Our Team

“There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

Here are illum.e, our passionate and driven educators do both - in being the candles to light the fire and motivations of learning and to be the mirror to help your child achieve their utmost.
Every tutor is carefully selected, trained and groomed to help your child achieve excellence.

Mr Chia, head tutor - Illum.e English, Humanities & GP Tuition

Contact: timothy.chia@illum.temptech.space

Mr Timothy Joshua Chia-Lee

Founder & Head Tutor

An award-winning former MOE Subject Head of English, Timothy possesses extensive educational leadership experience, having spearheaded and innovated various curricula to be impactful, results-proven and engaging. Timothy has taught since his National Service days, having decades of experience in teaching English and General Paper, as well as leading and training educators and professionals. He has personally overseen the academic and holistic success of over 2700 students and educators under his direct guidance, and led illum.e's team through its meteoric rise.

Timothy is the winner of multiple education and teaching awards with MOE, inclusive of multiple Outstanding Contribution Awards (individual), innovation awards, and MOE AST’s Innovator Award for English Language and Literature (2020). Timothy was awarded the English Language Institute of Singapore’s Research Grant in 2018, with completed research on English Language Writing, which was published in the ELIS Research digest on Classroom Inquiry, and presented at the Singapore’s Teachers’ Conference in 2019. He is also certified by Research for Better Teaching (RBT) as part of the Skillful Teaching Programme (STP).

Featured in MOE’s micro-teaching videos for Differentiated Instruction lessons, Timothy is a big believer in Differentiated Instruction (Tomlinson, 1999), understanding the unique differences that unlocks how students learn in their personalised ways to achieve success. Timothy is also the curriculum director at Edimpact, a leading education and training consultancy firm in APAC, spearheading the development of workshops, webinars and modules to and coach to educators locally and internationally to improve their pedagogy and redesign school curricula for better, deeper learning. Timothy thus leads the illum.e team in ensuring that lessons are designed and strategically customised so that every child can achieve their fullest potential to grow with every lesson.

Timothy has wrote multiple assessment books and TYS Answers with Marshall Cavendish and EPH, serving an educational consultant for English Language and General Paper. He is also a published author in books on poetry and short stories. He is a featured panelist in Singapore Writers’ Festival 2021 & 2022 and has a following of tens of thousands of readers worldwide through various social media platforms. A firm believer of life-long learning, and the power of role-modelling to his students and staff, Timothy is presently pursuing his Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership.

Mr Roger, tutor and English teaching lead

Contact: roger.etienne@illum.temptech.space

Mr Roger-Etienne

English Language Teaching Lead

Former MOE English teacher with decades of experience since he began teaching in 2000. With a wide repertoire of teaching experiences in multiple primary and secondary schools across all streams, ‘Mr Roger’, as he is fondly called by his students, is illum.e's English Language Lead who guides illum.e’s team in ensuring high quality English language learning.

His pedagogic strength lies in making the English Language simple to grasp and apply for all students, by demystifying the complexities of language through step-by-step strategies of Scaffolding (Ninio & Bruner, 1978) and Making Thinking Visible (Ritchhart, 2011). With his sound pedagogy, his students are able to appreciate the nuances of the language and grow in self-confidence in the English Language.

Mr Roger believes that every child can and wants to learn when given the opportunity to succeed and with encouragement. As an affable and passionate educator, his former students have described him as their “best teacher ever”, “favourite teacher”, “the teacher who made me understand and appreciate English”, and under his guidance, students have improved rapidly by two to four grades.

Mr Roger is also a seasoned choral and solo performer, singing locally and overseas for various performances to large audiences. He translates these skills into his teaching of English, particularly in the finer points of oral communication, to guide students to be composed in oral examinations, public speaking and to use good articulation, pronunciation and voice projection. Mr Roger is also a published English assessment book writer with Marshall Cavendish.

Contact: david.lee@illum.temptech.space

Mr David Lee

IP Lead, Chief of Staff

Mr Lee is one of the most sought after IP English experts in Singapore. An award-winning MOE-trained teacher and former subject coordinator with a decade's experience designing and teaching engaging curricula anchored on the belief that every child can and will do well. With a wide repertoire of teaching approaches across all streams and streams, Mr Lee's pedagogic strength lies in making the subject simple to understand and score in for all students, with those under his charge improving in confidence and frequently making the jump from fail to distinction.

Mr Lee has been teaching English Language and IP English for more than a decade, helping various students from different backgrounds achieve As in English, IP English and Language Arts. A firm believer in Piaget’s work and cognitivism, Mr Lee's lessons builds upon various conceptualised models and tools to help learners process information better, and to organise instructions in a sequenced and understandable, meaningful manner. This is why many students have found his lessons to be distinctively impactful to their learning after one or two lessons!

