Time is 1.32am in the morning, and i just came back home from the 5 days Intensive Program in Singapore, Expo. Tired now, but rallying to go for Day 2 of the program.

During the seminar, many people ask me how difference is my Chemistry Coaching different from the mainstream teaching in Secondary Schools by their own MOE (Ministry of Education) teachers.

You know what is my answer?? Totally Different! In fact, i told them that i am NOT a teacher from MOE. And my coaching is different to theirs in the following ways (in points):

1. My coaching method is NEVER one-way (as in Sec Schs), but instead it involves lots lots lots of participation – cos it has been proven to be effective

2. I dont just teach and they listen there. Instead i coach them to find their own answer, own analogies, own examples

3. I coach them how to relate abstract Chemistry Theories to everyday life occurences, by giving lots lots lots of life examples and analogies.

4. I also coach them how to use story-telling in order to allow them to relate better on the chemical equations.

5. I emphasized lots lots lots on throwing away wrong concepts and installing the new, correct concepts in their learning blueprint

6. I also emphasized lots of motivation and personal consultative talks in order to engage them to like me as a person, so that i can communicate my Chemistry Knowledge to them more efficiently and effectively.

7. In 5 days of Intensive Bootcamp (i.e. 40hrs of Intensive Coaching), i managed to complete 70-80% of the current GCE O Level Chemistry Syllabus, in which schools need one and half years to teach the students –> and my method through accelerated learning techniques allow them to retain the knowledge in a longer, funnier and simple ways.

So that is my difference from MOE teachers. For aspiring Coach or Tutors that want to be different from others, i will be starting a “Train The Trainer” Intensive Course for you!! Isn’t it cool! I am a person who likes to share my knowledge, and i promise that you will be blown away with the strategies that i am using at the moment. You will be surprised how Chemistry Coaching can be So Fun, So Fast and So Effective.

Alright, time for me to catch some sleep, and be really focussed in my Day 2 of training.

Yesterday was the last day of the 5 days O Level Chemistry Intensive Revision Bootcamp and was a really emotional one for me. Especially when i was handling out the Certificate of Acheivement to this special group of committed students. I can see the smile and brightness in the eyes, and feel very proud that i decided after so long, to hold such an intensive program for a group of students that wants more help to learn Chemistry in a simple, more fun manner & to score the grades they truly deserve for their Chemistry in O Levels.

With the completion of 40hrs (aka 5 days) of intensive program, we have covered 70-80% of the current GCE O Level Syllabus whereby main-stream secondary schools takes close to 11/2 years to “teach” theirs students. My graduates from this bootcamp are shocked to find out how efficiently and effectively we can cover those “big” chapters in super short time using Accelerated Learning Techniques (ChemKidz…u still remember those Reviews & Participation huh??!) and Lots Lots Lots of Life Examples and Analogies (i almost lost my voice @ towards the end of the bootcamp).

We were at Rendezvous Hotel, and many passer-bys and their own staff are surprised at the speed and effectively levels of our accelerated coaching teachniques used. In fact, Accelerated Learning Techniques has been around for sometime, but only adults that seek personal development understands about it and believe in it. For us, we are the 1ST to incorporate Accelerated Learning Techniques into Chemistry Coaching & fused it with my knowledge of Chemistry Phenomenons in everyday lives. Based on what i observed for last 10 years, our current secondary schools under MOE are still using their own “ONE-WAY” teaching methods and this does not cater well for students that have either loose their interest and have weak foundations in Basic Chemistry Concepts. We AIM to be different by providing a totally different way of coaching Chemistry.

Hereby, i wish this special group of students The Best In Their Chemistry Examinations and also other academic achievements! ChemKidz –> Remember one of my many taglines @ the end of each set of notes –>

“Wanting Leads to Wanting, Doing Leads to Having”

You learned about the Basic Chemistry Essential Concepts. Now you need to carry on Step 2, that is to APPLY it, and Step 3, that is to REVIEW it. I will be following up with you shortly to help you review your progress.

Registration for ‘O’ Level Chemistry Intensive Revision Program has completed.

Together with this special group of students that have decided to committment their time and energy, i am looking forward to the  ‘O’ Level Chemistry Intensive Revision Program in 2 days time.

If you are one of them, i congratulate you in making this decision to join us (we can only allow a certain number of students due to space and acticity participation limit). We will be using Accelerated Learning Techniques to impart and coach you comprehensively on 80% of your syllabus for GCE ‘O’ Levels, over the next 40 hrs of Intensive period.

You must be as excited as me at the moment. Hold on, put on your seatbelt and we look forward to the ‘accelerated drive’ towards your Academic Success in Chemistry. You will be learning Chemistry effectively and efficiently in a fun way, with lots of everyday life examples and lots lots lots of analogies. I will help you to utilize your ‘resources’ and maximize your potential, and achieve the grades you truly deserve.

See you on 16th June 2008 @ 9.00am! =)

Many of the local students would have gotten their Mid-Year Examination results or are getting it soon. Some would be feeling ecstatic while others will be asking themselves if they have put in enough efforts in preparing for that examinations.

