Meet Our Lyza Coding Instructor: An Interview with Rachel

Welcome to our “Meet the Lyza Coding Instructors” series, where we introduce the dedicated coding instructors behind our coding programmes.

In this edition, we speak with Teacher Rachel, who's passionate for both sports and coding. Discover her teaching journey and how her diverse experiences shape how she engages and empowers young learners at Lyza.

Meet Teacher Rachel

Hi Rachel! Can you introduce yourself?

Hi, I’m Rachel — a final-year Computer Science (CS) student at National University of Singapore (NUS) and a national basketball player. I joined Lyza Education as a STEM Curriculum and Teaching Intern because I’ve always been curious about teaching, and coding education felt like a meaningful space to explore before graduating. 

A Computer Science Graduate's take on Block-Coding

Many parents feel that block-coding seems far too simple for their child. Being a Computer Science graduate, would you agree?

While block-based coding may seem simple at first glance, it’s actually a powerful tool—especially for young learners. It introduces core programming concepts like logic, sequencing, and conditionals in a way that’s visual and intuitive. For children who are still developing their typing skills or English comprehension, the drag-and-drop format lowers the barrier to entry without compromising on depth.

As a Computer Science graduate, I’m often impressed by how complex ideas can be represented through blocks. It allows children to grasp fundamental coding logic visually and gradually build more sophisticated projects. In fact, some of the creations on Scratch’s Explore page are incredibly intricate and show just how creative and complex block-based coding can be when used well.

It is also possible to code advanced concepts on Scratch too, such as sorting algorithms, something that is actually covered in introductory modules at university level, as demonstrated by Teacher Xin Yi in the picture

Children's Learning Experience at Lyza Education

We grew up having “Kiasu” parents in our circle, who often send their kids for numerous tuition and enrichment classes, where there is often a lot of homework. Is there such a thing at Lyza Education?

Not at all — we don’t assign homework at Lyza. Our classes are designed to give students ample time to learn, explore, and apply concepts during the session itself. We start by teaching and demonstrating the topic, then guide students through problem-solving challenges at their own pace.

Instead of traditional homework, we offer optional “fun activities” for students who either finish early or want to further explore the topic at home. It’s a way to stretch fast learners without overwhelming others, and it keeps learning enjoyable and pressure-free.

Favourite Teaching Moment

Can you share with us one of your favourite teaching moments?

One of my favourite teaching moments happens during trial classes. The smaller class size allows me to connect with each student more personally — getting to know their interests, learning styles, and what excites them. I love being able to tailor the way I introduce coding so it really clicks for them.

What truly makes it special is seeing their faces light up at the end of the session. Many rush out to show their parents what they’ve built, proudly sharing their creations. That joy and sense of accomplishment they carry with them is the best sign that something meaningful stuck during our short time together.

Behind the Scenes: Working with Lyza’s Founder on Software Development

We hear that in addition to teaching and working on the curriculum, you also participate in software development with our founder Lizhang. How has the experience been?

Working with Lizhang has been an amazing experience. He is incredibly knowledgeable in software development and brings a depth of expertise that I’ve learned a lot from. At the same time, he gives me the freedom to explore and work through challenges on my own, while providing regular check-ins and support whenever I need it. 

He is patient when explaining complex concepts and often walks me through tricky sections of code to ensure I fully understand. What I really appreciate is how open he is to hearing my ideas—he listens, gives thoughtful feedback, and often incorporates my suggestions into our final solutions. He’s not just a great mentor — he is approachable, encouraging, and genuinely invested in helping me grow.

A glimpse into Rachel and Lizhang working together on our software development

Project Creation at Lyza Education

We hear that students at Lyza work on projects too! How does the experience of working in a few yourself translate to your performance in sharing the knowledge to students?

Having worked on many projects myself — especially through software engineering courses in school — I understand the challenges students face when starting one. Many struggle not with the coding itself, but with knowing where to begin. 

That is why I always encourage students to start by thinking of an idea they’re excited about. Some naturally come in with creative concepts, while others need a bit more guidance. For those who are unsure, I get them to reflect on past class projects and consider how they could improve or build upon them. 

From there, I guide them to think about the components they’ll need to bring their ideas to life. Thanks to our small 1:6 teacher-student ratio, I’m able to check in with each student personally — reviewing their plans, asking guiding questions, and gently prompting them to think about missing elements or ways to elevate their project. It’s a hands-on and collaborative process that I really enjoy.

Growing Interest in Computer Science

We hear that you are also a national team basketball player too! What made you choose to major in Computer Science?

Honestly, I just wanted to try something different. I had been studying Math, Science, and English all the way through to A-Levels, and I knew I didn’t want to pursue any of those subjects in university. At the time, I didn’t know much about Computer Science — other than that it was a fast-growing field. So I took a leap of faith and decided to major in it, and I’m glad I did.

Transferrable Soft Skills

Are there any skills learnt in coding that you can transfer to basketball?

Definitely! Basketball is a game of logic—especially when you’re going up against taller and faster opponents. In those situations, understanding the game and thinking strategically becomes your biggest advantage. 

Coding has trained me to approach challenges from different angles and respond quickly under pressure. Just like combining the right code components to build a strong program, being a point guard means assessing the positions and strengths of my teammates, deciding on the best play in the moment, and putting everyone in the right place to execute it. And just like coding, where bugs are inevitable, mistakes happen in games too. Coding has helped me stay calm, diagnose the problem, and find a solution on the fly.

Coaching Students Through Coding Challenges

In basketball, you face tough defences—how do you coach students through frustrating ‘bug hunts’?

Photo by @yoga.frame

Just like in basketball when you face a tough defence, the key is to stay calm and not let frustration take over. The first thing I do is help students let go of negative thoughts like “I can’t do this” or “it’s too hard.” Then, I guide them to walk through their thought process step by step—checking whether what they’ve written truly matches their intention. 

If they can’t pinpoint the issue, I ask guiding questions to steer them in the right direction without giving away the answer. More often than not, they figure it out on their own—and I make sure to highlight that: “See? You solved it yourself!” That confidence boost is important. 

For students doing text-based coding like Python, I also introduce simple debugging techniques—like using print statements—to peek into what their code is doing and help identify where things might be going wrong. It teaches them to think like problem-solvers, not just coders.

---

Coding classes for children in Singapore | Lyza Coding Instructors