At illum.e, we believe in having top school alumni teach your children. It is an unfortunate fact that many teachers of our children in mainstream and even IP schools had average or below-average PSLE/academic scores in their own student days. Holding a Masters in Education, and currently completing his doctoral studies, the soon to be Dr Lee was a top student from Raffles Junior College in his educational life, with his GP Promotional Exams essay being featured in KS Bull. He is also the recipient of several Outstanding Contribution and innovation awards from MOE and has also presented at the MOE Teachers' Conference and ExCEL Fest. He strongly believes in interactive and meaningful classroom experiences to stretch the boundaries of every child's learning, to ensure that every child takes away more knowledge at the end of the lesson always.

As an avid believer in the growth mindset, Mr Lee regularly represents Singapore in his spare time on various educational networking platforms, including at the Asia-Europe Foundation's Classnet Conference in Tokyo, Japan. He has also written scientific papers spearheading research into invasive species in Singapore as well as led efforts to collect data on microplastics in NParks' marine conservation survey. In his spare time, he writes poetry for relaxation and is a published author of assessment books with Marshall Cavendish.

Contact: shanhao.liew@illum.temptech.space

Mr Liew Shan Hao

Language and GP Specialist, JC2 Lead

One of Singapore's most sought-after GP tutors and author of the EPH GP TYS 2019-2023 answers, Mr. Liew is a teacher with a decade of teaching experience, having taught in MOE Secondary Schools and Junior Colleges. Mr. Liew graduated with a double major in Political Science and Southeast Asian Studies from NUS, holding a Higher Advanced Certification for Thai and an Advanced Certification for Bahasa Indonesia. In 2023, Mr Liew was awarded the prestigious RSIS Scholarship to pursue an MSc in International Political Economy at RSIS NTU. Mr Liew serves as illum.e’s resident curriculum expert for politics, economy, governance, and the broader Asian region.

Before joining illum.e, Mr. Liew gained extensive experience in Business Intelligence, working on cross-border investigations involving millions of dollars. He also led a country-wide expansion strategy for a Thai media company, successfully introducing three platforms into the Singaporean market. Mr Liew is fluent in English, Mandarin, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. These experiences provide his students with a perspective few teachers in the industry can offer, enriching their understanding of global and regional affairs with real-world insights.

Mr. Liew is particularly admired for his pedagogical approach among his students. A strong advocate of cross-disciplinary learning, Shan Hao focuses on honing students' critical thinking skills (Bailin et al. 1999b) to help them grasp abstract ideas and themes across the 'O' and 'A' level syllabi. He employs examples and non-examples effectively to stimulate critical understanding (Dewey, 1910, 1933). Many students appreciate his lessons because he can articulate and explain complex concepts in a clear manner without sacrificing intellectual rigour.

Contact: joachim.chia@illum.temptech.space

Mr Joachim Chia

Primary School English Lead

A former MOE Primary School English teacher with over a decade of teaching experience, Mr Joachim Chia has helped many students over the years achieve better results in English by breaking down the components and helping them understand the requirements better. As a firm believer of Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, he is able to enable students to pick up simple or abstract concepts through role-modelling, thinking aloud strategies and simulating thinking processes. Through this, hundreds of students have improved their English learning with his mentoring, especially with the use of the Gradual Release of Responsibility instructional framework.

With the aim of helping his students become empathetic communicators, discerning readers and creative inquirers, Joachim is constantly finding new ways to make his lessons engaging, fun and interesting. Lessons are known to be engaging and interactive, with close feedback and attention to close learning gaps.

Joachim’s patient and caring approach to teaching ensures that his students are able to develop a deep understanding of the language and become confident and motivated learners.

In his free time, Joachim is an avid basketball player, always keen to improve his skills and teamwork on and off the court, although he spends most of his free time having fun learning with his three children.

Contact: jiaqi.yeo@illum.temptech.space

Mr YEO JIA QI

GP Curriculum Lead

An NTU Linguistics and Multilingual Studies graduate with a second major in Public Policy and Global Affairs, Jia Qi is an experienced teacher who is the author of the EPH GP TYS 2019-2023 answers. He often draws on his extensive understanding of both language and the world to help students gain deeper insights into their English and General Paper. A Prime Minister’s Book Prize for Bilingualism winner, Jia Qi is effectively bilingual and can teach in both English and Mandarin, empowering students to express themselves and appreciate the various building blocks of language.

A Nanyang Scholarship recipient and Dean's Lister, Jia Qi is a straight As student who also attained first-class honours in his university course, and he brings both his energy and pursuit of excellence into the classroom to help students to achieve their best and cultivate intellectual curiosity. Passionate about helping students understand the complexities of the modern world, Jia Qi’s lessons are based on Critical Thinking Pedagogy (Brookfield, 2011), encouraging students to ask questions and think deeply, systematically and evaluatively. As Confucius advised, "learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous". Convinced that the joy of learning comes not just from discovering new things but seeing what was previously known in a new light and drawing previously unseen connections between things and across disciplines, he always seeks to distil what he teaches into easily understood principles and techniques that students can efficiently and independently apply.

