I think I did learn a lot by taking this course plus I had an absolutely great lecturer. I was so surprised that Mukhriz Mahadhir was one of his students and I bet he even still respects and remember my lecturer until today! Through this blog activity too, I found out that I do change from time to time. Actually this is not the first time we were given this kind of task. I still remember the first time I was doing this task. I do not even know what I should write. Most of the time, I tend to look for the information in the internet and give some opinions before publish it and that’s all. In contrast to what I am doing right now, I often do not realize that I have written much more than what I used to even though this time my lecturer did not give to us the specific topics to write.
However, I sometimes do not know am that I doing the right thing or not because some of my friends told me that they write critically in their blog. On the other hand, I do not really know whether mine is as critical as theirs or not. What would others think of me when they read my blog….I hope I am on the right track. Plus, all the things that I write in my blog are in fact what I think, felt and understand from this course and not other people’s ideas or writing.
Yet, I think by involving in this kind of activity does encourage me to write. It has been a quite time that I do not write a diary. I guessed this blogging stuff at least help me write something that had happened in my life. In addition, I think it does sounds great when telling people that you have to write blog in your course. It is not just like writing a journal in the book where not many people can view or read it. Again, I think this activity is absolutely a great experience to me.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Martin Luther’s speech
Any normal man in his world can speak but not all of us can really deliver a speech and be a god speaker. Some of the not so good speakers that I have seen tend to just read the texts that they have prepared rather than speak and face the audience. In some of their speech too always have hesitations, pauses, and some like to do some sort of things that I do not think an appropriate one to do when we are giving speeches. Well, the main aim for us to give speech is to let the audience know what we are trying to say and most probably let them influence by what we said, right? I think Martin Luther’s speech is absolutely an inspiring one.
Personally, I think I might cry if I were at the time he was giving the speech because I just read his speech today and I can feel the aura that it brings. His speech even seemed to be like an art in its own way. For example in the register he used in his speech like cash a check, promissory note, bank of justice is bankrupt and insufficient funds. There are parts in his speech that have words that have opposites and it looks like a poem. Some of the lines are it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity and symbolic shadow…light of hope. These lines definitely shows to me how creative he is because when I write a speech, I tend to just write what it needs, the information needed and not ever I thought of making the information in such ways. It would be so interesting if someone can gives speech like Martin Luther no matter what are the issues that they want to highlight.
Personally, I think I might cry if I were at the time he was giving the speech because I just read his speech today and I can feel the aura that it brings. His speech even seemed to be like an art in its own way. For example in the register he used in his speech like cash a check, promissory note, bank of justice is bankrupt and insufficient funds. There are parts in his speech that have words that have opposites and it looks like a poem. Some of the lines are it came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity and symbolic shadow…light of hope. These lines definitely shows to me how creative he is because when I write a speech, I tend to just write what it needs, the information needed and not ever I thought of making the information in such ways. It would be so interesting if someone can gives speech like Martin Luther no matter what are the issues that they want to highlight.
What would you image yourself as a literature teacher?
To me, it was quite difficult to answer that question. Well, I am not a real teacher yet. I do not think I can describe what could I image as before I experience it first. Plus, I do not really like when people think that I talk more than what I did or, my description is so much like fairy tales where in reality, I never were the same person as I imagine I am.
I guessed Dr Edwin asked us this question so that we can have an aim to achieve, to struggle to be. At least there are images that we want to be in our job and not just doing it blindly. When we discussed about this issue, some of my friends described themselves as being clown, ironed shirt, bulb light and many more in teaching literature. I myself imaged me as a director in a movie or drama series. It is where my students would be the actors and actresses and they are the product of the learning since people will see their acting in that story while I as the director, works at the back of the screen but still I am very important for them to be successful.
Yet, I have slightly disagreement when one of my friends described herself as a doctor. It is because not all the students want to see ‘doctor’ even though they are sick; I mean their English are weak. Doctors absolutely can give any medicine that is suitable for the patient but if the patients are reluctant to see them, how can the medicine gat in hands?