For those that did very well, i would like to congratulate you and do Keep Up The Good Work! But always remember not to get complacent with this Mid-Year results and neglect your preparation for upcoming Prelims and GCE O Levels Examinations. Too often, we have seen top scorers for Mid-Year Exams fumble in the more important major exams like Prelims and GCE O Levels – all due to the simple word ‘complacency’

For those that did not do well for their Mid-Year Examinations (especially Chemistry), have you asked yourself what’s the reason for you not doing well? Is it because that you have not put in enough effort for your revision, or is it due to the fact that you are trying to memorize all the words in the Chemistry Textbooks without knowing the concepts? If it is the latter, then i would say it is time to flag this up and find help immediately, be it extra sessions with your school teachers, group study with peers/friends or get a good Chemistry Tutor or Coach. It is not too late to realize it now as you still have time to brush up your Chemistry Concepts. Do not wait till the eleventh hour before your Prelims Examination, to regret not taking the necessary actions earlier

Several of you will be feeling bad and think you are a “failure” – especially for those students that put in long hours to revise “thoroughly” but just dont seems to score the grades in Chemistry you desire. I just want to let you know that there is no such thing as “failure”.

People fails many times in their lives. Important thing is to know how to get up and try it over again, but each time, using a different strategy, a different approach. I would like to share with you a photo that i have taken from one of my student’s studyroom (with her permission of course). I find it truly Inspirational and i wish to share with you!

(Image Courtesy of student under SimpleChemConcepts.com)

Latest Update on 30 May 2008: Register for your FREE Introductory Workshop to O Level Chemistry Intensive BootCamp here

www.simplechemconcepts.com/register  

The March’s Chemistry Intensive Revision Program was conducted in mid-March 08 and prove to be very successful. We had lots of fun and saw tremendous amount of participation from the students and this certainly will help them in their Chemistry learning. Several topics such as Atomic Structure, Elements, Compounds & Mixtures, Different Types of Bonding, Properties of Bonding Structure, etc was thoroughly revised and discussed.

For those that missed out on our March Chemistry Intensive Program, we will conduct another 2 programs during the coming June Holidays. These ones will cover even more extensive topics of Chemistry in an open interactive manner.

We will be conducting GCE O Level Chemistry Intensive Topical Revision Bootcamps to prepare students for Sec 3 Final Year Examinations and GCE O Level/Preliminary Examinations respectively.

Chemistry Intensive Topical Revision Bootcamp :
–> Extensive Coverage of Sec 3 Fundamental Topics
* Kinetic Particle Theory
* Purification & Separation
* Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
* Atomic Structure
* Covalent, Ionic & Metallic Bonding
* Balancing Chemical Equations, Mole Concepts & Chemical Calculations
* Acids, Bases & Salts

–> Extensive Coverage of Sec 4 Application Topics
* Oxidation & Reduction (Redox)
* Electrolysis
* The Periodic Table
* Metals & The Reactivity Series
* Energy Changes
* Speed of Reaction
* Ammonia

Do send me an email to sean@simplechemconcepts.com and leave down your contact number if you are interested to enroll for this workshop or for any other enquiries. Priorities will be given to students that have never scored an A before in previous major Chemistry examinations. You can also contact me at 98287357 for discussion.

Do contact us early as first come first served basis. Once the class size is full, we will not be able to accept any more students due to venue constraint.

PS: For students & parents interested in Combine Science (Chemistry) Intensive Revision Programs, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will look into setting up a revision program once we have the minimum number.

“Determination: Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way”
- Abraham Lincoln

Ways to increase interest in Chemistry and Improve your grades be it for GCE O Level Chemistry, ICGSE, IB or IP prorgammes.

Everyday Life Occurences is the KEY!

As i have mentioned earlier, learning Chemistry is easy when you show aptitude and interest in the subject. Chemistry is happening around us everyday – all the phenomenons.

Below i would like to share with you on a Chemistry Phenomenon that i came across in TODAY papers dated 25th Aug 07.

Title: Did Pigeon Poo Weaken Fallen Minnesota Bridge?

I almost LOL when i read the title of this article. Interesting isn’t it. Corny in a way. But after catching my breath and reading through – it is no corny anymore, it is based on scientific knowledge.

Inspectors searching for causes of the collapse of a Minnesota Bridge this month that killed at least 13 people have identified pigeon droppings as a possible factor. It is thought the build-up of Guano over many years could have speeded up the rusting of the steel beams in the eight-lane bridge, which collapsed into the Mississipi River on Aug 1.

Structural engineers had been aware of the problem as early as 1987, when inspectors noted a coating of Guano on the inside of some of the steel girders. Pigeon droppings contain Ammonia and Salt, which, when combined with rainwater, can lead to tiny electrochemical reactions that rust the steel.

“Over a long term, it might in fact cause structural weaknesses.” Mr Neal Langerman, of the prestigous American Chemical Society (ACS) said.

The authorities can point to efforts to contain the problem, when screens were put up to prevent pigeons from nesting in some if the openings in the structure. But the build-up of Guano is thought to have continued on the other parts of the bridge.

Guano is just one of the factors that Inspectors are considering as they seek to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe in other ageing bridges in the United States.

Here is what i call CHEMISTRY – The World of Wonders!

Enjoy,

Sean, Master Trainer
Chemistry Made Easy