In this final blog post welcoming our new staff for 2021-22, I have the pleasure of introducing you to the newest members of our Modern Foreign Languages and Science and DT teams. Please join me in welcoming Ms Lise Noyau (French and Spanish), Ms Cherylann Lewis (Bahasa Malaysia) and Mr Jamie Twinney to KLASS and EP!
I am excited to be starting my first full academic year at Alice Smith and to be able to start truly experiencing living in Kuala Lumpur. Having arrived in April last year, I’m grateful to be able to start exploring this wonderful city and finally try banana leaf after months of waiting. Growing up in the US, France and the UK, I’ve always loved getting to know new cultures and travelling has always been an important part of my life.
During my degree in languages at Oxford University, I lived for a few months in both Madrid, Spain and São Paulo, Brazil. After graduating, I moved to London and began a stint in marketing and working at the British Council before realising that teaching suited me much better. I completed my teacher training at UCL’s Institute of Education, teaching in south London. I then settled in at Richard Challoner School in south London and discovered the joys and challenges of being a Year 7 tutor as well as teaching French and Spanish.
My partner and I decided to move to Malaysia in 2020-21 which was not a straightforward decision, but one we are nevertheless very happy with. Alice Smith has been a wonderfully welcoming community and we look forward to getting to know the school, its community and Malaysia in the months and years to come.
Cherylann Lewis (Teacher of Bahasa Malaysia)
I am thrilled to be part of the community here at Alice Smith. The journey and adventure that led me to where I am now, have truly been an exciting ride. So many ups and downs like hurdles stood in my way but being here brings me great joy. The welcome I received from everyone in school has brought warmth to my heart and courage to face all odds. "Come what may", I say.
With a Diploma in Medical Imaging from Masterskill University College of Health Sciences, where I attained the Best Graduate Award in Medical Imaging 2010, I joined Kits4Kids as a Special Education Teacher. It was here where I discovered my love and passion for teaching with every moment that I spent with my students. I gained my Diploma in Special Education before joining the Alice Smith School as a Learning Support Assistant in 2012. As someone who is driven to reach out to the community, l joined EPIC Homes as a volunteer in 2014 and managed to build a new home for a family of 17 in Kampung Batu 12, Gombak together with 30 other volunteers. In 2016, I received a World Class Teacher Scholarship from Taylor's University to pursue my Bachelors in Education where I carried out my teaching practices in Nexus International School and Australian International School. Upon graduating, I joined Garden International School as a Newly Qualified Teacher.
Returning back to The Alice Smith School as a Bahasa Malaysia teacher definitely feels like I have come home to where I belong. This new chapter of mine will surely be filled with many positive relationships and lifelong memories that will be cherished forever.
My first international teaching job was in Malaysia in 2015 where I moved to Beijing before finding myself stuck here last year during COVID, unable to return to China for 10 months. Although it was MCO 1.0 during that time, I realized how much I missed the people, the food and the endless summer. A decision was made to try and get back here and here I am at Alice Smith, one of the best (if not the best) schools in Malaysia and happy to be so!
I love making things! Whether it's cooking, building Ikea (what I like to call adult Lego) or carpentry. There are all these ‘bits’ that you have to try and fit together in the best possible way to solve some sort of problem. I find peace in it! It’s handy that I’m interested in such things being a Design Technology teacher and this is my 15th year of teaching the subject. Eight of those were spent teaching in Barry, South Wales; this is the start of the third in Malaysia and I spent four years in Beijing. Across my career, I have had a number of roles on top of my teaching position, including whole school ICT coordinator, Head of Department for Design Technology and Film and Media Studies. Although DT has been my main subject throughout my career, I have also delivered Media Studies, Film Studies, Film Making and Art curriculums and I have taught both the British Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level curricula and the International Baccalaureate MYP and Diploma programs.
After the experience I have had during the last 15 years, I have found that I am happiest in the classroom. I enjoy being a teacher, being in the workshop building ‘things’ with a class, trying to make it as fun, interesting and personal as can be for each pupil.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
