[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_type=”circular” background_color_gradient_direction_radial=”top left” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89) 30%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 80%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89)” background_color_gradient_start_position=”30%” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_color_gradient_end_position=”80%” background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screenshot-2021-05-21-at-4.56.49-PM.png” parallax=”on” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-12px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”204px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”54px|48px|54px|48px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”49px” text_line_height=”1.72em” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_2_font_size=”28px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”-31px||5px|0px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|55px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”31px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.2em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”28px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The Many Facets of Mrs Sng<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”0px|73px|-7px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”20px|0px|-18px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|63px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Mrs Sng-Fun Poh Yoke\u2019s reputation often precedes her. But beyond her intimidating demeanour, the <\/span>HYPE Team <\/b>chats with Mrs Sng to find out her goals and motivations that shaped her to be the teacher that she has become.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-194px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-67px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-145px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-136px||-385px|||” custom_padding=”107px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-89px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”0px|0|27px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-5px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n BY<\/p>\n Lai Shueh Yuan Abigail Chua Aqilah Salim Cheryl Yau <\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screenshot-2021-05-21-at-4.56.49-PM.png” alt=”graduation ngee ann polytechnic” title_text=”Screenshot 2021-05-21 at 4.56.49 PM” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px||26px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Having served HYPE since 2006, Mrs Sng is the longest-serving HYPE supervisor.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px|-2px|-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px||0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Her iconic disapproving frown and beady eyes glaring through her maroon Thierry Mugler glasses with intricate floral imprints. Her commanding figure behind the desk as she throws story ideas out.<\/p>\n “[Mrs Sng\u2019s] absolutely terrifying, no-nonsense; don’t mess with her,” Ng Jing Zhi, Main Editor of HYPE Issue #43 recalls her first encounter with Mrs Sng-Fun Poh Yoke, 67. Known for her sharp tongue and fierce demeanour, Mrs Sng has acquired an infamous reputation as a stern lecturer.<\/p>\n Beyond this daunting facade, who is Mrs Sng, really?<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Tongue of a Sword<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “Mrs Sng eats people alive,” Mrs Sng recalls one of the pieces of feedback she received from a student reflection.<\/p>\n “A lot of people will tell you that ‘Mrs Sng is very harsh’. But if I don’t tell you how good or bad you are, [then] when am I going to tell you? I [usually only have] one chance to connect with you and the opportunity to tell you as much as I can in hopes that you can become a better person,” she explains.<\/p>\n Her harsh comments may offend and demoralise some students, but she always means well and wants to help her students improve. With a strong passion for teaching deeply rooted in her beliefs, she isn\u2019t stern just for the sake of it, but rather for the betterment of her students.<\/p>\n Shafiq Luqman Guee, 19, Deputy Editor of HYPE Issue #51, agrees: \u201cGradually you would come to understand she\u2019s fierce for a reason, a lot of people can\u2019t work with this because they just get stuck with their first impression but [working] closely with Mrs Sng [helps you] understand that she has your best interests at heart.\u201d<\/p>\n The harshness of her words could hurt, but they are imbued with pure intentions derived from years of wisdom and experience. Editors under her wing have witnessed themselves flourish into independent individuals that can withstand the cold reality of the real world.<\/p>\n Having worked closely with Mrs Sng for over two years, Jing Zhi noticed how she became more decisive and sharp as an editor with a keen eye for story ideas that can work. Owing it to Mrs Sng, Jing Zhi shares: “Her training feels like you’re put in a pressure cooker but it defines the way you express yourself as a writer.”<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screenshot-2021-05-21-at-5.01.10-PM.png” alt=”graduation ngee ann polytechnic” title_text=”Screenshot 2021-05-21 at 5.01.10 PM” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|1px|1px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” align=”center” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px||26px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Mrs Sng reminisces the good old days as seen by one of her many shorthand notebooks that have accompanied her throughout her journey as a journalist for The Straits Times.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n When asked for any advice for budding journalists, Mrs Sng says with utmost resolute: \u201cBe open, be fair, be objective.