Story in the Malaysian English daily:
and http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2012/4/22/education/11148699&sec=education
and the latest published on 30 April:
http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2012/4/29/education/11168543&sec=education
Please feel free to post comments so that we can all share the stories of how Hyacinth has impacted our lives....Mahalo!
Please find below what I have written on behalf of our Malaysian Chapter in response to request for contribution to the The Sunday Star Education section, published on 30 April 2012.
“I first met Hyacinth in August 1984 when I arrived at the East-West Center, Hawaii, to pursue my doctorate at the University of
Hawaii. She was then already into her 3rd year of doctoral study. Since then we have worked closely as friends and colleagues, especially
in the International East West Center Alumni Association, Chapter of Malaysia. Hyacinth has played a very active
role in the association all these years. She has always been an inspiration to
younger alumni, and the driving force behind the many educational projects
undertaken by the association. I have had the honor of working with her on
these projects over the years, amongst which was the ROPE (Rural Outreach
Program for English) Project which she initiated and spearheaded in mid 1990s to help improve
the English proficiency of secondary students in rural schools. In this
project, the association provided funding for TESL students from UM and
UPM to design and publish EMAS (English language MAgazine for Schools) which
was distributed FREE to all rural schools in Selangor. EMAS was very well
received by both teachers and students who have benefitted greatly from it.
Needless to say, Hyacinth has also played important role in raising funds to support
this and many other educational projects of the association all these years,
such as English camps for rural schools, orphanages etc. Her passing on is a
great loss to the association and Malaysian academia at large.”
Fly with angels, dear loving Hyacinth.
ReplyDelete~ Joanne Telerico (aka Punu), EWC staff 1970-1985
The first lesson I attended was a phonetics class with Dr. Hyacinth Gaudart in UM. It was a lesson on diphtongs. My first impression of her was that she was a no-nonsense lecturer. As time went by, I came to experience her warmth and concern for us. She was the only lecturer who treated us to good food! Every lesson with her was memorable not because of what she taught but how she did it. Everyone of us was part of the lesson. Thank You for sharing with us the gift of teaching and learning. Dr. G, you will forever have a place in my mind and my heart. Rest in peace.
ReplyDeletePosted on behalf of Adeline Ong, Teacher, SMK Muara Tuang, Samarahan, Sarawak.
Bachelor of Education, TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) graduate, Universiti Malaya.
With Dr. G it was not just about learning how to teach. I learnt how to bring out the potential in me. A potential I had a problem bringing out on my own. She helped me and many others to unlock many doors we never knew existed. She may be gone but those doors remain opened :)
ReplyDeletePosted on behalf of Ungku Nazli Ungku Ismail, Head of English Department Canadian Pre University,Taylor's College Subang Jaya.
Bachelor of Education, TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) graduate, Universiti Malaya.
Dr. G did not suffer fools gladly. She expected high standards and could be intimidating to those who did not meet her expectations. Learning in Dr. G's classes was not about memorising facts but applying what you had learnt. For example, a coursemate noted that she would put notices on the board in phonetics when we were learning the subject. Thanks to her we produced magazines, organised seminars and conferences and got involved in the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association. She arranged study tours to her alma mater, the University of Hawaii for B.Ed TESL students for which they gained credit. TESL classes were a unique experience in UM thanks to Dr. G. No tribute to her would be complete without mentioning food - her great love. Many friends noted they were introduced to sushi, yee sang and many other hitherto strange dishes through Dr. G.
ReplyDeletePosted on behalf of Simrit Kaur Amar Singh, Asst. editor, The Star.
Bachelor of Education, TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) graduate, Universiti Malaya.