I also wonder how come a eunuch can have descendants....(blur)
LOL! History is my FAVORITE subject. I know, most people find this subject to be boring and a brain-killer because of all the events, dates, and names. But like you said, and you are right, events happened for a reason and with history, we all can learn from past mistakes so we don't repeat history and celebrate great achievements.
ReplyDeleteThese sessions with your son are building more than lessons, they are building wonderful memories as well! My children didn't like history much but they got through it!
ReplyDelete