Nevertheless, it is definitely no matter what we describe ourselves as literature teachers because I think as long as our students get what we are teaching them and they enjoy the lesson, it would just be fine.
I guessed Dr Edwin asked us this question so that we can have an aim to achieve, to struggle to be. At least there are images that we want to be in our job and not just doing it blindly. When we discussed about this issue, some of my friends described themselves as being clown, ironed shirt, bulb light and many more in teaching literature. I myself imaged me as a director in a movie or drama series. It is where my students would be the actors and actresses and they are the product of the learning since people will see their acting in that story while I as the director, works at the back of the screen but still I am very important for them to be successful.
Yet, I have slightly disagreement when one of my friends described herself as a doctor. It is because not all the students want to see ‘doctor’ even though they are sick; I mean their English are weak. Doctors absolutely can give any medicine that is suitable for the patient but if the patients are reluctant to see them, how can the medicine gat in hands?
Nevertheless, it is definitely no matter what we describe ourselves as literature teachers because I think as long as our students get what we are teaching them and they enjoy the lesson, it would just be fine.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Freedom Writer Movie
I am so glad that Dr Edwin assigned us to watch this movie. I think this movie is so inspiring me as a teacher going to be. However, I am not so sure that I am going to be as good as Miss G. Sometimes I felt quite scared that I would spoil everything. The story and her character are so inspiring that I think a part of me wants to be like her.
I do believe that teaching is not an easy job to be done and involve in. It is in fact, something important because it deals with human, not a toy plus their future. Teachers are the one that going to give the needed input for the students. In Freedom Writer, I tend to understand that we cannot do too many things in one time. As what had happened to Miss G, she has to give in her marriage since she had been given more attention to her students compared to her husband. Perhaps may be it happened due to the reason that her husband is not from the same line as her; I mean a teacher like her. Probably if he is a teacher like her, he would better or may be he himself get involve directly or help her in teaching the students. However, I think she gets paid off when almost all of her students are succeed and I can see that they respect and appreciate her so much. In the story too, I get to understand that not all teachers have the same goal and expectations on their students. I guessed it depends on individual goal. May be some of them are just looking for names, raised pay check and others.
Again, I do not know whether I can be like her. Personally, even if I can, I would be very pleased and glad if I can be a teacher like Dr Edwin.
Here, I include the picture of the movie 'Freedom Writer' where you can see the picture of Hillary Swank. You can also visit the website of the movie: http://www.freedomwriters.com/
since this movie is based on true story, you can also visit the website at this address: http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/
I do believe that teaching is not an easy job to be done and involve in. It is in fact, something important because it deals with human, not a toy plus their future. Teachers are the one that going to give the needed input for the students. In Freedom Writer, I tend to understand that we cannot do too many things in one time. As what had happened to Miss G, she has to give in her marriage since she had been given more attention to her students compared to her husband. Perhaps may be it happened due to the reason that her husband is not from the same line as her; I mean a teacher like her. Probably if he is a teacher like her, he would better or may be he himself get involve directly or help her in teaching the students. However, I think she gets paid off when almost all of her students are succeed and I can see that they respect and appreciate her so much. In the story too, I get to understand that not all teachers have the same goal and expectations on their students. I guessed it depends on individual goal. May be some of them are just looking for names, raised pay check and others.
Again, I do not know whether I can be like her. Personally, even if I can, I would be very pleased and glad if I can be a teacher like Dr Edwin.
Here, I include the picture of the movie 'Freedom Writer' where you can see the picture of Hillary Swank. You can also visit the website of the movie: http://www.freedomwriters.com/
since this movie is based on true story, you can also visit the website at this address: http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/
Sunday, March 9, 2008
History Boys
This movie is absolutely different from Freedom Writers. To me, this movie is more complicated compared to Freedom Writer. I think it is because it is indeed quite difficult for me to understand their language since the way they speak and talk are not the same as us or even the American. Plus, I get more expose to the Hollywood, American movies and dramas. So, I tend to understand them better. Luckily there were subtitle to help.
