Learning to See The World In A New Light

The biggest aspiration for fourth-year Geography major, Lim En Qi, is to be in a profession that allows her to pursue her passion. The Bachelor of Arts (Education) undergraduate has always envisioned herself sharing her Geography knowledge with future generations, engaging them in discussions about pertinent world issues, and empowering them to reflect on what they can do as leaders of tomorrow. “I feel there’s no better way to do this other than through teaching,” she expressed.

“For me, Geography is a powerful subject because it goes beyond imparting knowledge. It requires students to think deeper about the world we live in. This inculcates values which work towards nurturing active and concerned citizens of the future,” she continued.

En Qi’s love for Geography arose when she was first exposed to the subject in secondary school. “Growing up, I liked everything about nature. Any insights about our planet earth, from the formation of physical landforms to the reasons behind natural disasters, would spark my excitement and interest!”

She found herself connecting easily with the subject due to its relevance to everyday experiences. “I am especially interested in Urban Geography. An understanding of how different cities manage urban development has provided me with a global perspective to reflect on Singapore’s urban development and progress,” she said.

En Qi shared that she continues to make new discoveries about Geography every day. While the subject may seem to be an amalgamation of various disciplines to many, it also grounds knowledge in geographical concepts such as ‘space’, ‘place’ and ‘scale’. As En Qi puts it, these concepts can shape one’s perception of the world and reveal new insights on existing knowledge. “Geography has not only offered me with a breadth of knowledge to analyse pertinent issues, it has challenged me to rethink these issues through a geographical lens,” she added.

She recounted a fieldtrip to Little India with Dr Diganta Das, her urban geography lecturer, while at NIE. “He taught me to examine ‘space’ in the heartlands through the lens of the local community. This was an eye-opening experience that inspired me to want to teach Geography even more.”

Dr Tricia Seow, who supervised En Qi’s Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) project, is her other role model. “She was a great source of strength as there were countless times when I struggled to make sense of my research and data. Dr Seow has a way of helping me see new perspectives in what I was doing. She’s very open to questions and feedback, which has been instrumental to my growth as an educator. Dr Seow has definitely been more than a mentor to me; she’s also a friend and supporter, always cheering me on and encouraging me to pursue even greater heights.”

When asked to share how she intends to make a difference as a teacher, En Qi replied, “To me, ‘making a difference’ is a long-term goal. The differences do not have to be life-changing ones; they can be small moments that empower students to become better learners and individuals. As teachers, we’re at the forefront of nurturing future generations – our words, outlook on life and dedication to our profession are a source of motivation and inspiration for our students. I do not think ‘making a difference’ is something we intentionally practice, rather they are actions and decisions we subconsciously make because we care.”

Explaining her approach to student-centred learning, En Qi said: “As a Geography teacher, my first priority would be to get to know my students – their interests, learning preferences and concerns. I believe in giving students greater autonomy in learning, as this would engage students in meaningful learning. To achieve this, I would tap into my students’ prior knowledge, use real-life contexts when introducing geographical concepts, and make a conscious effort to expose them to geographical data. This would hone their ability to think critically, deepen the learning experience, and allow them to discover new meaning in what they see”.