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Heart of A Tofu<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n At the core of her beliefs in teaching, Mrs Sng sees potential in each and every student. Beneath her merciless criticism and ruthless exterior, lies a compassionate educator who trusts that there is good in every student.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can influence youths and help them to see the good in themselves, then the world will be a better place,\u201d Mrs Sng shares.<\/p>\n Having a deep sense of empathy for C-average students, she understands that these students usually see themselves as how the world views them. But if a student shows their determination to want to learn in spite of the negative comments, then Mrs Sng believes that they have the potential to succeed with flying colours and even achieve A\u2019s, and that is where her role as a teacher steps in.<\/p>\n “You want the best, you’ve got to do the work,” she says. To her, being an educator means helping students discover their talents outside of the academic curriculum, but first, it also takes a student’s hunger to learn for them to be helped.<\/p>\n “It takes more energy to be angry,” she continues. “But I get angry because I believe they can be helped. I want them to think deeper. It is not the grades that’ll be taking them far in life but their moral compass.”<\/p>\n As an educator, Mrs Sng has also worked hard to incorporate service learning into journalism modules. One of which includes working alongside cancer patients, where students listen and share their stories with the masses.<\/p>\n Phoebe Rae Tan, 20, Editor of HYPE Issue #49; Contributing Editor of HYPE Issue #48, says: \u201cI think she\u2019s a very passionate person, and I think that really shows \u2018The want to have a good impact with the world at large.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screenshot-2021-05-21-at-5.02.14-PM.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2021-05-21 at 5.02.14 PM” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” align=”center” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px||26px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Mrs Sng is more than just a Polytechnic lecturer, she is also a lady brimming with many interests and passions.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In Mrs Sng’s dictionary, each and every student is deserving of her time, patience and help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cIf you can influence youths and help them to see the good in themselves, then the world will be a better place,\u201d Mrs Sng shares.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Soul Of An Educator<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Reminiscing her student days, the dedicated teachers she met along the way have also helped inspire her to go beyond learning. This, coupled with her already existing love for traditions and history, adds a whole new dimension to Mrs Sng\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n Mrs Sng\u2019s love for history can be traced back to her younger days when her grand-aunt would tell her stories of Chinese history after dinner each night. Fascinated, she would read about the different dynasties and tune in to Rediffusion (a TV network) which sheds light on great stories of the past.<\/p>\n Her interest in Chinese culture grew exponentially with the tales and stories told by her grand-aunt and Rediffusion programmes. This was further fuelled by her Chinese teacher, Mr Foo, during her junior college days.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a jolly and jovial man who made Chinese fun,\u201d she says with a smile. \u201cHe taught us about Chinese culture and I found Chinese applicable. It opened me up to a world I never knew.\u201d<\/p>\n Besides Mr Foo, she also recalls fondly Ms Tan, her secondary school Chinese language teacher. Mrs Sng attributes her passion for teaching to their sincerity and creativity in how they conducted their lessons, which exposed her to a world beyond what the textbooks could offer.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not just learning a language to pass the exams, but because it opens me up to a world I never knew,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n She elaborates: \u201cAs a teacher, I want to teach beyond the textbook; beyond the curriculum, because everything that you learn has its application in the real world.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n What Comes Next?<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The lessons that operas and Chinese history carry is something Mrs Sng wishes to preserve. Following her retirement, she will be working on a book on opera which includes a collection of writings from her time at The Straits Times on profiles and plays while including how she feels about them today.<\/p>\n She hopes that through her book, readers can learn something new. With her passion imprinted on the pages of the book, Chinese opera is a heritage she preserves because of her fondness for this enduring art.<\/p>\n Mrs Sng has made an impact on many students\u2019 lives, and is not someone who is afraid of what others think of her. She is true to herself and loves what she does with a strong passion. Whether or not you loved being taught by her, Mrs Sng is one who will leave a lasting impression.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screenshot-2021-05-21-at-5.03.24-PM.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2021-05-21 at 5.03.24 PM” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 1. Will you be teaching until your last breath?<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If I\u2019m wanted. If not, I\u2019ll be writing until my last breath.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 2. You once said that you have plans to write until eighty, could you elaborate on that?<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As long as my brain is still functioning lah. I mean, I don\u2019t want to get dementia or something.