A true linguist at heart, Jia Qi will be looking to fulfil his further goals in academia after he achieves his objective in making a difference to his students’ lives at illum.e. His other interests include writing science fiction, with a short story of his having once won first prize in an A*STAR competition.

Mr Derrick Liew

Economics Lead

Derrick Liew is an NUS Business Graduate with First Class Honours with extensive teaching experience in guiding students and using relevant, real-life case studies to make learning engaging and memorable. With experience and expertise in the industries of education, technology, and real estate in addition to the start-up scene, Derrick brings onboard a vast wealth of knowledge critical in delivering interesting and impactful economics content and case study explanations.

A firm believer in constructivism and collaborative approaches to learning, Derrick believes that learning economics goes beyond the books. Derrick ensures true deep learning by immersing students in real-life case studies to break them down into their fundamental economic principles. As such, students can expect active participation in live discussions to express and articulate their viewpoints and perspectives while being scaffolding to be evaluative in their analysis. Cross-learning between students, aided by educational technology, is highly prevalent during his classes, which empowers students to understand differing perspectives, analysis and evaluative techniques to score well in Economics.

In his free time, Derrick enjoys hiking and creating YouTube videos. As a true enthusiast and believer in the understanding and application of economics in real-life, his channel features an array of genres from travel vlogs, real-estate analysis to even automobile content!

Contact: MC.deline@illum.temptech.space

Ms MC Deline

Lower Primary Lead

An experienced educator with over 16 years of teaching experience, Ms Deline is a highly sought after Primary School Specialist with experience in schools and well-known educational centres or institutes. Previously the Head of Department in English Language, Deline brings a wealth of expertise in training students in achieving success with the Gifted Education Programme (GEP).

Her pedagogy sees a reflection of her own personal traits with persistent high energy, adaptiveness and a continual dedication to the craft which younger students pick up, mirror and grow with. Her students in turn become highly intrinsically and extrinsically motivated, and are known to always be on task, and completing their work to their utmost efforts.

As an expert in GEP, students can expect a variation of class activities to tickle their linguistic and general ability, ranging from fun analogies, word ladders, anagrams, positioning, code thinking skills and many more.

A dedicated mother, Ms Deline spends most of her free time spending time with, and caring for his family, which in turn helps her ensure that illum.e’s operational plans are meticulously prepared with parents and students in mind first, as always.

Mr Andre, English Teacher, Curriculum Lead

Contact: andre.yeo@illum.temptech.space

Mr Andre Yeo

English Curriculum Lead

Former MOE English Subject Head with 10 years of teaching experience, largely leading school’s English syllabi and curriculum and preparing graduating students to score for national examinations. Possessing the expertise and experience in teaching all the different levels and streams, Mr Yeo has a comprehensive understanding of various pedagogical methods in effectively teaching students to excel and in developing streamlined and impactful curriculum.

Mr Yeo believes that with the right pedagogy and support, any student will be able to learn and do better for themselves. This belief through developing both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (Sansone & Harackiewciz, 2000) guides his strategy for lesson planning: to match lesson objectives and activities proactively to the current abilities and needs of his students and building up knowledge and skills through spiral progression. Under his mentorship and guidance, his students no longer struggle to pass the subject, and instead feel confident in doing well and excel.

Having studied Sociology as his major in NUS, Mr Yeo has a broad knowledge of different cultures and societies. He often utilises this knowledge in his lessons, be it as a comprehension passage on war, or a class discussion on environmental issues, or an essay outline about how technology has revolutionised our lives. It is also the reason why he set up his school’s debate club to build students’ ability to discern current affairs and to argue well. He strongly believes in the adage that ‘Knowledge is Power’. It is important to him that his students know about what is happening out there in the world and be equipped with the right skills, so that they can be adequately prepared for what the future will bring them.

In his free time, Mr Yeo enjoys playing and collecting the Pokémon Trading Card Game. He occasionally plays in local tournaments, and finds joy in experimenting with strategies outside of the metagame. His favourite Pokémon is Bulbasaur!

Contact: evan.han@illum.temptech.space

Mr Ivan Han

Humanities Lead

The most sought after History and Social Studies teacher in Singapore, Mr Ivan Han has more than ten years of experience as an MOE-trained teacher in the Humanities. Mr Han possesses an extensive experience, having taught in multiple schools from the east to west of Singapore. With a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), he was also a recipient of the MOE Service Excellence Award for rendering quality service to students and parents. He believes in making the classroom a place for education and fun to make learning more engaging for his students. This is further amplified in Mr Han’s ability to develop strong positive teacher-student relationship with his students, who find his lessons interesting and enriching.

