We all owe our successes largely to our educators. They took our crap, shaped our childhoods and educated our minds.

Being in the education system for at least 12 years, we are sure you would've met these 12 types of teachers:

1. Mr Tan

It's impossible for you to not have encountered a Mr Tan in your entire education in Singapore. Think about it. There was definitely a Mr Tan who taught you. Or he could be the Principal or Vice-Principal. Or he could be the Operations Manager. There always is a Mr Tan.

2. The forever 'Miss'

We all had that one or two teachers who put their entire lives into their calling. So much so that they didn't have the spare capacity to get married.

3. The Chinese-educated teacher

There are two types:

1) The Chinese-educated Science/Math teacher who everyone found difficult to understand. Especially dangerous during Chemistry lessons.

2) The Chinese-educated Chinese teacher who looks at you like you've shamed your entire ancestry after getting a C6 for Chinese.

4. The athletic PE teachers with over-developed muscles

You know when PE teachers will look weird? When you see them in office attire. They are perpetually in their shorts.

5. The chio trainee teacher

Let's just say the boys in the class weren't very focused during some lessons and they seem to drop a lot of things on the floor.

6. The teacher all the girls had a crush on

Like this doppelganger who looks like Lee Min Ho.

7. The teacher you suspected was dating another teacher

You see them arriving and leaving school together. It's especially telling if one teacher addresses the other by their name instead of Mr/Miss 'So-and-so' in front of the students.

8. The teacher you suspected is going out with your classmate

Sure kena rotan if it's true.

9. The teacher you suspected is gay

Nothing wrong with being gay - just that students can tell and we are kaypo.

10. The teacher you suspected who smoked in school

Now that you're an adult, you can understand why some teachers are stressed out and needs a smoke break. But if you're parents, you are also incredibly freaked out if your kids come home and say that their favourite teacher is a chimney.

11. The discipline master who thinks he's a gangster

When you're 13 and scrawny, the discipline master, who is usually a PE teacher with over-developed muscles, can look quite scary.

12. The teacher who made you do newspaper clippings

And then you had to file these clippings but you had no other why you clipped them in the first place. Filing is so painful, regardless of your age.

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