"This is the last time......"

During my time, in the 60s, English was not an important subject in the Chinese primary schools. It was included "officially" in the upper primary curriculum (standard four and above) only.

Theoretically, the lower primary students (standard one to three) were not required to learn English. However, in my school (might be practiced in other schools too), English was scheduled in the time-tables "unofficially" for standard two and three classes i.e it was taught as a subject to the students, but there would not be any assessment in the year-end examination.

Knowing that English marks wouldn't be included in report card, thus not affecting a student's overall performance or class position, I (in standard two) didn't take English lessons seriously. Most of the time I would not be paying attention, but chatting away with friends in the class. I was too young to realize the benefit of learning an extra language.

After a couple of lessons, our teacher felt that it's time to evaluate our progress. " I will give you a spelling test in two days' time. You better be prepared.... " he said.

Two days later, as the teacher came into the class, he picked up a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackboard, "Test", while many of us were still walking around in the class.

"Get back to your places and we shall start now.... "

Test? Oh yes... there's a test! But I'd totally forgotten about the test! I was unprepared and afraid to sit for the test (mum would cane me if I failed). Out of no choice I tried my luck - begged the teacher to postpone the test to the next day. May be because it was the first time, the teacher agreed.

"It's so easy to deal with this teacher..... no need to worry about the test anymore ...." I "mused" and didn't bother to prepare again. I used the same old trick of begging.... . Surprisingly, it worked! We got another postponement without any difficulty.

I was too naive to assume that we could postpone the test indefinitely. Too bad, we failed on our third trail. When the teacher refused to "compromise", I was really panic (mum's big cane!). I stood up and said, "If that's the case, all of us will hand up blank paper..... please.... give us one last chance..." (Oh my God, I was threatening the teacher).

After all the begging and pleading from the whole class, the soft-spoken teacher eventually gave in reluctantly, "Okay, but this is the last time...., I mean it.... " 

Looked like it's "effortless" to "settle" this teacher who was too "green" to deal with naughty students. I thought I was smart and the teacher's warning of "this is the last time... I mean it... " exerted no significant impact on me....

On the D-day, I thought the teacher would be "charmed"as usual. But, just the reverse, the teacher was annoyed and he meant business this time. He proceeded with the test without mercy. Almost the whole class got 0% and I "scored" 20%.

This matter was brought up to my form teacher. I was reprimanded for leading the whole class in this nonsense. Having been a good student in standard one, I felt ashamed of my behaviour and sincerely apologized to the English teacher in front of the whole class.

The English teacher who was also one of my favourite teachers later, forgave me. He said to me, "Bear in mind : 'this is the last time' implies 'this is the last chance for you'. If you still do not take heed, people will not trust you anymore and you would have to face the consequences the hard way...."

This was of course "the last time" for all my tricks....

And apart from this, I was fortunate to be spared from mum's caning since no one passed this test in the class. But I was warned too of : "This is the last time..."

After this incident, I can tell you one lesson for sure I will remember a lifetime is: "This is the last time.....". And not forgetting to mention also one of the words which I couldn't spell in that test was.....BIRD.... ( hard to believe, right? hahahaha.......)