Having studied in the UK and USA for five years, Mr Han graduated from the London School of Economics (LSE) with a Honours in International Relations and a Masters in Business Management. He also did his summer exchange programme in Harvard University to do a minor in Economics. His international experience has given him the unique perspective of providing students with advice on how to apply for higher education in the US and UK and what life is like studying overseas. This also serves as an inspiration to his students, who aspire to pursue an education in world renown international universities.

In addition to his international education experiences, Mr Han is also active on social media, especially on YouTube. During the pandemic, he self-taught himself video editing skills and created various YouTube videos to facilitate teaching and learning remotely during the Home-Based Learning (HBL) period. Videos were made to teach History content on World War II and on the Role of the Government in Singapore for Social Studies. The videos were so well-received that he was invited to the National Institute of Education (NIE) to train current and future teachers on how to create videos for teaching and learning inside and outside of the classroom.

You can also feel inspired in the learning of the Humanities by joining one of Mr Han’s classes.

Contact: kp.chuah@illum.temptech.space

Mr KP Chuah

Language and General Paper Specialist

A highly popular and NIE-trained English and GP teacher, KP has taught General Paper and English for more than a decade and is a decorated educator with a Masters of Education from NIE. Possessing also a CELTA Teaching Certificate by Cambridge, KP is deeply passionate about helping students unlock and reach their greatest potential as soon as possible.

KP's pedagogy involves breaking things down into simple and easy-to-remember bits of information, so that students can easily grasp complex subjects like GP and English. Students have experienced massive improvement in exams by applying the skills learned. He is a big believer in blended learning (Bergmann 2012) and its potential to optimize the time spent in class — rather than just assimilating information, class time should be spent on higher-order thinking activities and receiving feedback from tutors. He began experimenting with blended learning even before COVID-19 hit and before Zoom was a thing.

Dedicated to helping as many students as he can, KP is often recognised by students for running his various GP and English workshops or webinars on YouTube which are free for all students to attend. His online crash courses have thousands of viewers from all over the world. One of his missions in life is to see students succeed in not just GP, but also in all the other aspects of their lives. After all, English and GP are all about encouraging students to exercise their critical thinking skills so that they can make sound decisions in life.

Contact: milanpal@illum.temptech.space

Mr Milanpal Singh

Middle Primary Lead

Milan, a distinguished former MOE teacher, brings a wealth of educational leadership experience, having developed and enhanced various curricula for maximum impact, proven results, and engaging experiences. With over a decade of experience in teaching English and Mathematics and leading successful professional development teams, Milan has directly overseen and guided the academic and holistic success of over 1000 students.

Milan has garnered numerous education and teaching accolades from MOE, including multiple Outstanding Contribution Awards (both individual & team), as well as school-based Most Inspiring & Caring Teacher Awards. With extensive experience in preparing students for the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE), Milan is well-versed in examination syllabi, preparation techniques, procedures, and national marking standards.

Milan is a big believer in Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (Chaiklin, 2003), understanding the importance of social interaction, collaboration, and tailored support in facilitating learning and cognitive learning development. By recognising and addressing learners’ individual needs and providing appropriate levels of support, Milan optimises learning experiences and promote students’ growth and competence in acquiring knowledge and skills. Milan’s teaching philosophy focuses on the foundation model of Head, Heart, and Hands. He believes that all students can grow and the onus is on educators to provide the right nutrients to nurture and inspire that holistic growth. The following beliefs help support his teaching philosophy and shape student success:

Every child can learn;
Learning is constructed as learners assimilate new experiences with prior knowledge;
Learning varies with the degree to which learners’ psychological and cognitive needs are met.

Milan enriches his lessons by incorporating educational technology tools, enabling deeper learning experiences for students. Many students and parents appreciate his ability to unpack complex concepts and ideas in an accessible manner while maintaining the intended learning outcomes.

During his free time away from teaching, Milan enjoys quality moments with his family and loved ones, indulging in Formula 1 races, cheering on his beloved football team, and being a blessing to the people around him and in church.

Contact: ac.chua@illum.temptech.space

MR AC Chua

Geography Lead, Humanities Teaching Specialist

An award-winning MOE-trained teacher, AC is a highly sought after educator with more than a decade of educational leadership and teaching in both MOE schools and international schools. A humanities and social scientist by training, he graduated from the National University of Singapore and University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill with a Joint B.A (Honours) in Geography. As a MOE teacher, he taught Geography, History and Social Studies. He values the importance of a strong education in the humanities and seeks to bring in the real world into his teaching.

In 2017, he embarked on a journey to enrich his teaching experience in an international school in China. His expertise in humanities education was deepened as he taught and coordinated humanities courses in IGCSE, A Level and the IB Diploma. Having led as an IB Diploma Programme coordinator and as Head of Humanities, he possesses the pedagogical and assessment knowledge to design and construct learning materials and activities that are productive for students. He believes that every lesson should follow the principles of Excite, Engage and Empower.