<\/p>\n Now that I’ve finished managing writers, I will go into writing myself. I have two books planned, so I\u2019ll start working on them. It will always have an educational objective. \u201cWhy are you writing?\u201d It is to show people something, right?<\/p>\n One book is about our life and times during the \u201860s. It is actually a book about my grandmother who had a big influence in our life and what she did for us. Most of our parents are working, so we were always kept in the care of our grandmother who did a lot for us.<\/p>\n A lot of people often relay stories from their grandparents, and so forth. But a significant chunk of the stories will get lost in between when you pass it on to your children, so I thought that wasn\u2019t very effective. Even though there are videos and all, it\u2019s nothing like a good book.<\/p>\n It\u2019s still a work-in-progress but it\u2019s more or less there.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” min_height=”244px” custom_margin=”-30px||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n One chapter title will be called \u2018Pulp Fiction or Fact?\u2019 I plan to use popular film titles so that people will get the reference. This chapter in particular is inspired by the movie <\/span>Pulp Fiction<\/span><\/i>. I thought it\u2019s an interesting memory to write about my family. The book goes back to the good ol\u2019 days and witnessing how we enjoyed life, and bringing these stories back to this day and age.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-31px||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The interesting thing is that I want to involve my family members in this project. In my family, I have designers, photographers and all that. So, this book was originally meant to be a family book. That means I write and print enough to give to my brothers and kids and grandchildren. It\u2019s only for the family.<\/p>\n I told a lot of people about it and somebody said, \u201cWhen your book is ready, let me know \u2018cause I want to buy it.\u201d I got a number of preorders so I better write it!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-29px||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The other book is based on one of my greatest passions of my life besides teaching: Chinese Opera. I think our young people, regardless of their races, have forgotten or chosen to ignore their heritage. But actually, there\u2019s so much you can learn from your heritage.<\/p>\n I believe Chinese Opera is one of the great art forms developed by the Chinese, just as the Malays have Bangsawan, and the Indians have Kathakali and Terukkuttu. I wanted the young people to know more about them. Just because you don\u2019t know about it, doesn\u2019t lessen the greatness.<\/p>\n This book that I\u2019m preparing will include a collection of my writings from The Straits Times about opera, although not all. I\u2019m kind of building around plays, profiles. I\u2019ve already gotten permission from Straits Times to reproduce those articles but I want to re-edit them because I want to have my original writing back again. I also plan to include an update on what I feel about the person, or about that play.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”23px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”5px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 6. Do you have any other projects you plan to embark on?<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screenshot-2021-05-21-at-5.04.35-PM.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2021-05-21 at 5.04.35 PM” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px||26px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Mrs Sng reading \u6f58\u91d1\u83b2 (Pan Jin Lian), which was gifted to her by the playwright himself. This is one of the three books she intends to translate.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In total, there are three other books I plan to translate, although I haven\u2019t got permission from the right people to do it.<\/p>\n One of the books I\u2019m going to translate is a cookbook about the origins of Teochew food in China itself. In most communities, food is a very special thing as it has a lot of stories behind it.<\/p>\n The next one is a book showcasing a glossary of Chinese Opera terms.<\/p>\n Another, is by one of the playwrights I admire very much in China, \u9b4f\u660e\u502b (Wei Ming Lun). I met him years ago when I brought his play over to Singapore and he gave me this book. He sees in me someone who really loves literature and opera, so I want to translate his book.<\/p>\n He wrote about \u6f58\u91d1\u83b2 (Pan Jin Lian): known as one of the most famous sluts. She\u2019s supposed to be a bad woman in Chinese literature. So he wrote a play to talk about her life from her point of view. Everyone sees her negatively as a seductress, so he writes from her perspective.<\/p>\n This is our tribute feature of Mrs Sng-Fun Poh Yoke, HYPE\u2019s dearest managing editor for the past fifteen years, since 2006.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Rooms” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”100px” height=”408px” max_height=”1000px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|0px|false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mrs Sng-Fun Poh Yoke\u2019s reputation often precedes her. But beyond her intimidating demeanour, the HYPE Team chats with Mrs Sng to find out her goals and motivations that shaped her to be the teacher that she has become.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":4903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nptribune"],"yoast_head":"\n
Editor
HYPE Issue #52<\/b><\/p>\n
People Editor
Hype Issue #52<\/b><\/p>\n
Perspectives Editor
Hype Issue #52<\/b><\/p>\n
People Editor
HYPE Issue #52<\/b><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
May 21, 2021<\/h5>\n
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