I think the issues in History Boys and Freedom Writers are not same. History Boys is about clever and excellent students that are called to study to prepare them for the examination to enter Oxford.
I can see that the teachers in the story have different style of approaches in teaching. The old teacher, Hector prefers to teach the students to memorize everything of the literature elements like poems or plays. As a result, I can see that the students are so skilful in memorizing. The can mentioned any lines that were asked to them. To me, Hectors’ styles of teaching are quite fun and interesting even though the students are memorizing it. He asked the students to do activities like role play and singing during his class. Meanwhile, Irwin tends to teach the students beyond the texts that they have learnt. It is more appropriate I guessed since they tend to give their own opinion on the texts that they learn. It also gives them space to get personally involve in the texts.
Still, History Boys should be watch by students like me because it helps me to open my mind to different styles of teaching besides how it can works on students. Perhaps, I can take it as model in my teaching line in the future.
I think the issues in History Boys and Freedom Writers are not same. History Boys is about clever and excellent students that are called to study to prepare them for the examination to enter Oxford.
I can see that the teachers in the story have different style of approaches in teaching. The old teacher, Hector prefers to teach the students to memorize everything of the literature elements like poems or plays. As a result, I can see that the students are so skilful in memorizing. The can mentioned any lines that were asked to them. To me, Hectors’ styles of teaching are quite fun and interesting even though the students are memorizing it. He asked the students to do activities like role play and singing during his class. Meanwhile, Irwin tends to teach the students beyond the texts that they have learnt. It is more appropriate I guessed since they tend to give their own opinion on the texts that they learn. It also gives them space to get personally involve in the texts.
Still, History Boys should be watch by students like me because it helps me to open my mind to different styles of teaching besides how it can works on students. Perhaps, I can take it as model in my teaching line in the future.
Elizabeth the Golden Age
It was one of my friends’ ideas to watch this movie. At first I was wondering why we must watch this kind of movie. Plus, I do not really like to watch movies that contain war or fighting or violence elements. However, as I watch this movie, I kept thinking of literature. I do not know why I felt that way.
Personally, I think this movie is not just a simple movie. In a way, I am glad to watch this movie because I tend to understand the history of Elizabeth I. I get to understand why she is called the Virgin Queen. I really salute her for being so strong. Well, it is not easy to be a woman on her own who leads a big country like
Another thing that I realize in the movie is how prophecy plays a role at that time. Almost everything that they did, they tend to refer to the ‘fortune teller’ so much. Anything that they want to do, what should they do, what will happened if one is taken are referred to him. I guessed when we believe so much in something, it become true. What do you think? Again, this movie is a good movie to watch.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Malaysian Celebrations
Before this, I never thought that there are so many festivals that were celebrated in
At first, all the celebrations that are listed down seem to be relevant and I do know them. However, after Dr Edwin asked for more celebrations, some of my classmates have listed down a whole lot more celebrations that a few of them are rarely heard or really celebrated. In the end, there are about 32 of them! These celebrations then are put into three categories; religion, cultural practices and races, and others. It was fun listing down and discussing about these different celebrations. Yet, it turned to be the other way round when we were assigned to do research on each of the celebrations. It is definitely be an easy task for common celebrations like Hari Raya Eid Fitri, Chinese New Year, Christmas and Deepavali but it would be in contrast to celebrations such as Vasakhi, Nuzul Quran and Cheng Beng (Honouring Ancestors).
Nevertheless, we managed to give information on each of the 32 celebrations through the end of the task! Dr Edwin said that he would compile all of the celebrations and put it in CDs before publish them. I would wait for the day it is publish. I hope it is not a dream! It would be the happiest one to see our work publish!
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