In recognition of his excellence in teaching and service to students and parents, he was presented with an MOE Outstanding Contribution Award in 2017 and Star Teacher Award in 2021. AC’s dedication to his students drives his teaching philosophy and he firmly believes that given the right environment and instruction, every child can learn. He strives to ensure that his teaching is accessible, impactful and generates deep learning – You can expect his lessons to be hard work and rewarding.

A life-long learner and believer that learning goes beyond the classroom, he is constantly looking for new opportunities for professional and personal growth. In his free time, he can be found volunteering with social service organisations in the areas of counselling and guidance. A trained Pilates instructor, he enjoys a good workout that re-establishes a strong Mind-Body connection and improves our incremental gains. On occasion, you might also find him hiking up a mountain, trying to see the world through geographical lenses.

Contact: yinxuan.teo@illum.temptech.space

Ms Teo Yin Xuan

English Language Specialist

An NTU linguistics and multilingual studies major with a strong interest in how languages affect the brain, Yin Xuan has extensive experience in mentoring and guiding students from Primary, Secondary and Junior College levels in their subject mastery. Always keen and passionate in language acquisition in and outside of the classroom, Yin Xuan believes in building a firm rapport to ensure a conducive and empowering classroom experience.

With students feeling at ease to clarify their doubts and to seek help whenever she is in class, Yin Xuan constructs her pedagogy based on Ivan Hannel’s ‘A Pedagogy of Questioning’ (Hannel, 2013), in order to prompt effective questioning, and build a hierarchy of mental acts in the minds of the students to understand the broad patterns and strategies that they are learning. As American Engineer W. Edwards Deming once mentioned “without questions, there is no learning”, and Yin Xuan builds upon this to structure her lessons to be dynamic, and highly participatory in nature to benefit learners of all types who stay engaged and enjoy their learning.

Contact: Mskoh@illum.temptech.space

Ms Koh

English Language Specialist

An NTU graduate with an honours degree in English Literature, Ms Koh has a deep-seated passion for the written word, dedicating herself to exploring the intersections of creative expression, critical thought and interdisciplinary applications.

Her rich and multifaceted experience spans across seven enriching years of youth mentorship, reflecting her commitment to educational development and her skill in nurturing young minds. This, coupled with her exposure in research, policy and the arts, empowers her teaching to be supported by various dimensions and perspectives.

Ms Koh’s tenure at a think-tank also sharpened her analytical acumen, enabling her to navigate through complex bodies of knowledge through rigorous analysis. This has informed her teaching philosophy, which is rooted in cultivating a profound understanding of the subject matter and her endeavour to instil a deep appreciation for the intricacies of content within her students, fostering a pedagogy that balances wonder with the methodical approaches necessary to excel in academic assessments.

An advocate for the symbiotic relationship between language, literature, and the broader world, Ms. Koh is invigorated by classroom dialogues that are enriched by students' own observations of cross-disciplinary patterns. She encourages learners to draw connections from their diverse experiences, thereby constructing a learning atmosphere that is both reflective and forward-thinking. In doing so, Ms Koh’s lessons are always a safe space where the joys of learning are harmonised with the mastery of skills and strategies to ensure that every students’ educational journey is as rewarding as it is successful.

Contact: daemon.leong@illum.temptech.space

MS DAEMON LEONG

Language and General Paper Specialist

A recent graduate from NTU with a B.A. (Honours, Highest Distinction) in English and currently embarking on a Master of Arts by Research, Daemon is an author of the EPH GP TYS 2019-2023 answers and brings her multiple years of tutoring experience and a strong passion for current affairs and language use to her students. Having previously worked closely with students to build a strong foundation for language comprehension, her primary interest is in guiding students to develop and express original opinions in response to questions, so that they can provide incisive and well-thought out responses both inside and outside of the classroom.

Drawing on experiences with various interest groups in her personal life, Daemon works to build conversation around social issues such as technological development, the environment, and arts and culture. She has previously worked with primary, secondary, JC, and adult-level students to help them form critical responses to the world around them, teaching them to express themselves clearly and intelligently. She also works to build a rapport with her students to tailor her content towards topics that interest them to foster interest and engagement. This teacher-student rapport is what drives many students to enjoy lessons with Ms Daemon!

Having produced two interest-based research projects focused on film studies, Daemon enjoys engaging critically with various forms of media to evaluate the trend of media messaging over time. She also enjoys reading for academic improvement and leisure, and sings in a choir.

Contact: mr.allan@illum.temptech.space

Mr Allan

IP English and General Paper Specialist

As illum.e's in-house law specialist, Mr Allan brings with him a diverse experience in educating students from different backgrounds and in inspiring budding lawyers-to-be among the students. A passionate and driven educator with years of experience, Mr Allan found teaching to match his personal zeal to help make the world a better place.

