Parkour-ED Colin Dailey

The podcast "Parkour Ed" features an episode with Dina Sahlawati Binti Nahar, a member of the IFS (International French School) community. The host, Colin Dailey, invites Dina to share her journey leading to IFS. Dina, a true blue Singaporean of Malay origin, explains her unique naming convention, where she doesn't have a family name but is identified as the daughter of her father, Nahar.
Dina discusses her early life, growing up in Singapore, working with her family in a hawker stall, and her experiences in school. She later pursued a degree in multimedia technology at Singapore Polytechnic, leading to her current role as a multimedia production specialist at IFS.
The conversation touches on her passion for photography, her brief venture into wedding photography with her husband, and her love for travel. Dina highlights her travels to various places, including Europe, Japan, and Thailand, often using her motorcycle for border-crossing adventures.
The podcast provides insights into Dina's personal and professional journey, offering a glimpse into her diverse experiences and interests.

This Parkour ED episode features a conversation between the host, Colin Dailey, and guest, François Petit-Perrin, who shares details about his background and educational journey. François was born in France and studied law and history before obtaining a teaching certification to become a history and geography teacher. He taught at a middle school in a diverse suburb north of Paris for eight years, followed by a move to the United States, where he taught for another eight years at a French American Charter School in New York before eventually relocating to Singapore just under two years ago. Francois' educational and professional path highlights his transition from a background in law and history to a fulfilling career in teaching, where he has worked with diverse student populations. His experiences in both France and the United States contribute to his well-rounded perspective and career.  Aren’t we lucky to have him among us here at the International French School (SINGAPORE!)

Please meet Maslina Leclercq who moved to Singapore in 2012. Maslina grew up in Les Yvelines, and arrived in Singapore at the age of 17. She is a graduate of Lycée Français de Singapour, currenetly known as the International French School (Singapore), and currently works at the school as an ECA coordinator and gymnastics coach.
Maslina is passionate about gymnastics and was a gymnast in France, even participating in the French championship. She started coaching gymnastics at IFS and enjoys working with students of all age groups. Outside of work, she and her husband share a love for sports, particularly mountain biking, and they explore Singapore's trails together.
While she still identifies as French, Maslina also feels a strong connection to Asian and international cultures due to her life in Singapore. She and her husband celebrate both Muslim and Christian holidays, embracing their multicultural backgrounds. Maslina values her experiences and connections at IFS and looks forward to the possibility of living in France in the future.

In this episode of Parkour-ED IFS secondary school English teacher James Carey covers his childhood spent in Singapore. At the age of 10, he moved back to the UK with his family, and the challenges of this transition, as he went from the bustling urban life of Singapore to a rural village school in the UK.
After completing his A-levels, James attended the University of Kent, studying politics but eventually shifting to English and American literature. He pursued a master's in the same field at the same university, with a year spent at Indiana University in the US. James reflects on a mix of experiences during university, including staying in dormitories and commuting from home. Campus life in the UK is compared to that in the US, with British campuses being more focused on studies while still providing opportunities for socializing and forming connections.
James played American football at his UK university and shared his love for various American sports. After his Master's degree in English and American Literature, he pursued a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) for teaching, involving hands-on school placements. He taught at schools with contrasting challenges during this training, developing insights into students' lives. Subsequently, he began teaching full-time in southeast London, where he stayed for a year. He then moved to Gillingham in Kent, teaching literature at selective schools, which he found suited his teaching style better. James reflects on his journey from learning to teaching, highlighting the rewarding relationships with students and his ability to bring his passion for literature into his profession.
James describes his transition from teaching in the UK to working at the French school in Singapore. He discusses his teaching experience at the international section and the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. He engages in football activities and expresses challenges in following American sports due to the time difference. He reflects on living in Singapore as an adult, comparing it to his childhood experiences. He shares his language experiences, having studied French and Spanish and having picked up bits of other languages during travel. He acknowledges being part of an English bubble in terms of friendships due to shared cultural backgrounds and circumstances. He relates to the difficulty of breaking out of expat bubbles to connect with local communities.
In this conversation, James talks about his culinary interests, including a preference for spicy food, his love for cooking gumbo, and the impact of growing up in Singapore on his food preferences. He expresses his preference for the freedom in teaching methods at his current school compared to the more structured British system, although he acknowledges the benefits of close department relationships in the UK. The interview concludes with a reflection on his positive experiences with students and the overall positive atmosphere of the school.



Top of Form

IFS primary school teacher, Jérôme CHEZE, discusses his upbringing in Le Mans, France, and shares his journey from pursuing engineering to becoming a primary school teacher.
Jérôme talks about his teaching experiences in different countries, including France, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Over the past 7 years at the International French School (IFS) in Singapore, he has served as a teacher representative and is actively engaged in the anti-intimidation team, providing non-judgmental support to students.
In addition to teaching, Jérôme enjoys motorcycle riding, swimming, playing the guitar, reading, drawing, and dancing.

Mickaël BERTELOOT sat down and talked with Colin Dailey on Wednesday 3 July 2023 to share the path he took from birth in Dunkirk, France until today at the International French School (Singapore). In addition to his role as teacher and I.T. specialist at the IFS, Mickael is also a photographer. You may find his work here: http://www.mikeisfree.net/