5.1 INTERVIEWS

Profile of Miss Christine Chen
• General Paper Teacher
• Level Head of JC2
• Dunman High School

Interview Transcript
1. Do you think a student has to be aware of this issue of world hunger?
Yes of course. Students need to have a strong interest in current affairs and issues of national and global nature in order to play an active role in the near future. Students need to be convicted and passionate about such beliefs and know that they can change the world in their own ways too. We need to nurture a generation who understand these issues and care deeply about the world in which they live in, not an apathetic, nonchalant and indifferent group.

2. Have you ever discussed this issue with your students?
Yes I have. We often discuss these issues in class.

3. How do you think an awareness of these issues can benefit the student?
Students who show interest in these issues will develop a broader perspective about the world, lead more meaningful lives as a result and perhaps be less concerned about material wants and desires. Students who have aspirations to change something about the world or environment also lead a more purposeful and enriched life. In that sense, such broadmindedness helps them be less bigoted, intolerant and myopic. Life is certainly richer and more abundant!

4. How can educators guide the students to find out more about world hunger and take action?
Educators cannot force this down the students’ throats too. This might be counter-productive. But raising awareness is a good start. Besides showing relevant documentaries, websites, images and readings, educators themselves are role models who can inspire students to follow in their footsteps.

5. One of the main causes of world hunger is poverty. Many people believe that education is the key to solving poverty and hence eradicate world hunger. As an educator yourself, how far do you agree to this?
Education is certainly a good start. But beyond that, people need to be truly passionate about this and willing to move into action and evoke change. With greater awareness and unity, relevant organizations, greater support, funds and different channels and platforms to work through this problem, I believe the situation will improve, slowly but surely.

Profile of Mr Gi Soong Chee
• Computing Teacher
• Dunman High School

Interview Transcript
1. Do you think a student has to be aware of this issue of world hunger?
Yes. An educated learner ought to be informed of global issues and contribute effectively towards worthy causes. World hunger is likely the world's greatest problem in developing countries.

2. Have you ever discussed this issue with your students?
Yes, in the context of freerice.com, an online vocabulary learning website which rewards learning by donating free grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

3. Why do you think discussing about World Hunger is useful?
Yes, learning becomes more meaningful if students are able to see for themselves that they can make a difference to other people's lives albeit at a tender young age through their actions. The context was appropriate to authentically associate technology (I am a Computing teacher) to a worthwhile cause. It is also a great example of a win-win situation which allows students to improve their English vocabulary and at the same time do their part for world hunger.

4. How do you think an awareness of these issues can benefit the student?
We live in an increasingly globalized, socially and digitally connected world. Events happening in other parts of the globe often have significant implications to the rest of the world. Being aware of global issues definitely broaden one's horizon beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. Students will be better able to empathize with the less fortunate, appreciate what they themselves have and how blessed they are, and more importantly, sees problems as opportunities and initiate action to make the world a better place for all.

5. How can educators guide the students to find out more about world hunger and take action?
All subjects can integrate appropriate and meaningful awareness of world hunger and other global issues into the teaching and learning process. For example, students can discuss pertinent issues of world hunger during language sessions, mathematics classes can calculate the amount of aid required for different target populations, science teachers can relate nutritional deficiency information in biology or chemistry lessons, etc., and computing can weave all these ideas into an interactive website or even a mobile application to reach out to a world-wide audience. There is a rich and diverse repertoire of educational ideas, limited only by one's creativity and imagination.

6. One of the main causes of world hunger is poverty. Many people believe that education is the key to solving poverty and hence eradicate world hunger. As an educator yourself, how far do you agree to this?
Very far. Initiatives such as the One Laptop Per Child (http://laptop.org) stems from the guiding belief that education is the basis for full human, social, economic and democratic development. As a Chinese proverb says, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." 授人与鱼，不如授人与渔。Education is about teaching one how to fish.