Mr Allan spent his free time while pursuing law to teach refugees in the UK. It was this process of helping them to pass their English examinations, which was a prerequisite for them to be integrated into the UK workforce, that Mr Allan grew to love teaching, Mr Allan also has prior teaching experience in a government school, and gives free voluntary tuition to children in his free time.

Leveraging his law experiences, Mr Allan is able to help students develop strong, cogent arguments and aid them in analysing comprehension passages or case studies effectively. Through his beliefs in the reasoning frameworks of critical discourse and critical thinking pedagogies, Allan's General Paper students are able to ground their answering techniques with sound, effective logic and argumentation. Budding lawyers-to-be have, and will enjoy the intellectual discussions and criticality imbued in his GP lessons.

In his free time, Mr Allan is a firm believer in helping others, using his public speaking skills and legal knowledge to help others. Recently, for example, he was featured as a guest speaker in a charity event in front of hundreds of participants to help the elderly on understanding Wills and Lasting Power of Attorneys.

Contact: Alya.maisarah@illum.temptech.space

Ms Alya

English and Humanities Teaching and Curriculum Specialist

As an NTU major in linguistics and multilingual studies, Ms Alya is captivated by the various aspects of language and communication, ranging from the characteristics of phonetic symbols to the structure of grammar and more. An experienced teacher, Ms Alya has four years of teaching experience with primary and secondary school students, providing them inspirational support and encouragement in their studies.

An award winning student, Ms Alya has a firm belief in being an outstanding role model to her students and in deeply motivating them to be engaged in lessons. Her lessons sees interactive engagement and participation from students who actively take part in lesson activities with fun and laughter in order to achieve the best of effective learning outcomes.

To ensure her students remain engaged and interested in the subject matter, she utilises diverse interactive teaching methods including discussions, online activities, and multimedia resources. By fostering an enjoyable and interactive learning environment, she believes that her students can maintain their motivation and enthusiasm throughout their learning journey. Aside from teaching, Alya enjoys her time as a foster sister, surrounding herself with her loved ones and lots of fiction books!

Contact: mr.mark@illum.temptech.space

Mr MarK

Secondary School Language Specialist

Mr Mark is an MOE-trained educator with over a decade of experience in the classroom. As subject coordinator across multiple levels and streams, he has internalised and developed outstanding pedagogical strategies, which are personalised according to student profiles. An award winning and inspirational teacher, Mr Mark has received multiple Outstanding Contribution Awards, Caring Teacher awards and many more from MOE. These are testament to his personal philosophy of excellence and his passion in striving to nurture every student to his or her utmost potential.

A firm believer that every child has the potential to succeed, Mark is an advocate of the growth mindset. His instructional strategies are guided by this mindset, and aims to provide the right support for his students and opportunities to challenge themselves to succeed. His lessons are thus always designed to be highly impactful and effective, including the regular and timely feedback his students receive in order for them to grow more every lesson.

Through regular interleaving of language skills, Mark’s students observe how certain techniques in one aspect of language can be applicable in another. These opportunities to reflect on their learning experiences contribute to a deeper understanding of how language shapes thoughts and behaviour.

Contact: jasveen@illum.temptech.space

Ms Jasveen

English Language Teaching Specialist

A former MOE Secondary school teacher with over a decade of experience, Ms Jasveen believes in integrating real-world knowledge into language development. Recognising the importance of exposing students to authentic facts, current events and cultural references, she strives to create a learning environment where students hone their language skills while understanding the world around us.

Ms Jasveen has been teaching since her university days and her teaching philosophy revolves around the notion that learning should be a dynamic and enjoyable experience, fostering engagement and curiosity among her students. In addition, by leveraging on innovative teaching methods, interactive activities, and multimedia resources, she endeavours to cater to diverse learning styles and inspire a lifelong love for language and learning.

In her free time, Ms Jasveen likes to read while she sips on a cup of a tea. As an avid reader, she believes that reading not only broadens our horizons but also nurtures our imagination and critical thinking skills. She also enjoys travelling as exploring new destinations and immersing herself in different cultures helps to expand her worldview. It is a passion of hers that continuously fuels her curiosity and sense of adventure.

Contact: meiyunn@illum.temptech.space

MS Toong Mei YUNN

English Language Teaching Specialist

As an impassioned educator, Mei Yunn is dedicated to fostering a lifelong love for learning and empowering students to excel in their academic journey. Graduated with honors from NUS with a degree in English Language, she brings a deep understanding of language acquisition and pedagogy to her teaching practice. With experience teaching English Language and Humanities subjects such as Social Studies, she firmly believes that language learning should not be isolated but rather integrated authentically with real-life examples, paired with critical thinking.

