Meet Natalie Lim, Principal, Pat’s Schoolhouse Singapore

What motivates you?
It is the teaching and learning environment… where I am able to impart not only knowledge and skills to the children but it was in the classroom that I found myself learning together with my students.

I will never forget all the wonderful experiences in the classroom with the children such as one where we were exploring the theme on “Caves” during my first year as an early childhood teacher. We literally built caves in our classroom. Not only were the children excited about learning, I was looking forward to going to school every day. 

What other opportunities have been open to you since joining Knowledge Universe?
I had the opportunity to travel to Denver for a FasTracKids International Conference in 2002, and it was there that I learnt that my work with children is not limited to the classroom. Since then, I have had many opportunities to be involved in the training of early childhood teachers as well as mentoring them and helping to groom new teachers, as well as help develop curriculum ideas and activities for the classroom.

In 2008, I was selected by the company to launch our Mandarin Immersion Pilot Programme in the United States, and was seconded to California to be part of a team headed by Mrs Patricia Koh to spearhead the teaching of Mandarin and English in 5 different locations in the US. It was so exciting!