Drawing from her experience as a level coordinator and experience with teaching graduating cohorts, she brings a wealth of pedagogical knowledge and practical insight to help students master the subject. With a relational teaching style and a talent for simplifying complex concepts, she creates an inclusive and engaging classroom environment where every student feels valued and supported. Her dedication to education has been recognized through nominations such as the Outstanding Youth in Education Award. With her diverse teaching background encompassing both SAP schools and mainstream institutions, she brings a unique perspective and understanding of the needs of students from various backgrounds.

Through personalized instruction and innovative teaching methods, she strives to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in an ever-evolving world beyond the classroom. In her free time, she cherishes moments spent with her family, taking her kids and dog out for walks to enjoy quality time together. She also maintains an active lifestyle, finding joy in exercising and CrossFit because it challenges her mental and physical limits.

Contact: yuanxin.lim@illum.temptech.space

Ms Yuan Xin

English Language Teaching Specialist

As an NTU English Literature major, Ms Yuan Xin has a deep appreciation for the beauty of the English language. She aims to instil this love in her students by building a strong foundation in reading and writing.

Being part of NTU’s University Scholars Programme, Ms Yuan Xin benefits from a robust, multi-disciplinary curriculum. Additionally, her international experience at King’s College London significantly enhanced her creative and critical thinking skills, deepening her expertise in English while broadening her world perspective.

As American mathematician Hyman Bass aptly said, “Pedagogy, like language itself, can either liberate or imprison ideas, inspire or suffocate constructive thinking.”

Ms Yuan Xin firmly believes in empowering her students with the skills to use English language as a tool for inspiring deeper thinking throughout their educational journey. Enthusiastic and dedicated, Ms Yuan Xin builds strong connections with her students, providing them with a safe space to grow into confident and motivated learners. With an acute attention to detail, her lessons are specially curated and highly participatory, catering to all types of learners to keep them engaged and enjoying their learning experience.

Contact: zeqin@illum.temptech.space

Ms Ze Qin

IP English and General Paper Teaching Specialist

Ms Ze Qin’s educational philosophy transcends the conventional focus on grades, aiming instead to instil a lifelong awareness, joy, and curiosity about the world. She believes that by critically engaging the students to the world around us, she is able to deeply enrich students’ educational journeys while also preparing them to thrive in diverse environments. Her lessons thus integrate critical perspectives of the world that has shaped her through her breadth of educational and lived experiences.

Beyond the classroom, Ms Ze Qin’s love for travel and cultural exploration has significantly shaped her teaching and personal growth. Having backpacked to various countries, She gained invaluable insights into different cultures and perspectives, enriching her understanding and empathy—qualities she brings back to students in the classroom to become better writers and thinkers. This exposure has been instrumental in developing her lesson approaches to inculcate understanding and openness.

In her free time, Ms Ze Qin can be found pursuing her passion for dance, which has since spanned over thirteen years. She finds joy in the dynamic energy, diversity in forms of expression and in the discipline required, which complements what one can expect in her classroom - fun, open dialogues and growth!

Contact: fern.teo@illum.temptech.space

Ms Fern Teo

General Paper Teaching Specialist

With eight years of dedicated service in MOE schools, Ms Teo has established herself as an experienced, versatile and dynamic educator. Specialising in General Paper, Literature and Geography, she has successfully taught different learning profiles at various secondary institutions and junior colleges, including Lower Secondary, 'N' Levels, 'O' Levels, 'A' Levels, Integrated Programmes, and the Gifted Education Programme. Ms Teo's classroom is a melting pot of diverse backgrounds and thought processes, where she fosters a culture of respect and inclusivity.

Ms Teo's approach to teaching is deeply rooted in inductive learning. She skillfully guides students to unlock, articulate, and develop their opinions and beliefs, thereby nurturing informed, compassionate, and critical thinkers. Her commitment to education extends beyond traditional methods; she is a pioneer in integrating digital tools in her classrooms, making her lessons interactive and engaging. This innovation in teaching has not only enhanced the learning experience but has also prepared her students for the challenges of the 21st century.

Students in Ms Teo's classes are taught to be critical thinkers and consumers who base their opinions on deep understanding and compassion for society. Her unique background in overseeing prison ministry in the Asia Pacific region adds a profound depth to her teaching. Ms Teo brings real-world issues into the classroom, transforming academic learning into lessons with heart and soul. This approach has enabled her students to connect deeply with the material, cultivating a sense of empathy and social responsibility.

Contact: jordan.han@illum.temptech.space

Mr Jordan Han

Humanities and Language Specialist

Han, an alumnus of the prestigious Raffles Institution, is a distinguished tutor with a profound understanding of the Humanities. While he is currently furthering his academic pursuits in Sociology at the National University of Singapore, Han's educational journey is marked by notable academic achievements, including the Ministry of Education Humanities Scholarship and the prestigious NUS Global Merit Scholarship. These accolades reflect his intellectual rigour and dedication to academic excellence.

With half a decade of teaching experience, Han has developed a robust teaching methodology that emphasises logical and systematic thinking. His approach to education is grounded in fostering clarity and precision in writing, skills that are pivotal in mastering the complexities of the Humanities and English Language. Han's teaching style is not just about imparting knowledge; it's about cultivating an analytical mindset and a keen eye for detail in his students.

Han's expertise in Sociology and the Humanities, combined with his exemplary academic background, positions him as a tutor who brings both depth and breadth to his teaching. He is adept at simplifying complex concepts and theories, making them accessible and relatable to students. His ability to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world applications enhances the learning experience, making it both enriching and practical. In his role as a tutor, Han is not just a guide but a mentor who is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the academic journey of his students. He understands the unique challenges students face and tailors his teaching strategies to meet their individual needs, ensuring a personalised and effective learning experience.

As a passionate educator, Han's commitment extends beyond just academic success. He strives to inspire his students to develop a love for learning and to cultivate the critical thinking skills necessary for success in their academic and future endeavours.

Contact: mrslee@illum.temptech.space

Mrs LEe

IP English and General Paper Teaching Specialist

Mrs Lee is an experienced MOE-trained teacher who has over two decades of rich experience teaching and designing quality curriculum and assessment for English and General Paper. With teaching experiences in various secondary schools and junior colleges, Mrs Lee possesses the unique ability to stretch and help students of all backgrounds.

A firm believer in constructivist learning and in engaging students in real-world contexts, Mrs Lee ensures that students cultivate a keen interest in current affairs and to have a strong personal voice regarding various issues and perspectives to help them excel in English and General Paper. Mrs Lee is a firm believer of the arts industry in Singapore, and spends some of her free time supporting local artists.

Contact: ms.lin@illum.temptech.space

Ms Lin

Language and Economics Teaching Specialist

Ms Lin is a well-travelled educator with a rich and diverse background. With teaching experiences in the USA and the United Kingdom, she is also a former MOE teacher in English Language and Junior College Economics with various schools. In her decades of experience, she has also taught many tertiary courses in Economics, and her multifaceted career spans TV journalism, banking, and education, reflecting her diverse skills and insights. Presently pursuing her doctoral studies, Ms Lin's approach to teaching is rooted in clear, succinct explanations and a firm belief that with time and effort, all goals are achievable.

Ms Lin is dedicated to inspiring her students to think globally and appreciate the nuances of different cultures and economies through the use of various real-world scenarios. Her personal experiences and academic background empower her to create an engaging and enlightening educational experience for her students.

Ms Lin's philosophy is centred on the idea that dedication and hard work can turn aspirations into realities. Her aim is to encourage her students to strive for excellence, not just academically but also in their personal growth and understanding of the world.

In her free time, Ms Lin enjoys the simple pleasures of life, such as sipping wine while reading a good book and watching windsurfers at the beach. This not only reflects her belief in a balanced life in working hard and playing hard, but also her appreciation for the beauty and tranquillity of nature.

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Our Team

“There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

Mr Timothy Joshua Chia-Lee

Founder & Head Tutor

Mr Timothy Joshua Chia-Lee - Founder & Head Tutor

Mr Roger-Etienne

English Language Teaching Lead

Mr Roger Etienne - English Language Teaching Lead

Mr David Lee

IP Lead, Chief of Staff

Mr David Lee - IP and Humanities Lead

Mr Liew Shan Hao

Language and GP Specialist, JC2 Lead

Mr Liew Shan Hao, Language and GP Specialist, JC2 Lead

Mr Joachim Chia

Primary School English Lead

Mr Joachim Chia - Primary School English Lead

Mr YEO JIA QI

GP Curriculum Lead

Mr Yeo Jia Qi - GP Curriculum Lead

Mr Derrick Liew

Economics Lead

Ms MC Deline

Lower Primary Lead

Mr Andre Yeo

English Curriculum Lead

Mr Ivan Han

Humanities Lead

Mr KP Chuah

Language and General Paper Specialist

Mr Milanpal Singh

Middle Primary Lead

MR AC Chua

Geography Lead, Humanities Teaching Specialist

Ms Teo Yin Xuan

English Language Specialist

Ms Koh

English Language Specialist

MS DAEMON LEONG

Language and General Paper Specialist

Mr Allan

IP English and General Paper Specialist

Ms Alya

English and Humanities Teaching and Curriculum Specialist

Mr MarK

Secondary School Language Specialist

Ms Jasveen

English Language Teaching Specialist

MS Toong Mei YUNN

English Language Teaching Specialist

Ms Yuan Xin

English Language Teaching Specialist

Ms Ze Qin

IP English and General Paper Teaching Specialist

Ms Fern Teo

General Paper Teaching Specialist

Mr Jordan Han

Humanities and Language Specialist

Mrs LEe

IP English and General Paper Teaching Specialist

Ms Lin

Language and Economics Teaching Specialist

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